December 2005

Another year, another birthday goes by for us all. Congratulations to those that have got married this last year, Michelle (great hen party) and Barry Williams (see below – whay beautiful bridesmaids!), David and Fiona Bangor - Jones, Philip and Becky Posnett, Ben and Kyleah Widdecombe and to those who got engaged, Pete and Fleur.

Happy first year to those babies who have been born, Thomas Kinsey (starring below), Poppy Warnes, Ruby Dean, Baby Owen, Saskia Maxey, Baby Cook, Olivia Davies, Daisy Davies and Beatrice Temple and to those babies on there way, Baby Shatz and Baby Posnett (sorry if I missed anybody – there are so many!)

Following Michelle and Barry's very exciting and rather alcoholic wedding, we were back to it – plaster boarding. Yes, you think we don't work hard but whilst you were all Christmas partying, we were plaster boarding – and in true panto style, I want to hear you all say “ahhh”. The Sally and Dan corporation didn't have a Christmas party this year due to overwork, underpay and dreadful bosses, “hissssssss, booooo”. However, we were invited for delicious mince pies and champagne at the Chateau, which we loved.

I know that you must have seen enough pictures of plasterboard, so I thought I would just show you the picture of the pile which has reduced considerably from 66 to 12 pieces. (round of applause please):

A week before Christmas and time to return to England ; this is where we are at:

Bathroom – plasterboarded, concrete floor laid, shower tray in, ready to be tiled in the New Year:

Second Loo – to be started

Bedroom 1 – plaster boarded except for the dormer door area. Just need to build up the wall a bit more to meet the plasterboard:

Bedroom 2 – need to complete building and plasterboarding of the partition wall but all other walls plasterboarded

Bedroom 3 – need to complete building and plasterboarding of partition wall and side wall:

Sitting room -

Finished doing the pointing, now to do the stairs:

Outside terrace – looks like this at the mo, to be transformed:

Garden – the grass planted by Michelle in October is doing well – against all odds!

So as Grand Designs would be delighted to broadcast, we are officially behind schedule – in the words of Cilla Black, “Surprise surprise!”

Nevermind that though, lets celebrate the end of 2005 – our first year in France , cheers to you all and please do tune in for next years exciting series of “Les Terrasses de Gaumier”; Will they make up the time? Will they ever start the house? Will the swimming pool ever be completed? Will they just blow their budget on something entirely different……………

Happy Christmas and A Happy New Year!

xxx