Life continues to get better - February 2009

Well, it has now been more than 2 years since our dream came true and the French Adventure continues.

We have had a busy 2 years or so and nearly all of our time during each visit has been dedicated to the garden, or as I keep saying 'the taming of the field'. It really is not possible to have a garden like we do in England out here in this area of France, if you rely of holiday breaks to attend to things.

Every shurb we have planted has grown without any problems, as a result of the mixture of the rain and sunshire here in the Creuse, but that also means the weeds and grass grow quickly as well. We have only succeeded by finding a reliable local to regularly give the grass a cut and it is essential this is done every 2 weeks in the height of the season, otherwise the field take overs!

We have put lots of effort every visit into weeding in the shurb borders and it appears that our hard work is starting to bring success. Weeding is getting less, as the shrubs grow stronger and compete for the space and light.

Around the perimeter we have planted around 400 Berbris bushes in an effort to create some definition and keep weeds out and these are growing strong. We have used grass clippings as a mulch inbetween and around each bush to make weeding easier and it has helped loads.

At the recommendation of a local friend, we have also started to use wood chippings as a mulch covering in the borders to help keep the weeds down. The best thing is we have found a wood yard that lets us load up and takeway some chippings. The owner would not accept any Euro payment and even seemed disgusted when I presented him a bottle of fine wine in thanks. Perhaps my choice of wine was not agreeable!!

Project Completion and our first night at Grange Grise – 25th July 2006

Well, the day of our arrival had come and it was wonderful to see everything we had agreed, actually complete!

The Oak Staircase was in and looked great, Whilst the upstairs bathrooms were not complete, this was because I had only asked S.C.C.L to do the Tiling in the bathrooms in June and we had to wait for the tiles to be delivered. However, we had the downstairs shower room ready so we did have some facilities to use.

We were able enjoy our first holiday of many to come, staying in our own beautiful home in France and enjoy a different type of life.

Our experience of acquiring the Grange and going through the renovation project has been exciting and very enjoyable. It has been problem and hassle free, so we have been fortunate and our experience has been nothing like the many horror stories often heard.

Getting My Hands Dirty! – June 2006

I had decided to spend 3 weeks in June in Colondannes to get some work done myself and I chose a great time. The weather was sunny and hot, with temperatures for the duration of my visit up at 35o. It was wonderful and despite the heat I managed to do a few jobs:

· give all the ceilings and walls an emulsion coat
· fit the utility room cupboards, worktop and sink, as well as getting the washing machine operational

Most importantly, I also managed to spend lots of time getting the field into a manageable state. When I arrived the grass and weeds were over a metre high. This took about three goes at progressively cutting with a strimmer and having to clear the area and burning the remnants.

I had also bought and took out with me a Flame Gun to burn the major weeds and the perimeter of the property to avoid too much weeding by hand. It was great fun, but dangerous in the dry conditions!!

All Coming Together – June 2006

It was a big surprise that by mid June considerable progress had been made and the end was really in sight. At this time the following had been completed in 4 weeks:

*Chimney Pipe was installed for the Wood Burning Stove*
*Second fit electrics were in and our light fittings installed, both inside and outside.
*The galvanised Guttering was installed.
*The pathway and drive aggregate was in around the Grange
*The fosse was all installed and the field landscaped a little!
*The Buderus Oil Boiler had been installed and was operational
*Under floor heating had been completed and the floor tiles were looking great downstairs.
*Final fit plumbing was in the process of being done.

We had a project meeting as normal, but the major point of discussion was the Oak Staircase, which had not been delivered, and had not even been started. After some involved discussions on the precise requirements we were assured that is would be completed and installed by the time we visited for the Summer Holidays on 25th July 2006. For the first time I was worried and concerned.

Pipe Work and Pointing – May 2006

By mid May, the water pipework was in the process of being installed and the radiators had been positioned upstairs. We were having under floor heating throughout downstairs and this was not yet planned to start.

It was a pleasing surprise to see the exposed stone walls had been pointed and were looking fantastic. We had decided to only leave the West Side walls and around the Barn Door as exposed feature walls, with the other being insulated and boarded.

Windows In – April 2006

Before we knew it Easter was upon us in early April and it was pleasing to see all the windows and doors had been installed and the Grange was now water tight. The plasterboard had been installed to create the utility room downstairs and the bedrooms upstairs. In addition, the first fix electrics were all installed.

It was now possible to get a real feeling of the proportions of the space and height we had with our 3 metre ceiling both down and upstairs.

Colombage Installed – February 2006

The colombage downstairs was going in by end February 2006 and all the window openings and oak support frames were installed by this time, as well as the hole for the fosse drainage had been started.

Whilst the weather had left a mark, with a very muddy circle around the Grange, it was noticeable that the site was being kept clear and well organised.

Upstairs Start – January 2006

When I visited in mid January work had progressed still further and the upstairs floor and supports were all installed and the bathroom windows openings were being created and things were taking shape

I made sure that the Macon knew we wanted all the stone removed to be saved for our future use and not taken away. What a get decision, because we have used lots for the pathway.

Floor and Roof – December 2005

By December the new roof struts and roof was on and the cattle byre had been cleared out. The floor foundations had been dug and the damp proof membrane and concrete base were all done.

In addition, the downstairs door openings had been made and the oak door opening supports were all in and the upstairs oak window supports had been delivered to site.

Project Start, Approach and Control – September 2005

Given that Nick was not based locally we kept things simple and ensured everything was documented and specified. We agreed regular site meetings every 4-6 weeks, at which I attended with Nick and we always agreed the next meeting date and the work to be completed. This way the team knew we were active on the project and we would approve any Factures due at those meetings and orgainse payments.

We formally launched the project at the end of August 2005 with a complete team review of the project and it was interesting to see how the team interacted together and my confidence grew as we observed a group of craftsmen who had obviously worked together many times before, as they debated and agreed elements of each others work activity.

The sequence of events and timescales were agreed by everyone and having persuade the Macon to start his work in October, the team agreed to a completion target of June 2006.

Renovation Team – May- August 2005

Given the level of traditional oak and the stonework needed, we were clear that a local French team of craftsmen were desirable, so our search began and this is where we struck lucky again.

As a part of securing the Change of Use approval, the previous owner was required to secure quotations for making both main water and electrics available to the Grange and the quotation is valid for a period of 2 years.

So, Nick’s first task was to approach SAS Frappat and confirm the arrangement and as a result we discovered the team to undertake the complete project:
SAS Frappat - Electrics, Plumbing and Heating
S.C.C.L - Ceilings, Plaster board and Tiling
SA Adams & Fils - Colombage, Stairs, Doors and Windows
Sarl Aussourd - Stonework

All submitted detailed quotations during the period, having been briefed by Nick and naturally the total project cost was great than we have originally envisaged.

Planning Approval - March 2005

Despite all the fear stories of complications and delays, Regional approval was secured on 24th March 2005, which enabled us to move ahead a plan the work itself and not to mention finding a building team to make the dream a reality!

Planning Submission – January 2005

Fortunately, we had the Change of Use approval and therefore our plans were drawn up to reflect not only our personal wishes for living space, but also to be sympathetic to the Grange itself and the area. In October and November 2004 we liaised with our architect to get the detail agreed and documented within our plans for the conversion and renovation, which we finalised in December and submitted to the Marie de Colondannes. Local approval was given on 18th January 2005, which was a real surprise, although because we are near a ‘National Monument’, approval needed to be secured from the Regional Authority in Limoges.

La Grange Grise Plans 2005

Purchase Completion – September 2004

Having instructed the Notaries to proceed with both the purchase of the Grange and the Orchard, we eventually completed the purchase on 26th September 2004 and could then move ahead with drawing up the plans to secure the planning permission that would serve to pave the way to turning a farm building into a home.

A SAFER hurdle to overcome–July 2004

Fortunately, the law in France requires the owner of any farm building to secure a Change or Use Approval before offering for sale and this was done, but having agreed a sale it is also law that the land and property must be offered to SAFER to notify any local farmer, who have the right of first refusal and may offer the agreed price to secure the property.

http://www.terresdeurope.net/en/buying-with-safer-farm-france-property.html
This process was followed and no offers were received, but is did mean that completion did not occur during August and our holiday period, as we had hoped.

Luck secured us an Orchard – May 2004

The Grange itself is situated in around 1,200 sq metres of land on 3 sides. On the 4th side is an orchard and wonderfully tended vegetable plot, which adjourns the Grange and stretches to country lane that runs alongside. We had coverted that piece of land from our first viewing and had it in our mind to offer to buy it from the owner, once we were settled in.

During the visit, Nick was just explaining to me that French Building Regulation meant we could not put any windows overlooking a neighbours land and an archetypical old Frenchman came up and explained he owned the Orchard and thought we should buy it from him.

He had thought through all the reasons and benefits to us of buying the land and wanted a reasonable price for the 400 sq metres that would completely change and improve the options for the renovation and orientation of the property.

Check it Out Survey – May 2004

The disagreement on the price turned into a blessing in disguise, as we had arranged for Nick Adams, a local Architect to visit and check out the structure of the Grange and provide advice on the renovation work, which proved invaluable and reassuring. The delay enabled us to get advice and the reassurrance that the structure was sound and the projest was feasible, before proceeding.

http://www.adamsgautier.com/

We were being pressurised to move ahead with the signing of the Contract, which we had managed to delay as a result of the gazumping, but following the visit we move ahead with more confidence.

Gazumped! – April 2004

We had returned to the UK and a week later the Agent called to explain the owner had declined our asking price offer!!!

Apparently, his son had placed the Grange for sale and agreed the price, but it was his father who was the legal owner and he wanted €5,000 more that the asking price we had agreed and the sale would not go through based on the original paperwork. We rejected this on principle and held firm.

Realisation Strikes – March 2004

We spent a week searching for our ideal home all over the Limousin area, with the help of the local team from VEF and realised that our naïve idea to find a bargain, only in need of a little DiY & a bit of tender loving care was not achievable for the budget we had in mind.

The viewing of more than a dozen properties ranging from €30-100,000 resulted in us discovering what many people before us and after have discovered; that you would have to gut most places and start from base with the basics.

Most properties would need to be completely rewired, heating installed and all the sanitation replaced, relocated or even installed for the first time and a kitchen installed. As a result we concluded that if we were going to pay for a place and have to GUT it, then we might as well look for something that was already an empty shell.

So our research continued and we booked for a second visit over the Easter break in April 2004.

First Impressions

Having enjoyed our first and brief impression of Limoges we headed east to find the guest house we had booked in Chiessoux, near Lake Vassiveiere and having driven for 30minutes I realised we had not encountered another car either way. The peace and serenity had even imposed itself upon my our driving speed and I was at a slow 50 kmh.

We meandered through the country side and past fir tree forests and wood piles on a crisp, cold but bright morning with some snow on the ground. This seemed like bliss and we couldn’t believe what we were seeing when we came across Lake Vassiveiere. Wow!!!