THE EARLY DAYS - part 2

WHERE TO START?

The $64,000 dollar question! The whole place was like a scene from Kosova and without permanent power it was difficult to start any serious work inside so we decided to spend the first few weeks on some outdoor improvements. First was the postbox - after all we needed somewhere for the bills to arrive. We decided eventually to do a few simple things that would at least improve the exterior and make it less unsightly. This again was a good move because other inhabitants of the hamlet had lived with this eyesore for years, so it was to everyones relief that at least they could see something tangible being done. I decided to practice roofing by repairing the old lapinerie (rabbit hutch) - this made an immediate visual improvement - even though we had no rabbits to put in it. The front of the farmhouse was next. Whilst sitting outside one morning and idly picking away at the grass in front of the door, I discovered stonework underneath.

A further day's excavation revealed an entire stone area with what appeared to be an old stone channel next to the farm track. Maurice, one of our neighbours recollected that he and his father had built a stone channel across the entire frontage of the farmhouse in around 1938. I found the other end of it, but also discovered that when the old track had been relaid over the years it had gradually been extended over the channel.









A quick check of the cadastral plan confirmed that the track now ran partially over the property. The French are sticklers for accuracy, particularly when it comes to boundaries, (try building a wall or fence 1cm. onto your neighbours land and you will know what I mean) so I decided as the land was definitely mine, then that part of the track would have to go! It took nearly a week to remove the topsoil and tarmac, and to line the channel with stone to prevent the track spreading again, but eventually we were rewarded with a stone drainage channel which would eventually take the rainfall away from the entire property. No-one complained, on the contrary it brought back a lot of memories for people in the hamlet and a certain amount of respect that I was reclaiming what was rightfully mine. Maurice stopped to admire it every day for a week and reminded me on at least a dozen occasions that he and his father had built it.

Nearly two years later, in May, we were visited by a local council worker who was surveying the track prior to re-laying it. Prepared for a fight, I think he sensed my mood and retreated to asking me if I could smooth off a couple of the lining stones so they wouldn't damage any car tyres. Thinking that they were going to start work imminently, I rounded off the stones the same afternoon. They eventually arrived to relay the track in the November!

CLEARING THE JUNGLE

May arrived in a blaze of sunshine and still without electricity, in between working on the first cottage, we made a tentative start on the jungle which would be the main garden and pool area. Until this point, and with no machete, we had never ventured more than a few metres in. 50 years of bramble and ivy saw to that. They always advise you to walk the boundaries of the property when purchasing in France, however there are times when self preservation is more important. I had heard the noises that came from this area, and even after it was cleared it was many months before I ventured down there after dusk! A visit to our local garden centre proved useful. The owner suggested a product called Garlon D12 by Fertiligene which is a specific weedkiller which deals with bramble. It was certainly effective. Within two days of spraying, the bramble began to die and never came back. Apparently it stays in the plant and although it does attempt to grow again, it dies within days. (Beware it also kills blackberry and anything else of the same species) I bought my wife a large backpack sprayer (thoughtful of me!) and with that and a brand new machete we spent the next couple of weeks clearing the area.

It was a time of discovery, a beautiful cave underneath the adjoining barn and some old but still fruitful plum trees - not only good for eating but also for eau de vie - but we won't go into too much detail about that!

The rest of the month uncovered a few other relics that had long disappeared, including the well at the rear of the farmhouse. The structure below ground has to be seen to be believed - in magnificent condition after all these years. 7 metres down to the water level then another 7 metres depth of water. There were, however, some dark clouds on the horizon, we were due a visit from the electricity company and the septic tank was still no nearer. Tensions were running high, and there was even a suspicion of someone tampering with the portapotty emptying rota!