We have just come back from a long weekend at the house: we had two meetings scheduled for Thursday, and managed to arrange another one for Friday whilst we were out there.
On Thursday morning, we were due to meet M. Petipas at 8.30 and open up the house for inspections by M. Bruneau (from the experts employed by Dominique's insurance company), and the huissier (apologies, I didn't catch his name).
We didn't expect M. Petipas to be on time (M. Boyer is always late!), so weren't very surprised when it got to 9 o'clock before he showed up...
I saw a car in the little road that leads to the house, but it didn't turn into the drive, so I thought nothing more until we had a knock on the door (normally all visitors are announced by the sound of a car parking).
He'd got to the village early, and pulled off the road to have a bite of breakfast before coming to see us.
All very good, until he tried to drive away, and got his wheels bogged down in the mud...
Have I mentioned the particularly cloying quality the local soil takes on when even slightly damp? And it has been raining solidly, so it's reminiscent of the Somme at the moment (we're not very far from there!)...
Happily, our neighbour (who wasn't keen on driving her father's tractor as she hadn't much experience of it) telephoned her cousin (the mayor) who kindly came in his 4 x 4 (yes, as a farmer, he does actually need one!) and rapidly dragged the car back to solid ground.
We had planned to have a meeting before the arrival of M. Bruneau, but time was against us, so went straight into his (very rapid) visit.
He said that Dominique's work wasn't a very good advertisement for France, was it?
We had to agree it wasn't!
I think that M. Bruneau had pretty much made up his mind before visiting the house, but given how the system works in France, that probably wasn't as bad as it sounds!
If Dominique had finished the work, and we had signed to accept it, we would have been covered by his insurance for all the work he was insured for.
As none of the work was finished, the insurance cover would not extend to our job. Add to that, most of the work he undertook he wasn't insured for, we were bound to lose either way.
At least next time we employ someone we will be scrupulous about checking their insurance!
An expensive lesson, but the expert was making a valid point when he said at least Dominique's work hasn't damaged the structure of the house. [He told us of a nightmare case where someone had paid €90,000 and had the structure of the house so weakened all he could do was have the house demolished!]
We were sad, but it wasn't unexpected. [I think we've looked in all the hats to see if there might be any rabbits!]
The huissier [a kind of indepent witness to any kind of dispute] said we would have a really good claim against Dominique.
But the main problem with taking the Tribunal route would be the length of time before we could begin work again on the house. The court case could take up to 5 years, and cost €5-10,000 in lawyers fees.
At the end of that, there may be no money with which to pay us anyway, so that would still be an enormous risk...
The huissier thought that Dominique's name rang a bell, so he called a colleague of his: apparently, there is (at least) one other court case in progress against Dominique, so even if we went down that route, we'd have to join a queue of creditors...
It's not looking an appealing course of action (especially given my family's experience of resorting to the law to resolve a dispute where we're got a really good case!), but we haven't made our minds up yet.
The day ended on a better note: we managed to get through most of "lots" of the dossier of works to be done with M. Petipas. We had a lot of points where we just didn't quite understand the technical language and M. Petipas explained what it all meant.
A few points were completely incomprehensible to us (all the words made sense, but not when used in that order!), but again they were easily clarified. Even in English, technical building terms aren't easy until you know what they mean!
There are a few points where we didn't want the proposed course of action, but most of those are also now resolved: either we could change those, or there is a valid reason we didn't know about why it has to happen that way, so we'll just go with what they have put.
So that just leaves a few points to be clarified, then (hopefully!) we are good to go.
M. Boyer has written to various trades asking if they wish to quote for our job, and has received some replies. He needs a few more companies, then they will have a day at the site with the interested companies, who will go away and send us quotes.
Sounds so easy! But we're keeping everything crossed!
Once M. Boyer & M. Petipas have analysed the quotes and we have chosen which companies to go with, then it should all be ready to start once a timetable has been agreed.
I do so hope everything works out right this time...
Monday, December 10, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Back in Blighty!
David came out to France to collect me and the car, and for a meeting with M. Boyer on 22nd October.
We were putting all the things in the house (beds, fridge, tables, clothes, crockery, etc.) upstairs so that when the various new artisans come to give estimates they can see the house (rather than our clutter).
We're also hoping that before next summer work will have started again, so everything needs to be out of the way for that...
Fingers crossed!
I really wasn't ready to come home, even the week David was coming out, until the Friday I was collecting him from the station.
We'd had 2 cold days up to that point, and Friday was another cold miserable day (13°C in the house, and 13½°C outside!).
With the damp I wasn't managing to get any weeding done outside, and there's nothing inside I can really do (cleaned a lot of woodwork, but that will be an ongoing task; removing decades of grease & grime).
So, by Friday evening I was about ready to pack up & come back home.
Which is a good thing - I get terribly grouchy when confined back into a 1-bed flat before I'm ready!
Thankfully, the weather really turned colder whilst we were packing the house away - one night it got down to -1°C in the house, and -1½°C! OK, so that was upstairs, it only dropped to 7 or 8°C dowstairs.
Still, cold enough that staying there had become endurance rather than enjoyment.
Time to retreat!
We stayed in a hotel (heating, bath, bliss!) on the Monday evening, and awoke to a world white over on Tuesday morning.
Not snow, just an incredibly heavy frost.
Yup, definitely time to go!
I'm readjusting to life with light switches.
Catching up with 2 months laundry was fun!
Good job I have so much stuff - 18 loads doesn't average out too badly, when you factor in the several machine-fulls of washing that David had generated for me.
Now we have to go through the dossier that M. Boyer has prepared to check that it includes everything we want doing...
Still concerned about whether we need RSJs to support the mezzanine level, though...
Apparently, French architects are trained to perform structural calculations, so Nicholas should be able to tell us whether steels are needed.
But I'm still worried.
Do I call an English Structural Engineer?
We were putting all the things in the house (beds, fridge, tables, clothes, crockery, etc.) upstairs so that when the various new artisans come to give estimates they can see the house (rather than our clutter).
We're also hoping that before next summer work will have started again, so everything needs to be out of the way for that...
Fingers crossed!
I really wasn't ready to come home, even the week David was coming out, until the Friday I was collecting him from the station.
We'd had 2 cold days up to that point, and Friday was another cold miserable day (13°C in the house, and 13½°C outside!).
With the damp I wasn't managing to get any weeding done outside, and there's nothing inside I can really do (cleaned a lot of woodwork, but that will be an ongoing task; removing decades of grease & grime).
So, by Friday evening I was about ready to pack up & come back home.
Which is a good thing - I get terribly grouchy when confined back into a 1-bed flat before I'm ready!
Thankfully, the weather really turned colder whilst we were packing the house away - one night it got down to -1°C in the house, and -1½°C! OK, so that was upstairs, it only dropped to 7 or 8°C dowstairs.
Still, cold enough that staying there had become endurance rather than enjoyment.
Time to retreat!
We stayed in a hotel (heating, bath, bliss!) on the Monday evening, and awoke to a world white over on Tuesday morning.
Not snow, just an incredibly heavy frost.
Yup, definitely time to go!
I'm readjusting to life with light switches.
Catching up with 2 months laundry was fun!
Good job I have so much stuff - 18 loads doesn't average out too badly, when you factor in the several machine-fulls of washing that David had generated for me.
Now we have to go through the dossier that M. Boyer has prepared to check that it includes everything we want doing...
Still concerned about whether we need RSJs to support the mezzanine level, though...
Apparently, French architects are trained to perform structural calculations, so Nicholas should be able to tell us whether steels are needed.
But I'm still worried.
Do I call an English Structural Engineer?
Friday, October 19, 2007
Fried eggs are more environmentally friendly than boiled eggs…
In the interests of taking better care of the planet, I'm thinking of switching to fried egg butties from egg mayo sarnies (as I'm just starting to take some exercise again, and an incentive is sometimes to eat fatty - rather than 'healthy' - food).
Making the egg mayonnaise mix the other day, I got to thinking about power and water usage...
Fried egg: after the pan is hot, 3-4 minutes of electricity is all it takes to get a cooked white/deliciously runny-yolked egg. End of consumption of natural resources. Oil can be reused a couple of times (or if you run a restaurant of the less hygiene-conscious kind, lots of times!), and very little oil is needed anyway.
Boiled egg: it's much quicker to boil water in a kettle than from cold on the electric ring, so I tend to boil the kettle while the ring is heating (same amount of electricity as getting the frying pan hot + kettle boiling juice-usage). Ten minutes makes the perfect boiled egg for egg mayonnaise (don't want a runny yolk - no soldiers here! - nor do I want to achieve the grey-edged, green-tinged yolk that you occasionally come across in professional catering). So that's another 6 or 7 minutes electricity required. Then, you need to cool the eggs quickly, to stop the cooking process, so the cold tap is running for several minutes. Even if you don't leave the tap running and just fill a bowl with cold water, it still warms up surprisingly quickly and needs replenishing a couple of times. Net result: more electricity (especially if you boil the water in the saucepan) and litres of water used (and I'm guessing no-one is going to save that for another couple of eggs a few days later).
My advice: if you want to save the planet, eat fried food!
Does it show that I've been reading Scott Adams?
Making the egg mayonnaise mix the other day, I got to thinking about power and water usage...
Fried egg: after the pan is hot, 3-4 minutes of electricity is all it takes to get a cooked white/deliciously runny-yolked egg. End of consumption of natural resources. Oil can be reused a couple of times (or if you run a restaurant of the less hygiene-conscious kind, lots of times!), and very little oil is needed anyway.
Boiled egg: it's much quicker to boil water in a kettle than from cold on the electric ring, so I tend to boil the kettle while the ring is heating (same amount of electricity as getting the frying pan hot + kettle boiling juice-usage). Ten minutes makes the perfect boiled egg for egg mayonnaise (don't want a runny yolk - no soldiers here! - nor do I want to achieve the grey-edged, green-tinged yolk that you occasionally come across in professional catering). So that's another 6 or 7 minutes electricity required. Then, you need to cool the eggs quickly, to stop the cooking process, so the cold tap is running for several minutes. Even if you don't leave the tap running and just fill a bowl with cold water, it still warms up surprisingly quickly and needs replenishing a couple of times. Net result: more electricity (especially if you boil the water in the saucepan) and litres of water used (and I'm guessing no-one is going to save that for another couple of eggs a few days later).
My advice: if you want to save the planet, eat fried food!
Does it show that I've been reading Scott Adams?
Japanese Goldfish Emoticon
<°)))><
I'm not sure what emotion a goldfish conveys, but I like the idea of a goldfish emoticon.
Just hope it's not rude!
I'm not sure what emotion a goldfish conveys, but I like the idea of a goldfish emoticon.
Just hope it's not rude!
Hunting/wildlife
The hunting season started late September, and I hear a few shots several times a week, so know that the chasseurs are out there.
I asked one of the neighbours whether it was safe to walk when they are hunting, and she replied that they haven't managed to ban us from walking, but to turn back if you hear the guns; the huntsmen are so intent on the chasse that they will fire on anything that moves!
Thankfully, I've not heard any guns whilst I've been on a walk!
But I did surprise a couple of deer - they bounded off into the wood before I could get close enough to take a photo (from experience, I know my camera's zoom won't make it that far).
They were lucky I wasn't after venison!
We see (what seems to someone used to England) a lot of wildlife round here: red and roe deer, herons, buzzards, other birds of prey (I'm no good at telling them apart - just know that they are incredibly noisy to have round the garden!).
I wonder whether that's because they are so keen on hunting in France that they make proper efforts to preserve wildlife habitat?
Being vegetarian, perhaps I should be against hunting? But I'm not, as long as it is people killing animals that they intend to eat, and killing them cleanly.
Let's not get into why I find it disturbing that some people enjoy the sight of a living animal being ripped apart for fun...!
I asked one of the neighbours whether it was safe to walk when they are hunting, and she replied that they haven't managed to ban us from walking, but to turn back if you hear the guns; the huntsmen are so intent on the chasse that they will fire on anything that moves!
Thankfully, I've not heard any guns whilst I've been on a walk!
But I did surprise a couple of deer - they bounded off into the wood before I could get close enough to take a photo (from experience, I know my camera's zoom won't make it that far).
They were lucky I wasn't after venison!
We see (what seems to someone used to England) a lot of wildlife round here: red and roe deer, herons, buzzards, other birds of prey (I'm no good at telling them apart - just know that they are incredibly noisy to have round the garden!).
I wonder whether that's because they are so keen on hunting in France that they make proper efforts to preserve wildlife habitat?
Being vegetarian, perhaps I should be against hunting? But I'm not, as long as it is people killing animals that they intend to eat, and killing them cleanly.
Let's not get into why I find it disturbing that some people enjoy the sight of a living animal being ripped apart for fun...!
Changing Seasons
It's getting colder now; definitely feels like Autumn, even on the warmest days, rather than "Indian" Summer.
It was 5°C yesterday when I got up, and 3°C this morning.
Yesterday, when the mist had cleared, the garden was steaming...
I felt as though I lived near a hot spring.
It's too wet to do any gardening (there's no power in the sun to dry the soil, and I don't want to compact it any more than I absolutely have to), but thankfully dry enough to go for a walk.
That's assuming I don't mind the occasional mud-removal stop, which I don't.
So much nicer that the city equivalent: dog-sh!t-removal stop!
The advantage of nice sticky mud is being taller without having to have shoe lifts!
The trees and vines are starting to change colour, and I'm catching a whiff of woodsmoke now and then (and feeling jealous when I do!), and have resorted to wearing my lightly-tinted sunglasses to keep the wind out of my eyes.
I don't want people to think I'm crying when I'm lovin' it!
It was 5°C yesterday when I got up, and 3°C this morning.
Yesterday, when the mist had cleared, the garden was steaming...
I felt as though I lived near a hot spring.
It's too wet to do any gardening (there's no power in the sun to dry the soil, and I don't want to compact it any more than I absolutely have to), but thankfully dry enough to go for a walk.
That's assuming I don't mind the occasional mud-removal stop, which I don't.
So much nicer that the city equivalent: dog-sh!t-removal stop!
The advantage of nice sticky mud is being taller without having to have shoe lifts!
The trees and vines are starting to change colour, and I'm catching a whiff of woodsmoke now and then (and feeling jealous when I do!), and have resorted to wearing my lightly-tinted sunglasses to keep the wind out of my eyes.
I don't want people to think I'm crying when I'm lovin' it!
Friday, October 12, 2007
I LOVE the internet!!
Where else could I get a (free) nostalgia trip as I washed the windows?
Incredible String Band for free!
Cleaning the windows to try and generate some warmth, in case anyone thinks I've gone domesticated!
James Gang, Robin Trower, Joan Baez - I'd forgotten I liked stuff like that...
Remembered I like artists like Nick Drake, Mamas & Papas, Beach Boys, so had quite an entertaining time.
Think I might get an iPod thingy...
Bizarre being able to share my random thoughts, not to mention my sartorial elegance (HeHe), with anyone who might happen across this blog...
Total strangers, friends, alien life?
Doing a blog feels like the broadcasts from I can't remember whom - they broadcast into space in case extraplanetary lifeforms are tuning in (presuming the greys are interested in the ramblings of earthlings!).
Doesn't matter who pays attention, or who doesn't.
I feel I've made the effort to communicate, and that makes me happy!
Happy meandering, all!
[The gear in case anyone is wondering is an effort to get/stay warm in the kitchen.
I could go in the bedroom and light the gas fire...
... but Dominique's lack of care/attention to detail extended to not making any attempt to rodent-proof before insulating the bedroom.
I know the little buggers use the space behind the plasterboard as a playground, but I have a nasty suspicion it has become the final resting place of one of them...
There's enough of a hint of, ahem, "disintegration" that I'm reluctant to sit in there longer than I have to!
I could go to bed with a hottie (water bottle, not top tottie, in case my beloved is reading. HeHeHe!), but 5.30pm seems a little early to give up!]
The internet radio has just stumbled across Shawn Phillips, whom I'm enjoying - is he famous?
Incredible String Band for free!
Cleaning the windows to try and generate some warmth, in case anyone thinks I've gone domesticated!
James Gang, Robin Trower, Joan Baez - I'd forgotten I liked stuff like that...
Remembered I like artists like Nick Drake, Mamas & Papas, Beach Boys, so had quite an entertaining time.
Think I might get an iPod thingy...
Bizarre being able to share my random thoughts, not to mention my sartorial elegance (HeHe), with anyone who might happen across this blog...
Total strangers, friends, alien life?
Doing a blog feels like the broadcasts from I can't remember whom - they broadcast into space in case extraplanetary lifeforms are tuning in (presuming the greys are interested in the ramblings of earthlings!).
Doesn't matter who pays attention, or who doesn't.
I feel I've made the effort to communicate, and that makes me happy!
Happy meandering, all!
[The gear in case anyone is wondering is an effort to get/stay warm in the kitchen.
I could go in the bedroom and light the gas fire...
... but Dominique's lack of care/attention to detail extended to not making any attempt to rodent-proof before insulating the bedroom.
I know the little buggers use the space behind the plasterboard as a playground, but I have a nasty suspicion it has become the final resting place of one of them...
There's enough of a hint of, ahem, "disintegration" that I'm reluctant to sit in there longer than I have to!
I could go to bed with a hottie (water bottle, not top tottie, in case my beloved is reading. HeHeHe!), but 5.30pm seems a little early to give up!]
The internet radio has just stumbled across Shawn Phillips, whom I'm enjoying - is he famous?
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Miscellaneous:
When we got back here after going home for a couple of weeks, it felt weird, but in an indefinable way. I couldn't work out what was wrong...
Until David pointed out that the clock wasn’t (or more precisely, the bells weren’t) working. It was almost eerie!
It was a few days before they fixed it, and I really missed it.
We spoke with the neighbour who has some vines at the back of our meadow, but lives in another village, and he said their clock only strikes the hour through the night (not the quarters, nor the hour twice) and they only have the midday and 7pm Angelus.
I suppose that’s what you get when you have Parisian second homers in the village!
Last night was down to 4°C, after a day when it was 11°C at midday. Sadly (for those of us who have turned into nesh Southerners!), it was 12°C upstairs & 13°C downstairs in the house.
Not warm enough!
Lovely!
I haven't seen a single packet for anything organic, cold-pressed or additive-free!
Until David pointed out that the clock wasn’t (or more precisely, the bells weren’t) working. It was almost eerie!
It was a few days before they fixed it, and I really missed it.
We spoke with the neighbour who has some vines at the back of our meadow, but lives in another village, and he said their clock only strikes the hour through the night (not the quarters, nor the hour twice) and they only have the midday and 7pm Angelus.
I suppose that’s what you get when you have Parisian second homers in the village!
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It was down to 5°C at night in early September – a reminder that autumn starts early here. They say that after 15 August, summer is finished.Last night was down to 4°C, after a day when it was 11°C at midday. Sadly (for those of us who have turned into nesh Southerners!), it was 12°C upstairs & 13°C downstairs in the house.
Not warm enough!
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I’m getting used to driving again. One day, I even enjoyed myself! Mostly it’s still not enjoyable, although I have taken to using fifth gear occasionally!--------------------------------------------------
I saw gentians whilst out walking near the motorway – I was following a track that doesn’t really lead anywhere, but goes under the motorway & there they were by the side of the “road”.Lovely!
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Is it just coincidence that the people who throw their food wrappers out of car windows eat rubbish?I haven't seen a single packet for anything organic, cold-pressed or additive-free!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose
We had a reminder of “Old” France the other day – we overtook an old gentleman (in very faded “bleus” & beret) on his Mobylette (itself a rarity these days) pulling a trailer.
I’m sure there are EU laws against that sort of thing! But it was a heartwarming reminder of times gone by in this lovely country.
The “New” France seems well illustrated by my neighbours: after a lot of shouting, one of the children dragged the bin down the drive to the road (50m? 75m?). More shouting, and then the mum drove down to the bin and dumped three (pretty light – I’d have got more than that in one!) sacks of recycling.
I thought she was on her way out somewhere, and was dropping off the bags on her way, but no, she turned round and drove back to the house! They usually wait for the father to visit to get the bin back (he drags it by holding the handle whilst driving up to the house).
Makes me wonder whether I should get the car out to take my compost to the snail pit?
The only problem is the car is in the barn, and I’d have to walk nearly to the snail pits to get it!
I’m sure there are EU laws against that sort of thing! But it was a heartwarming reminder of times gone by in this lovely country.
The “New” France seems well illustrated by my neighbours: after a lot of shouting, one of the children dragged the bin down the drive to the road (50m? 75m?). More shouting, and then the mum drove down to the bin and dumped three (pretty light – I’d have got more than that in one!) sacks of recycling.
I thought she was on her way out somewhere, and was dropping off the bags on her way, but no, she turned round and drove back to the house! They usually wait for the father to visit to get the bin back (he drags it by holding the handle whilst driving up to the house).
Makes me wonder whether I should get the car out to take my compost to the snail pit?
The only problem is the car is in the barn, and I’d have to walk nearly to the snail pits to get it!
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Creatures: latest…
Chouette:
We’ve had a visit from the owl in the grenier (feathers, owl pellet & droppings tell a clear story!)…
I had hoped he’d gone elsewhere (especially when I found owl pellets in the barn – quite happy for him to be there), as I’m in the process of cleaning the floor up there.
Frog:
I went to the loo one night, & my eyes had been really watery, so when I came back into the bedroom I was only slightly surprised to see a drop of water by the door.
I didn’t think I could have had a teardrop quite that big, so I had a closer look.
When the “teardrop” blinked at me, I knew I’d have to wipe away the tears properly!
Needless to say, he got turfed out pretty pronto!
[No, it’s not true they turn into princes if you kiss them!]
Bêtes volantes:
I saw a dragonfly – I’d swear he was in camouflage gear, but he was gone too quickly for me to get the camera, so I’ll never know. Pretty impressive size, though.
Brimstone & chalk hill blue (I think) were another couple of butterflies I can add to my list, but probably won’t as they weren’t in the garden, but in the fields behind…
Aoûtats: that’s harvest mites to you & me. Trust me – these chaps are to be avoided!!
You think it's just a cloud of (virtually) colourless little flies, but they carry passengers...
I was in the pharmacy asking whether they had any insect repellent that I could spray on my clothing (they seem to get trapped under waist-bands, bra-straps, knicker-elastic – anywhere it’s constricted – and try to bite their way out!), when an older lady came over to help.
Fortunately she asked all the right questions. My mixture of improvisation & mime is usually successful in communicating what I want, but I didn’t relish doing: “And they lodge under my knicker-elastic and everywhere my bra touches” without knowing the words for “knickers”, “elastic” or “bra”! Underwiring I couldn’t even begin to guess at…
Thankfully, the combination of cooling weather (the only reason I was happy for the temperature to drop), and changing seasons meant that I only had one bite after spraying my clothing with the insecticide.
Next time I work under the trees I will buy the insecticide first!
Birds:
We had a green woodpecker on the damson tree in the garden; almost enough to make me want to keep it…
But then when you think why the woodpecker was so keen (the middle of the tree is rotten & has become an ants’ nest), I still haven’t changed my mind.
M. Lorin says he will come and chop it down in the winter – he doesn’t want to damage too many of my plants, which is sweet of him.
I saw a flight of partridges (well, I think they were) the other day when I went for a walk.
This was prior to the start of the shooting season, mind you!
3 blind mice:
One evening I was enchanted/infuriated by three baby mice (let’s face it, they probably weren’t blind) nervously skittering out from behind a box on the floor.
I’m terribly squeamish about killing things (flies, mosquitoes, slugs & snails I’ve managed to make an exception for, but it took years for me to stop feeling guilty about killing them), so despite their lack of awareness, I didn’t stamp on them…
Next morning when M. Boyer and his daughter (who speaks very good English and came along to translate where necessary) were sitting in the kitchen, I wished I had squished the little buggers…
Completely gone was any timidity – they were scampering across the floor: from the fridge to the shower, round the table, to the front door, back to the table, round M. Boyer’s feet!
My French is nowhere near good enough to say: “I’m really sorry/massively embarrassed by this. I wish I could stamp on the little blighters, but I can’t! No, they are too light for the mousetraps to kill them – see where they have eaten the apricots without setting off the trap?”
We’ve tried poison, but very little interest in that… And I’ve only had an “odd” smell a couple of times… So I think that’s more likely down to natural wastage than the poison working.
Have bought a couple of rattraps, but suspect it’s dormice/garden dormice that we’ve got rather than rats…
Oh, and shrews don’t eat apricots!
The traps have been completely ignored every time my unwelcome visitor has been a shrew…
I don’t know whether they eat walnuts or not…
There was sustained (and irritating) rustling yesterday – enough to stop what I was doing & try and find (and eject) the culprit.
Usually when I get up & go towards the noise that is the signal for silence. This time, however, the shrew in the bag of walnuts wasn’t paying attention! I couldn’t face the prospect of this noise going on until the shrew got bored, so I grabbed the bag and shook it.
I hate killing things I don’t have to (as I’ve mentioned), but that was going to drive me potty! I couldn’t then cope with the thought of a decaying body (however small) in the bag of walnuts, so I had to find it & remove it…
Only I hadn’t killed the shrew, he was still in the bag I was emptying to try and find his corpse!
Tub-trugs are wonderful! I was down to the last few walnuts into the third trug, when the shrew popped out.
Knowing (from experience) that small rodents have sharp teeth, I caught him in my Pyrex jug – and dropped him into the last trug (no chance of him climbing the sides & escaping.
He was re-homed in my pile of rotting wood – plenty of nice insects there to eat, hopefully!
We’ve had a visit from the owl in the grenier (feathers, owl pellet & droppings tell a clear story!)…
I had hoped he’d gone elsewhere (especially when I found owl pellets in the barn – quite happy for him to be there), as I’m in the process of cleaning the floor up there.
Frog:
I went to the loo one night, & my eyes had been really watery, so when I came back into the bedroom I was only slightly surprised to see a drop of water by the door.
I didn’t think I could have had a teardrop quite that big, so I had a closer look.
When the “teardrop” blinked at me, I knew I’d have to wipe away the tears properly!
Needless to say, he got turfed out pretty pronto!
[No, it’s not true they turn into princes if you kiss them!]
Bêtes volantes:
I saw a dragonfly – I’d swear he was in camouflage gear, but he was gone too quickly for me to get the camera, so I’ll never know. Pretty impressive size, though.
Brimstone & chalk hill blue (I think) were another couple of butterflies I can add to my list, but probably won’t as they weren’t in the garden, but in the fields behind…
Aoûtats: that’s harvest mites to you & me. Trust me – these chaps are to be avoided!!
You think it's just a cloud of (virtually) colourless little flies, but they carry passengers...
I was in the pharmacy asking whether they had any insect repellent that I could spray on my clothing (they seem to get trapped under waist-bands, bra-straps, knicker-elastic – anywhere it’s constricted – and try to bite their way out!), when an older lady came over to help.
Fortunately she asked all the right questions. My mixture of improvisation & mime is usually successful in communicating what I want, but I didn’t relish doing: “And they lodge under my knicker-elastic and everywhere my bra touches” without knowing the words for “knickers”, “elastic” or “bra”! Underwiring I couldn’t even begin to guess at…
Thankfully, the combination of cooling weather (the only reason I was happy for the temperature to drop), and changing seasons meant that I only had one bite after spraying my clothing with the insecticide.
Next time I work under the trees I will buy the insecticide first!
Birds:
We had a green woodpecker on the damson tree in the garden; almost enough to make me want to keep it…
But then when you think why the woodpecker was so keen (the middle of the tree is rotten & has become an ants’ nest), I still haven’t changed my mind.
M. Lorin says he will come and chop it down in the winter – he doesn’t want to damage too many of my plants, which is sweet of him.
I saw a flight of partridges (well, I think they were) the other day when I went for a walk.
This was prior to the start of the shooting season, mind you!
3 blind mice:
One evening I was enchanted/infuriated by three baby mice (let’s face it, they probably weren’t blind) nervously skittering out from behind a box on the floor.
I’m terribly squeamish about killing things (flies, mosquitoes, slugs & snails I’ve managed to make an exception for, but it took years for me to stop feeling guilty about killing them), so despite their lack of awareness, I didn’t stamp on them…
Next morning when M. Boyer and his daughter (who speaks very good English and came along to translate where necessary) were sitting in the kitchen, I wished I had squished the little buggers…
Completely gone was any timidity – they were scampering across the floor: from the fridge to the shower, round the table, to the front door, back to the table, round M. Boyer’s feet!
My French is nowhere near good enough to say: “I’m really sorry/massively embarrassed by this. I wish I could stamp on the little blighters, but I can’t! No, they are too light for the mousetraps to kill them – see where they have eaten the apricots without setting off the trap?”
We’ve tried poison, but very little interest in that… And I’ve only had an “odd” smell a couple of times… So I think that’s more likely down to natural wastage than the poison working.
Have bought a couple of rattraps, but suspect it’s dormice/garden dormice that we’ve got rather than rats…
Oh, and shrews don’t eat apricots!
The traps have been completely ignored every time my unwelcome visitor has been a shrew…
I don’t know whether they eat walnuts or not…
There was sustained (and irritating) rustling yesterday – enough to stop what I was doing & try and find (and eject) the culprit.
Usually when I get up & go towards the noise that is the signal for silence. This time, however, the shrew in the bag of walnuts wasn’t paying attention! I couldn’t face the prospect of this noise going on until the shrew got bored, so I grabbed the bag and shook it.
I hate killing things I don’t have to (as I’ve mentioned), but that was going to drive me potty! I couldn’t then cope with the thought of a decaying body (however small) in the bag of walnuts, so I had to find it & remove it…
Only I hadn’t killed the shrew, he was still in the bag I was emptying to try and find his corpse!
Tub-trugs are wonderful! I was down to the last few walnuts into the third trug, when the shrew popped out.
Knowing (from experience) that small rodents have sharp teeth, I caught him in my Pyrex jug – and dropped him into the last trug (no chance of him climbing the sides & escaping.
He was re-homed in my pile of rotting wood – plenty of nice insects there to eat, hopefully!
Vanishing brush
I’ve hurt my wrist – throwing a stick for David. Some may say that’s just desserts for leading him a dog’s life, but it wasn’t like that…!
We hired a chipper/shredder for three days, which was too big to fit in the car, so we also hired a trailer.
Given that it was nearly £100 a day for the combo, we were trying to get all the chipping done in time to return the machine on Friday evening.
The money that would save would pay for my (much dreamed of) night in a hotel. And, more importantly, that soak in a bath! So quite an incentive to keep going when we’d had enough.
I was already quite achy from chopping down the trees/pulling up the ivy and hauling all the remains to the piles to be shredded or the compost heap, and after about four hours was getting tired.
I threw the stick, but caught my thumb in the pocket of my boiler suit, so the stick sailed off at right angles, and I jarred my wrist!
David needed the stick to prod into the chipper to clear any leafy residue that would block the machine. [Given that everything was sodden – intermittent, but heavy, rain being order of the day – and that we’d cleared blockages a couple of times, we were keen not to have to poke around the blades another time. Yes, motor turned off, spark plug removed!]
When I was doing the chipping, I just prodded with a long branch to clear leaves and then let that go through the machine, but each to his own.
Needless to say, the Law of Sod was fully operational; we finished the chipping about 15 minutes too late to be sure of getting the chipper back to the hire shop before it closed.
As we’d got so close, David kindly sent me off to have a shower, while he tidied up the fallen leaves and cleaned the chipper as much as possible (without getting out the power washer). We also loaded the chipper back onto the trailer to be able to get going early the next day.
In a way, it worked out in our favour: the nice man in the hire shop only charged us two days hire (it was one of those “could go either way” choices – we’d been told the machine would be available after 10.30 on the Thursday, so we did have it a little less than 2 days, but we were returning it on day 3...); we visited the depot vente and bought three flat irons for less than a tenner; we got to have lunch out in Troyes.
So, no complaints then!
And it looked lovely when we got back to a clean tidy drive/garden.
We hired a chipper/shredder for three days, which was too big to fit in the car, so we also hired a trailer.
Given that it was nearly £100 a day for the combo, we were trying to get all the chipping done in time to return the machine on Friday evening.
The money that would save would pay for my (much dreamed of) night in a hotel. And, more importantly, that soak in a bath! So quite an incentive to keep going when we’d had enough.
I was already quite achy from chopping down the trees/pulling up the ivy and hauling all the remains to the piles to be shredded or the compost heap, and after about four hours was getting tired.
I threw the stick, but caught my thumb in the pocket of my boiler suit, so the stick sailed off at right angles, and I jarred my wrist!
David needed the stick to prod into the chipper to clear any leafy residue that would block the machine. [Given that everything was sodden – intermittent, but heavy, rain being order of the day – and that we’d cleared blockages a couple of times, we were keen not to have to poke around the blades another time. Yes, motor turned off, spark plug removed!]
When I was doing the chipping, I just prodded with a long branch to clear leaves and then let that go through the machine, but each to his own.
Needless to say, the Law of Sod was fully operational; we finished the chipping about 15 minutes too late to be sure of getting the chipper back to the hire shop before it closed.
As we’d got so close, David kindly sent me off to have a shower, while he tidied up the fallen leaves and cleaned the chipper as much as possible (without getting out the power washer). We also loaded the chipper back onto the trailer to be able to get going early the next day.
In a way, it worked out in our favour: the nice man in the hire shop only charged us two days hire (it was one of those “could go either way” choices – we’d been told the machine would be available after 10.30 on the Thursday, so we did have it a little less than 2 days, but we were returning it on day 3...); we visited the depot vente and bought three flat irons for less than a tenner; we got to have lunch out in Troyes.
So, no complaints then!
And it looked lovely when we got back to a clean tidy drive/garden.
Monday, September 24, 2007
I can hardly believe...
... that I've been here over four weeks!
Time has just flown by in a blur of weeding and, well basically more weeding! I've been trying to get the garden bit at the front as weed-free as possible in so that I can mulch it with pebbles - to suppress the weeds.
But no point putting the pebbles down until it is weed-free...
And fennel-seedling-free!! The fennel (unlike at home) has been the most promiscuous thug - both plants have surrounded themselves with numerous (deeply unwanted) offspring. So much so that I'm going to take out both plants as well as killing all the seedlings - I really can't face the results of them seeding another year.
This year I cut off all the flower heads as soon as the insects lost interest in them (before they could shed their seed). The green one was incredibly vigorous (again, compared to my one at home - one stem, about 18" high, one [or maybe two] flower head[s] - apparently the one in Brixton is not the norm!), but the bronze one was still overshadowing its neighbours.
Technically, I suppose, what I was doing for one of the weeks couldn't really be called "weeding"!
Weeding-too-late?
Lumberjacking?
Either way, I've been chopping down trees (about 3 dozen, I reckon, not including various shrubs). I felt terribly rugged; but also a bit scared - the [deceased] neighbour's shed (is that the word for something about 40' x 30'?) is right on the property boundary, awfully close to where my trees were coming down...
I was envisaging having to phone the notaire to try to contact the beneficiaries to apologise if the roof sustained "tree damage"; not something I relished, so I think that made me super careful.
Technically, again, I suppose "trees" might be too strong a word for it? They were maybe saplings? Anyway, they were mostly ash, 2½" to 4" in diameter and 20' to 25' tall (at a guess).
My theory is that when M. Lorin's wife died, and he lost interest in everything, he stopped spraying everywhere quite as thoroughly as usual. So these ash seedlings were allowed to grow for a year or two...
Then we bought the house, and didn't do anything about them for (nearly) three years. A couple of ivy-strangled rotten damsons as well.
Hence me getting out the "suspendies" and "high heels"!
Struggled on the "buttered scones" though...
Paris-Brest not quite the same!
Once all the trees were down (and the evidence "hidden" - I will try to post a photo, then you'll see what I mean!), I spent another week pulling out all the ivy between the bases of the trees, and down the banks.
["For the love of ivy" it was not!]
Still have to get rid of the stumps, tho'!
Time has just flown by in a blur of weeding and, well basically more weeding! I've been trying to get the garden bit at the front as weed-free as possible in so that I can mulch it with pebbles - to suppress the weeds.
But no point putting the pebbles down until it is weed-free...
And fennel-seedling-free!! The fennel (unlike at home) has been the most promiscuous thug - both plants have surrounded themselves with numerous (deeply unwanted) offspring. So much so that I'm going to take out both plants as well as killing all the seedlings - I really can't face the results of them seeding another year.
This year I cut off all the flower heads as soon as the insects lost interest in them (before they could shed their seed). The green one was incredibly vigorous (again, compared to my one at home - one stem, about 18" high, one [or maybe two] flower head[s] - apparently the one in Brixton is not the norm!), but the bronze one was still overshadowing its neighbours.
Technically, I suppose, what I was doing for one of the weeks couldn't really be called "weeding"!
Weeding-too-late?
Lumberjacking?
Either way, I've been chopping down trees (about 3 dozen, I reckon, not including various shrubs). I felt terribly rugged; but also a bit scared - the [deceased] neighbour's shed (is that the word for something about 40' x 30'?) is right on the property boundary, awfully close to where my trees were coming down...
I was envisaging having to phone the notaire to try to contact the beneficiaries to apologise if the roof sustained "tree damage"; not something I relished, so I think that made me super careful.
Technically, again, I suppose "trees" might be too strong a word for it? They were maybe saplings? Anyway, they were mostly ash, 2½" to 4" in diameter and 20' to 25' tall (at a guess).
My theory is that when M. Lorin's wife died, and he lost interest in everything, he stopped spraying everywhere quite as thoroughly as usual. So these ash seedlings were allowed to grow for a year or two...
Then we bought the house, and didn't do anything about them for (nearly) three years. A couple of ivy-strangled rotten damsons as well.
Hence me getting out the "suspendies" and "high heels"!
Struggled on the "buttered scones" though...
Paris-Brest not quite the same!
Once all the trees were down (and the evidence "hidden" - I will try to post a photo, then you'll see what I mean!), I spent another week pulling out all the ivy between the bases of the trees, and down the banks.
["For the love of ivy" it was not!]
Still have to get rid of the stumps, tho'!
Friday, August 10, 2007
David
A couple of minor bits of bad news.
Firstly, he went on a Track Day at Dijon Prenois which he was really looking forward to.
Especially after his last track outing!
I'd watched him do 3 or 4 laps, and could see he was taking it sensibly while he was getting to know the circuit, and then as it was one of the few very hot days we've had I went back to the car to apply some stronger sunblock.
I was just sending a text, when he appeared next to me: some idiot had run wide on a bend and hit David's handlebars, knocking him off course.
Needless to say, a sudden change of direction when you were on the right line for a bend usually proves messy.
As it did on this occasion.
Sadly the chap who ran into him seemed to have the same level of manners as skill in riding, and he never stopped to see if David was OK.
At first he thought his finger was broken, but having tried (fruitlessly) for nearly an hour to find a paramedic, he reckoned it was probably just badly bruised.
Obviously, given the scratching to the body work at his last track outing, it was the other side that took the brunt this time.
And the other lever!
At least he'd had the toughened engine cases fitted...
He said that given the listing said there were three categories of rider - fast, very fast & racer - and he'd put himself into the slowest group, he was amazed at how poor most of the riding was.
In the 4/5 laps he was out there, he saw 2 people come off the track, one near-miss, and a nasty accident that ended up with the guy going off to hospital in the ambulance.
Not mentioning his own little incident!
At least he's OK now.
Bikers Dayz (who deserve a big thumbs down on this occasion) had turned a 3 set track day into a single free-for-all filler space (morning and afternoon) in a endurance cup race meeting.
I had been to another track day they organised at Spa Francorchamps, which was lovely: very laid-back, well structured and I felt happy about David going to Dijon with them.
But the level of adrenaline/testosterone at the place made me feel quite uncomfortable (and I grew up with bikers, so it's not like Im not used to a bit of muck & sweat).
I left it to David to decide whether he wanted to go out for the afternoon session, but was mightily relieved when he decided against it.
Pretty expensive 20 minutes!
Especially when you factor in the petrol/motorway tolls & repairs to his bike & leathers.
On the up side, at least he hadn't booked his place till he was sure he was recovered from Rockingham, and by then the Saturday & Sunday spaces had all sold out - could have been several hundred euros worse.
Could also have been much, much worse.
A spoiled day, but compared to the alternatives we were happy.
On to the second bit of minor bad news: David went to the fracture clinic at Guy's yesterday, and his collarbone is not healing as well as it should.
The doctor said it was a nasty break (well, I can see a nasty bump, so find that easy to believe), and David now tells me he is getting tingling/numbness in his hand.
Neurological symptoms can be a side effect of a collarbone fracture where the callus presses on the brachial plexus, but I'm now worried that they might want to operate on him.
Not happy about that, but will have to wait and see...
He has a physio appointment booked for next week, and another appointment at the fracture clinic in three weeks as the doctor wanted to discuss his care with a specialist.
Keep your fingers crossed, and watch this space.
Firstly, he went on a Track Day at Dijon Prenois which he was really looking forward to.
Especially after his last track outing!
I'd watched him do 3 or 4 laps, and could see he was taking it sensibly while he was getting to know the circuit, and then as it was one of the few very hot days we've had I went back to the car to apply some stronger sunblock.
I was just sending a text, when he appeared next to me: some idiot had run wide on a bend and hit David's handlebars, knocking him off course.
Needless to say, a sudden change of direction when you were on the right line for a bend usually proves messy.
As it did on this occasion.
Sadly the chap who ran into him seemed to have the same level of manners as skill in riding, and he never stopped to see if David was OK.
At first he thought his finger was broken, but having tried (fruitlessly) for nearly an hour to find a paramedic, he reckoned it was probably just badly bruised.
Obviously, given the scratching to the body work at his last track outing, it was the other side that took the brunt this time.
And the other lever!
At least he'd had the toughened engine cases fitted...
He said that given the listing said there were three categories of rider - fast, very fast & racer - and he'd put himself into the slowest group, he was amazed at how poor most of the riding was.
In the 4/5 laps he was out there, he saw 2 people come off the track, one near-miss, and a nasty accident that ended up with the guy going off to hospital in the ambulance.
Not mentioning his own little incident!
At least he's OK now.
Bikers Dayz (who deserve a big thumbs down on this occasion) had turned a 3 set track day into a single free-for-all filler space (morning and afternoon) in a endurance cup race meeting.
I had been to another track day they organised at Spa Francorchamps, which was lovely: very laid-back, well structured and I felt happy about David going to Dijon with them.
But the level of adrenaline/testosterone at the place made me feel quite uncomfortable (and I grew up with bikers, so it's not like Im not used to a bit of muck & sweat).
I left it to David to decide whether he wanted to go out for the afternoon session, but was mightily relieved when he decided against it.
Pretty expensive 20 minutes!
Especially when you factor in the petrol/motorway tolls & repairs to his bike & leathers.
On the up side, at least he hadn't booked his place till he was sure he was recovered from Rockingham, and by then the Saturday & Sunday spaces had all sold out - could have been several hundred euros worse.
Could also have been much, much worse.
A spoiled day, but compared to the alternatives we were happy.
On to the second bit of minor bad news: David went to the fracture clinic at Guy's yesterday, and his collarbone is not healing as well as it should.
The doctor said it was a nasty break (well, I can see a nasty bump, so find that easy to believe), and David now tells me he is getting tingling/numbness in his hand.
Neurological symptoms can be a side effect of a collarbone fracture where the callus presses on the brachial plexus, but I'm now worried that they might want to operate on him.
Not happy about that, but will have to wait and see...
He has a physio appointment booked for next week, and another appointment at the fracture clinic in three weeks as the doctor wanted to discuss his care with a specialist.
Keep your fingers crossed, and watch this space.
A sign I'm getting middle-aged?
I no longer seem terribly interested in clothes - the last time I put any real effort into getting dressed (to the extent of trying on more than one outfit/trying things on in advance) was a lovely friend's wedding in late April.
Don't get me wrong, I do (sometimes) think about what I'm going to wear, but it's mostly track suits & t-shirts, so the decision is often: blue or grey (track suit)? And then: which one (choice of 3 in each colour)? Followed by: long-sleeve or short (t-shirt)? And: black, white or coloured?
The scary part of this is: I think I might be turning into my aunt!
It's bad enough when I'm frightened I'm turning into my mother.
Apparently, that's almost inevitable, but at least mostly she looks OK.
I love my aunt to bits, but when she's working in the garden she looks like she shops from jumble-sale rejects!
The outfit that got me thinking was: €3 (from a supermarket) t-shirt (sleeveless, brown, meant to look like US Army surplus); £1 (off the market) long, baggy shorts (red/blue check seersucker, with a pattern dripped onto the front in bleach - I didn't do that!); blue (a different blue, of course!) socks that I bought 22 years ago when I went to college (so I really can't remember the cost, but think I may have had my money's worth!); dingy green gardening clogs (another cheap purchase, but again I can't remember how much).
I believe I may have topped it all of with my cricket sixes souvenir hat (the cheap flimsy ones they sell to people who want memorabilia/forget their expensive "proper" hat) from the mid 1990s!
And then yesterday I was sitting in the kitchen feeling really lucky to have the sort of husband who doesn't mind me sitting eating lunch in my boiler suit & wellies!
Don't get me wrong, I do (sometimes) think about what I'm going to wear, but it's mostly track suits & t-shirts, so the decision is often: blue or grey (track suit)? And then: which one (choice of 3 in each colour)? Followed by: long-sleeve or short (t-shirt)? And: black, white or coloured?
The scary part of this is: I think I might be turning into my aunt!
It's bad enough when I'm frightened I'm turning into my mother.
Apparently, that's almost inevitable, but at least mostly she looks OK.
I love my aunt to bits, but when she's working in the garden she looks like she shops from jumble-sale rejects!
The outfit that got me thinking was: €3 (from a supermarket) t-shirt (sleeveless, brown, meant to look like US Army surplus); £1 (off the market) long, baggy shorts (red/blue check seersucker, with a pattern dripped onto the front in bleach - I didn't do that!); blue (a different blue, of course!) socks that I bought 22 years ago when I went to college (so I really can't remember the cost, but think I may have had my money's worth!); dingy green gardening clogs (another cheap purchase, but again I can't remember how much).
I believe I may have topped it all of with my cricket sixes souvenir hat (the cheap flimsy ones they sell to people who want memorabilia/forget their expensive "proper" hat) from the mid 1990s!
And then yesterday I was sitting in the kitchen feeling really lucky to have the sort of husband who doesn't mind me sitting eating lunch in my boiler suit & wellies!
Creatures: update 2
I've been amazed at how the birdlife has increased since we started the garden.
When we were first here there was a collared dove who used to drink in the tub that catches rainwater from the roof, and a pair of redstarts.
Oh, and the owl who took up residence for a while in the grenier!
I'm glad he's moved on (but I don't think he's gone far; there have been owl pellets in the barn! Oh, and hedgehog droppings), as I didn't want to have to move him from our "guest accomodation", but his mess was a bit off-putting...
Now, I have seen some goldfinches on the seed heads in the garden and we have a family of sparrows, several great tits (well, they look a bit yellow, but I think they're great tits), some blue tits and a whole bunch of restarts!
The redstarts are currently acting like humming birds, and hovering as they pluck berries of the elderberry.
Very entertaining!
Thinking of humming birds sadly reminds me of the dead hummingbird hawk moth I found...
I had seen one (or three, I'm not sure which) get stuck 3 times in the flowers of a pink evening primrose.
I know that sounds odd, but he definitely didn't seem to be able to extract his proboscis.
I thought I'd "rescue" him/them, so gently prised the flower apart. The fact that he/they didn't fly off until I had separated the tube at the base of the flower leads me to believe I was right that he/they were trapped.
I'd been checking the clumps of "Twilight" (that's the name of the oenothera; sadly apt in this case) in case I saw any more apparently stuck, when I found this one dead.
His proboscis was still attached to the flower.
So now I'm left wondering whether this was one hummingbird hawk moth with something wrong with him, or whether pink evening primroses are fatal?!
On a (much) happier note: I found the chap who left the mystery poo in the barn!
Well, the droppings were a mystery till I'd described them to mum over the phone and she said "hedgehog!".
I have moved an old oil barrel and he was there underneath it asleep.
I didn't dare roll the barrel back to where it was, in case I crushed him, but he'd wandered off a little while later, so I'm guessing he'll be OK.
When we were first here there was a collared dove who used to drink in the tub that catches rainwater from the roof, and a pair of redstarts.
Oh, and the owl who took up residence for a while in the grenier!
I'm glad he's moved on (but I don't think he's gone far; there have been owl pellets in the barn! Oh, and hedgehog droppings), as I didn't want to have to move him from our "guest accomodation", but his mess was a bit off-putting...
Now, I have seen some goldfinches on the seed heads in the garden and we have a family of sparrows, several great tits (well, they look a bit yellow, but I think they're great tits), some blue tits and a whole bunch of restarts!
The redstarts are currently acting like humming birds, and hovering as they pluck berries of the elderberry.
Very entertaining!
Thinking of humming birds sadly reminds me of the dead hummingbird hawk moth I found...
I had seen one (or three, I'm not sure which) get stuck 3 times in the flowers of a pink evening primrose.
I know that sounds odd, but he definitely didn't seem to be able to extract his proboscis.
I thought I'd "rescue" him/them, so gently prised the flower apart. The fact that he/they didn't fly off until I had separated the tube at the base of the flower leads me to believe I was right that he/they were trapped.
I'd been checking the clumps of "Twilight" (that's the name of the oenothera; sadly apt in this case) in case I saw any more apparently stuck, when I found this one dead.
His proboscis was still attached to the flower.
So now I'm left wondering whether this was one hummingbird hawk moth with something wrong with him, or whether pink evening primroses are fatal?!
On a (much) happier note: I found the chap who left the mystery poo in the barn!
Well, the droppings were a mystery till I'd described them to mum over the phone and she said "hedgehog!".
I have moved an old oil barrel and he was there underneath it asleep.
I didn't dare roll the barrel back to where it was, in case I crushed him, but he'd wandered off a little while later, so I'm guessing he'll be OK.
Creatures: update
We have seen loads of deer - at least 30, but I've lost count!
I think they are all the smaller chevreuil (which comes up as "roe deer" or "venison", depending on your usage!).
These are the ones Sergine told us that Patrick doesn't hunt as they are "minou" (cute). Privately, we have our suspicions that when Sergine doesn't know about it, they become venison!
I think all the butterflies have finished for the year...
This week I have only seen a couple of Cabbage Whites, and haven't seen any of the bigger ones (Peacock, Tortoiseshell, Silver-Washed Fritillary or either type of Swallowtail) for a while.
Well, I suppose with the weather how it is (cold, wet & miserable), they must feel autumn's here!
We did have 2 glorious days of summer, but that is so long ago - nearly a week! ;-) - that I've forgotten how warm it was!
When I took David to the station it was 30°C in the shade, and that was Sunday at 7.15pm.
Five days later and I'll be bringing him back to a different season!
As if to emphasise how wet it's been, I had to chase a tiger (leopard?) slug out of the kitchen.
Normally I'm not squeamish, and they get dealt with using salt or a heavy boot, but this chap was enormous!
I measured him, and he was 7" long from the tip of his eye-stalks to the tip of his tail...
Didn't feel like arguing with him, and had no big stick to hand, so prodded him with a bit of copper piping till he went back out under the door.
Can't wait for the place to be finished so M. Baty can finish off under the doors!
That would keep the shrews out as well! ;-)
But not the swallow...!
I would have thought it's too late for nesting, but one definitely had been checking out the hole where our kitchen stove will be connected to!
Thankfully (unlike the bat!), he just took off out again when told to "shoo"!
I think they are all the smaller chevreuil (which comes up as "roe deer" or "venison", depending on your usage!).
These are the ones Sergine told us that Patrick doesn't hunt as they are "minou" (cute). Privately, we have our suspicions that when Sergine doesn't know about it, they become venison!
I think all the butterflies have finished for the year...
This week I have only seen a couple of Cabbage Whites, and haven't seen any of the bigger ones (Peacock, Tortoiseshell, Silver-Washed Fritillary or either type of Swallowtail) for a while.
Well, I suppose with the weather how it is (cold, wet & miserable), they must feel autumn's here!
We did have 2 glorious days of summer, but that is so long ago - nearly a week! ;-) - that I've forgotten how warm it was!
When I took David to the station it was 30°C in the shade, and that was Sunday at 7.15pm.
Five days later and I'll be bringing him back to a different season!
As if to emphasise how wet it's been, I had to chase a tiger (leopard?) slug out of the kitchen.
Normally I'm not squeamish, and they get dealt with using salt or a heavy boot, but this chap was enormous!
I measured him, and he was 7" long from the tip of his eye-stalks to the tip of his tail...
Didn't feel like arguing with him, and had no big stick to hand, so prodded him with a bit of copper piping till he went back out under the door.
Can't wait for the place to be finished so M. Baty can finish off under the doors!
That would keep the shrews out as well! ;-)
But not the swallow...!
I would have thought it's too late for nesting, but one definitely had been checking out the hole where our kitchen stove will be connected to!
Thankfully (unlike the bat!), he just took off out again when told to "shoo"!
Last day tomorrow...
Sadly, I'm going back to the UK (very early) on Sunday, so tomorrow is my last day here for a while. :(
Which means that I've really only got today to do those things I only want David to know about after I've done them (like moving tons of soil or digging out the patio or excavating my second sink)!
Things on my "to do" list include:
* Finish cleaning the fireplace
* Finish paint-stripping the second ceiling rose (well, while I've got the caustic soda/wallpaper paste & pressure-washer on the go it seems daft not to)
* Scrub some more of the floor in the grenier
* Wood worm treat the beams in the grenier, and the part of the floor in the corner so I can start putting the old doors there next time we come
I wish I'd known about mixing caustic soda with wallpaper paste to remove paint (also makes a good dent in tar!), then blasting off the gunk with a pressure washer before!
Which means that I've really only got today to do those things I only want David to know about after I've done them (like moving tons of soil or digging out the patio or excavating my second sink)!
Things on my "to do" list include:
* Finish cleaning the fireplace
* Finish paint-stripping the second ceiling rose (well, while I've got the caustic soda/wallpaper paste & pressure-washer on the go it seems daft not to)
* Scrub some more of the floor in the grenier
* Wood worm treat the beams in the grenier, and the part of the floor in the corner so I can start putting the old doors there next time we come
I wish I'd known about mixing caustic soda with wallpaper paste to remove paint (also makes a good dent in tar!), then blasting off the gunk with a pressure washer before!
When I was cleaning the first ceiling rose (lovely, Victorian cast-iron) I spent many hours and many pounds applying Nitromors, scraping away the resultant yuk and rinsing.
Don't get me wrong, Nitromors is great stuff (and probably much better when used indoors), but the lessive de soudre (which we are fairly sure is liquid caustic soda) when mixed with enough wallpaper paste crystals to make a fairly gloopy solution is brilliant!
It can be as thick/runny as you like, and (unlike the Nitromors) doesn't start to dry very quickly.
I've left some over an hour and it was still a gel when I came to wash it off.
The pressure-washer is also fabulous!
Yesterday I stripped off as much paint from the second ceiling rose (not an exact pair to the other one, but like a king & queen pair - without the encircling arches, but otherwise identical) as had taken me many weekends on the first go.
Which is why the first one wasn't finished till yesterday - took about 40 minutes to get the last clinging remnants of paint off.
Mind you, there were at least 8 coats of paint (I know; I "excavated" down through the layers!) and maybe 11 (but I can't remember) on that one.
The more recent aquisition had no more than 3 or 4 layers - but the paint was much thicker. Looked/felt as though someone had plastered it first!
My other "Victorian clean up job" is the grain-loft floor: I've been scrubbing the walls (they look so much better, that it doesn't seem like a mad thing to do when you see "after"), and next to the newly clean stone, the floor looked positively horrid.
Given the amount or rain than we've had this week, an indoors job was really appealing - rather than wading about outside in the mud.
Or so I thought!
It took me 40 minutes (probably the length of my attention span) to scrub the ten boards to the left of one of the ties.
The water was so filthy I had to change it (I'd cleaned 2-3 square metres!), so I mopped the rest of the bit I was doing.
The scrubbed area was so much better, but so time consuming!
I expect it's the first time that floor has ever been scrubbed (it was never living accomodation, although that's what we plan for it).
Top tip: 150+ years worth of mud takes some cleaning!
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Lucky escape!
I was just about to hack out a particularly revolting looking dandelion when I noticed some stones around the base.
I have been putting piles of stones round everything I plant for two reasons:
1) It marks when a plant may have died back, so it doesn’t get hoed off
2) The stones help conserve the moisture around the roots – a great help until the plant is established
So, I followed the stones until I found out what else should be in the planting hole – in case I damaged it when slashing through the dandelion root.
Oops, nearly just killed a chicory plant – I’ve seen the ragged blue flowers by the side of the road for years, and longed to have some in my garden – and finally found a plant this spring.
Lucky, eh?
I have been putting piles of stones round everything I plant for two reasons:
1) It marks when a plant may have died back, so it doesn’t get hoed off
2) The stones help conserve the moisture around the roots – a great help until the plant is established
So, I followed the stones until I found out what else should be in the planting hole – in case I damaged it when slashing through the dandelion root.
Oops, nearly just killed a chicory plant – I’ve seen the ragged blue flowers by the side of the road for years, and longed to have some in my garden – and finally found a plant this spring.
Lucky, eh?
Gardening
I’ve weeded and/or hoed the entire part of the front yard that is garden, and cut back the weeds around the edges to stop them flowering before we can spray them.
David has strimmed the drive (and we will weedkill that too, once the weather is suitable – i.e. not raining/not 36°C/not windy).
I created a compost mountain, from all the unwanted growth, and it isn’t finished yet!
I did a bit of tree “surgery” on the “pig” damson…
It’s coming out anyway – ugly, rotten to the core & the damsons, according to M. Lorin, are only fit for pigs – and I thought it would do less damage when felled if I removed the lowest branch...
Of course, I’ve had to hide the evidence…
The tree will definitely cause less harm on its way down now (it’s about half the size!), and there’s still another small branch I might be able to reach (when no-one’s looking!)…
I’m slightly sad there are no home-grown courgettes, but I don’t think it’s too late to plant them, if Botanic has any left…
I bought a length of rope last year – well, you never know when you might be glad of a bit of rope!
This year I’ve been so grateful for it – and pleased that it’s either hemp or flax, so quite rough to the touch: I’ve been clearing round the earth closet, so I could plant some ferns there, and decided to move the beams that were there…
I’ve moved about 8 or 9 (or maybe 10 or 11?), all of which were too heavy to drag without the rope. So that has been an absolute bonus! Because of its rough texture, it “gripped” the wood nicely to give me enough purchase to drag them to the “rotting wood pile”
I had to saw a couple of the beams in two, they were far to big to drag, even with the rope (and still a struggle in their diminished form). I’ve also hand dragged/carried about another half-dozen smaller beams to the woodpile.
So, there is now lots of nice rotting wood for whatever it is that you create these pile for… Stag beetle larvae?
And the edges of the garden are also a whole load tidier!
It’s pretty good being able to justify one’s purchases. [MJM: if you’re reading… I might have lied a bit about taking it really easy…] And I was right about a nice bit of rope!
Since the weather changed for the better, I’ve been starting work around 6 am (it’s too dark any earlier, and I can’t see what I’m doing)…
There’s nothing to make you feel virtuous like having done an hour’s hard physical work and it’s not yet 7 am; you particularly deserve that freshly-baked croissant!
David has strimmed the drive (and we will weedkill that too, once the weather is suitable – i.e. not raining/not 36°C/not windy).
I created a compost mountain, from all the unwanted growth, and it isn’t finished yet!
I did a bit of tree “surgery” on the “pig” damson…
It’s coming out anyway – ugly, rotten to the core & the damsons, according to M. Lorin, are only fit for pigs – and I thought it would do less damage when felled if I removed the lowest branch...
Of course, I’ve had to hide the evidence…
The tree will definitely cause less harm on its way down now (it’s about half the size!), and there’s still another small branch I might be able to reach (when no-one’s looking!)…
I’m slightly sad there are no home-grown courgettes, but I don’t think it’s too late to plant them, if Botanic has any left…
I bought a length of rope last year – well, you never know when you might be glad of a bit of rope!
This year I’ve been so grateful for it – and pleased that it’s either hemp or flax, so quite rough to the touch: I’ve been clearing round the earth closet, so I could plant some ferns there, and decided to move the beams that were there…
I’ve moved about 8 or 9 (or maybe 10 or 11?), all of which were too heavy to drag without the rope. So that has been an absolute bonus! Because of its rough texture, it “gripped” the wood nicely to give me enough purchase to drag them to the “rotting wood pile”
I had to saw a couple of the beams in two, they were far to big to drag, even with the rope (and still a struggle in their diminished form). I’ve also hand dragged/carried about another half-dozen smaller beams to the woodpile.
So, there is now lots of nice rotting wood for whatever it is that you create these pile for… Stag beetle larvae?
And the edges of the garden are also a whole load tidier!
It’s pretty good being able to justify one’s purchases. [MJM: if you’re reading… I might have lied a bit about taking it really easy…] And I was right about a nice bit of rope!
Since the weather changed for the better, I’ve been starting work around 6 am (it’s too dark any earlier, and I can’t see what I’m doing)…
There’s nothing to make you feel virtuous like having done an hour’s hard physical work and it’s not yet 7 am; you particularly deserve that freshly-baked croissant!
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