It's in colour so it must be true...

Well we have started painting in the Barn.

Wendy painted all the doors yesterday whilst I caulked the skirting boards and shower ends. I also took the time to tidy up the garages as they had become cluttered with allsorts of crud, materials, tools and other odds and sods. Now it is more organised and I even had time to carpet another room - the garage well the one with the Rocket in :) with old carpet taken from the upstairs bedroom, waste not want not.

Today Wendy started painting the skirting boards and doorways, whilst I put the first coat of Magnolia on to the walls and ceiling of the Bunk Room (yes one of the rooms in the barn). Phew it was monotonous work for sure and I will probably need another couple of coats before it looks okay. Then the hallway and toilets groan.

Wendy was feeling the cold a bit bless... But she still managed to do lunch and again Tea whilst I slummed it on the net...

Another Corner Turned

It was a milestone day Yesterday (Thursday). Jimmy finished what he was here to do which pretty much means all the hard work is completed in the Barn and Attic. Just the tidying up and colouring the walls and doors to do before we get the furnishings in.

Of course we will miss Jimmy and will be eternally greatful for the work and guidance he has so professionally done and given, without which we would probably still be scratching our heads with our maccano and building materials... But don't tell him. If you are after a reliable Builder to do some work you won't go far wrong giving Jimmy a bell ;) check out his website www.chezhenry.com/HenryLPBS

To-Do-List
BARN

Clean Grout off Floors
Sand remaining jointing in the Barn Bathrooms
Caulk Skirting boards and shower end walls - Done 8th
Paint Doors x 5 - Done 8th
Fit Door Handles and door stops (Hatch door too)
Paint Skirting Boards
Clean and Stain Oak Beams
Paint Window and fit perspex safety layer
Paint Walls and ceilings BunkRoom/Hall/Bathrooms x 3
Fit Lights
Fit Smoke Alarms
Fit outside Lights - 1 done 8th 1 to do
Fit outside Power Sockets - Done 8th
Put up curtain rails in bunk room - tailor curtains
Put beds up - 4 x Bunk, 4 x Singles
Fit bathroom furniture x 3
Errect shelving Coat hooks and frame Local Map
Errect and fit cuboard shelves - Done 8th
Render arround outside doors

ATTIC ROOM
Caulk Skirting Board and Shower Ends - Done 8th
Paint Toilet Door and Hatch Doors - Done 8th
Paint Skirting Boards
Secure Door and Refurbish Door
Fit Bathroom Furniture
Put up Bed (Double) and other furniture
Headboard ?
Fit Smoke Alarm
Fit Safety Rail for Stairs

OUTSIDE AREA
Repair Barn Roof
Patio Area's
Pathways from house and garages
Hard Standing
Guttering
Lay Floor to Drying Room (Currently a store room)
Renew Garage Doors x 2

Landscape Gardens


INSIDE MAIN HOUSE
Refresh Downstairs Shower Room
Decorate Front Room
Decorate Kitchen/Diner
New Kitchen
New Suite for our En-Suite
Repair Rendering and Paint exterior

Who said summer was here... ?

6 Months and all is on track...

So it is official, we have been here for 6 months and time has flown. We have achieved much more than we thought possible in such a short time, we only expected to have the bathrooms finished in the barn, not the en-suite inside the house between the two rooms , nor the attic convertion into an en-suite double bedroom, nor the Barn completely converted into 3 bathrooms a hallway and a spacious bunk room, with all flooring down and tiles to boot.

Today we got he skirtingboard up in the Bunk room and in the hall to the bunk room and by the end of the week we will have got all the major work completed inside. Of course we will still have the decorating to do but all the floors are in and sealed, all plumbing is in and working all the walls are up that we are going to put up.

Getting to grips with Technology - Thank you Dad a terrific Pressie.

Today was a bit of a mare, bith Juiimy and I had frozen brain syndrom we just couldn't get a 45 degree cut right using an electric mitre saw and when we sorted it all out and got going the damn thing started missbehaving on us and cutting untrue for some reason. Still we battled on and got the job done no less perfect for the trouble. and we managed to get the Vinyl (thanks to SR I now know how to spell this annoying word) sealed before getting the skirtingboard in tomorrow.

Well that is the good news but to be honest we have had a couple of bad days. Jimmy and I wasted 3/4 s of Friday pratting about with the plumbing of all the sinks, every one of them leaked water, hard to believe since they were supposed to have been tested recently but sure enough they all (Attic included) drained into the vanity units. The water has ruined all but one of them, the one the water didn't get I did with a hacksaw blade as the waste pipe connecting to the sink was only on by one thread restricted because the unit shelve prevented it turning any more until I painstakingly whittled the hole bigger. Eventually I discovered that the waste washers were put on upside down... then to confuse the issue the water feed to the attic had been labeled incorectly what a bloody fiasco. The attic flexi pip to the hotwater feed for the sink is leaking still from the underside of the tap connection, but I will have to dismantle the whole thing to tighten it which means taking the lighting, shaverpoing and mirror off before ripping the vanity unit off the wall, they say a stitch in time and you should always test before you go firm. Well that is one lesson learn't don't let the plumber go until you have seen it for yourself ;) I think I might have said that before somewhere...

Jimmy being sick after a mare today or he could be
siliconing the edges of the vinyl or he has found another leak lol

The weather has turned and it went from very mild to freezin in a heartbeat, today we had many snow flurries followed by intense sunshine to snow flurries again.

More good news: Wendy filled the wine rack up again ;) and we have found the cat which went missing on Saturday, It was in the attic all the time, stoopid cat wouldn't come out as it is generally afraid or certainly wary of anyone but Wendy so it remained concealed right down the back end until a few moments ago when we heard it meowing from the front room, Wendy had to coax it out, I say it is good news not because I am pleased it is back around the house (I am alergic you know) but because it will have sorted any mice that may or may not have been resident up there... Of course the cat knows I am allergic and always sits on my knee or gets as close to me as possible and if I move it growles and hisses because it is a nutter or simply a She.

All Flooring down now

We started the day by finishing the attic floor...

Then moved into the Barn's 3 bathrooms, well two shower rooms and a bathroom vynal going down...

Wendy went shopping and bought in some wine (Vin Rouge) which we have to sample to ensure we get the right stuff for our guests Hic!

We can hardly contain ourselves as we see things finishing...

We layed the last tile today in the barn today and started to get the flooring down in the Attic today... we started using a special tool for cutting carpets and vynal it even professed to being suitable for edging wall paper 39 euros oh so simple - if you every get the cance to buy or borrow one DON'T they are crap as they leave a 5mm gap... so we binned it and used the tried and tested method

There is definately light at the end of the tunnel

No it isn't some one with a torch bringing more work... We ahve laid the final tile in the Bunk room only the grouting to do and then we are in snag time (doing all the unfinished bits and pieces.

The Bunk Room

Wendy - no sooner had we got the last tile down Wendy was in Cleaning

This is the hallway by the bathroom and shower room.

Flooring to go down in the attic next that will be a relief then we can put up the lights bring in the bed and furniture and start to add character to the room... Wendy wants it to be a Black and White room.

Also we have a confirmed booking for March...

I have been doing a great deal of Networking on forums to get our name out there in cyberspace, trying to get people to realise what agreat deal they will get if they come and stay at Riders Rest but it all take time, a bit like the chicken and the egg we just need guests to come and spread the word, we ar confident that we have the right mix to attract bikers to come and stay but need more photos of Riders Rest with bikes (other than our own) and independant testimonials. We are sure they will come in time.

all down hill from here

Well we had a plesant visit from Gerry & Janis Plumb in the camper van on route to Spain and Portugal - they called in for a coffee and of course we captured them and didn't let them go until they had had the guided tour of Riders Rest lol, it was good to see them.

We have mostly been getting on with the Barn and adveretising the B&B and we have had our first firm bookings from the website - a couple from Sweden and a guy and his child from the UK both for the same two nights - spooky or what - bloody gud init...

well it is all down hill from here in the barn and attic room.

All that is remaining in the attic is to fabricate and fit the cubiehole doors x 2, lay the Vynal flooring, and fix a skirting board all round, get a new door to the outside world and last but not least buy lights and fix them.

Jimmy grouting the bath tiles

In the Barn we have started to tile the floor which is a huge step and the last big thing to do, leaving the painting and decorating, floor covering in the bathrooms Vynal again, skirtingboards, one cubiehole door and fix the lights up, everything else is practically sorted.

a before tiling the floor shot of The BunkRoom sleeping area
from the patio doors looking towards the bathrooms

This shot is from the window end of the sleeping area with the patio doors to the left and the
bathrooms to the right - you can see the start of the tiles making their way accross the floor...

This one looks into the sleeping area from the bathrooms area
- again with the start of tiling

All the beds arrived on Tuesday from IKEA so once we have the decoration done we can assemble them and we are ready...

Of course that leaves the outside to tidy up, some outside furniture to get and position, guttering (which can wait now - well we are approaching summer) and I want to lay some hard stnding out alongside the pigsty for parking outside so bikes can be safely washed etc.

We have already started to clear the jungle away at the rear of the house and already it has made a huge improvement, and increased our space two fold - what do you think?

happy campers

We waved goodbye to two campervans littering the lane today, Joan and Tony with their friends John and Heather have been staying with us for 3 nights which was a pleasant change.

They timed it perfectly as the weather has been glorious for the last couple of days and Tony and I have been working outside sans t-shirts moving all the roof tiles which were left piled up near the rear of the barn, intend to use them as hardcore for a parking area.

This is them leaving...

Update on the rennovations is the tieling has started and the Attic shower is now finished...

I have also spent sometime making a workbench and sorting out my tools and turned the 3rd garage into a workshop - in the photo you can see there is also room to park the tractor and even room to put a couple of bikes if need be.

The water heaters are both 200L and the left one serves the Bunkroom bathrooms x3 and the right one serves the attic room and our en-suite.

Plus a photo of the middle garage showing how we excavate all the waste from the 3 toilets, 3 sinks and 1 bath - I knocked holes through the floor f the barn into the garage undereneath and then out through the end wall which then met the waste pipe to the fosse the exit hole you can see is approx 18 inches below ground level.

(NB the roof and pipework is not concave as the picture may suggest that is just the effect of joining several photos together)

We are still here

It has been an age since we last blogged or reported on our progress, largely as we have little evidence of progress. Or should I say we are slogging on and making progress but that the difference is not really noticeable in photographs as we have hit the tape and jointing phase of the barn.

We have completed all the fabrication, all plasterboards are up, the pluming is completed, except a small leak on one of the water heaters which is a plastic retainer which has been over tightened and will be replaced tomorrow (I hope) the waste pipes are all in fixed and tested and even connected to the fosse,, so everything is happening or has happened.

I have attempted to upload some vido clips of the attic and barn but due to lightweight dial up speeds of 36 kbps I have given up and almost thrown the computer out of the window but after a beer or two I have conceeded to FTP them and simply add a link for those who are curious enough to click the link to view ;)

Attic

Barn

Whilst I have been fitting the extractor fans and being Jimmy’s gopher I have managed to put a few coats of white paint in the Attic bedroom and bathroom. Wendy has completed the second of the inside double rooms this one will be a twin room, Wendy has sanded and stained the floor which adds real character as does the a frame very visible in the Attic room.

Once the sanding down has been completed (tomorrow) Jimmy can start on the tiling, 1 shower in the Attic and 2 showers and a bath surround in the barn. Once painted we can put vinyl down in all the bathrooms and then concentrate on the entrance hall to the barn and main bunk room again painting and 46 sqm of floor tiles to lay after levelling the floor with some self leveller.

All work and no play as the saying goes, we have made a dent in the wine lake of France and enjoyed sampling the wines of the area, well you have to don't you especially if we are going to be buying it in for guests. We have also drunk some beer blonde too. Wendy continues to astound with her cooking and how I have managed to loose a stone and a half since arriving and keeping it off amazes me...

Money is still going out, Tiles, vinyl all cost money, paint we bought whilst in the UK over xmas at B&Q, We have ordered beds direct from Ikea in Toulouse which came to a total of £1758 .99 but that includes deliver. In total this is 13 beds in the form of 4 bunk beds, 4 single beds and a fold up bed just in case all including mattresses. We went through Ikea simply because it is near on impossible to find any in the local shops and once you start to buy them with mattresses you suddenly find yourself having to hire a removals van so even though we have coughed up 350 euros for delivery we consider it value for money since it would take us 3 to 4 hours travel one way and we would have to pay tolls to use the motorways we have ourselves a bargain.

We haven't had much time nor the weather to get out on the bikes but the 1st peep of sun and we have shot off - see http://www.whereistonynow.co.uk/ for pics of the bikes ;)

so it's 2008 is it?

Crimbo has now past as has the New Year festivities, but the memories live on for now.

22nd saw us suddenly stressed and headed North to get the ferry across to the UK, and an overnight on Billy's sofa (hotel next time). 23rd we met Daniel for the first time (our Grandson) and then picked up Bethany and headed North again to Barnsley. Where we had a very pleasant few days of Christmas relaxed and in the company of my Mum and Dad and Bethany... We even enjoyed a bottle or two with Marie and Wayne who popped up for a flying visit.

Daniel

Not the best picture but one with us all in ;)

Boxing day the 26th and we went North West to Burnley to visit Wendy's family and a pleasant stay over with Sammy and Leon, I caught flu from Pauline but is was still nice to see her ;) Wendy was reunited with her family and it was nice to see Both Scott and Bobby too.

Chillin with the cat - at Sammy & Leons

Sammy and her Mum (they will shoot me for putting this on the net lol...

27th and back to Barnsley where Billy and Ryan had arrived, and awaited the arrival of Ray, Becki, Emily and Daniel to complete the Lang side of my family, a rarity which we hope to revisit here in France.

Ryan & Emily


Emily & Wendy clapping hands...

The 29th saw us headed back South to take Bethany home, we now had a full car and trailer however I managed to forget the coffee table we had ordered from Argos especially oh well never mind, Hopefully Joan and Tony can pick it up and bring it to France when they come over in Feb...

The night of the 29th we had a nice meal out in Barnstaple with Bobby Scott and Dave and a good nights rest before heading back to the Ferry port of Portsmouth for the homeward journey. We dropped in on Mondo and Joy in Bransgore for a quick hello and was gone.

Once back in Le Theil and Ridersrest we quickly got into the festive spirit once more and celebrated New Year with the commune, John Luc, Nicole, Mark and Kay, much wine champers and oysters were consumed and we watched the new year come in a second time on the BBC.

the 2nd Jan saw us back to renovating the house ready for guests...

Wendy has now completed the decoration of the two upstairs bedrooms and the toilet room bar painting the doors. All the lights are up and the doors have handles...

Bedroom 1 - Finished

Bedroom 2 - Nearly finished

The Barn is coming along with most of the boards up now and the electrics completed and all working (Had me worried for a while - the only thing I have done from start to finish on my own in the Barn)

Friday and time to break for Christmas

For most that is Jimmy is cracking on with the attic room now Sean has finished the plumbing so we are breaking now for a week and intend to enjoy our family and Christmas.

Wendy provided a slap-up brunch for Jimmy, Jamie and Sean whilst not Christmasy in the real sense a treat by any other name, bacon, cumberland sausages, eggs, Heinz beans, tomatoes and mushrooms with toast and a mug of rosey lee - something you come to miss here in France but not at RidersRest ;)

Merry Christmas guy's and thank you for your hard work...

Still at it...

Still working hard on getting the place sorted. Sean arrived Monday to complete the plumbing and moving at a fair pace here he is making an opening for the toilet waste pipe More than just a pretty face eh!

We have made a room in the Barn by putting a door up now.