http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , France , Poitou-Charentes en-us Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:20:58 +0000 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:20:58 +0000 ContinuedhellipI bit down and did the only thing I could do I emailed an emergency help request to every SERVAS member in Poitiers leaving only my phone number for them to reach me and located the townrsquos hostel as a backup measure. Then I hit the road.I had to hurry as it was already 2pm and the ride was at least three hours to Poitiers. I was lucky to have a clear sky and no rain http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/Poitiers/blog-460166.html The outside of the house is finished Woop Woop we are allowed our chinese buffet on Saturday. I am so excitedFinished the painting and stripped the scaffold wasn't too bad getting it down easier than I thought it would be mind you Rob did all the hard bits all I did was hold things and take things down to ground level.The house looks so much nicer without all that ugly scaffold in front http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-454850.html Cannot get on with finishing the last of the masonary on the front of the house due to drizzly rain and mist so have moved inside and started work on the upstairs bathroom. No chinese buffet this week then hahaThe bathroom ceiling has been redone with new plasterboard by Remmy and Rob and we are now doing all the prep work that is required before we can paint it.Started off my scraping all t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-454077.html Just back fae a bit of a dander in the area around the house. Went along to see Columbo the Donkey and he was there he came right over to say hello and I clambered thru a ditch so I could see him properly and get my hands on him. I think he is awesome.Its drizzling a bit today but that didn't matter walked down the road past the golf course Looks like a nice course but you can only see a wee http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-453344.html Making progress with the outside of the house now. Finally finished shutter three. I had a big bloody smile on my face when that was done Those shutters were extremely difficult to paint due to the fact they are original shutters 100 yr old. Trying to get the paint to key on to them was hellish Never mind got there in the end and I am now strangely satisfied about itBeen dotting about http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-452903.html Won the pub quiz last night againDifferent pub different place different quiz but our team effort brought us home the booze again. It's a terrible shame when you win and have to accept 4 bottles of champersCarol and Keith answered the most questions coz they are clearly the most intelligent with an exceptionally broad range of knowledge Rob got a fair few right coz he is very bright and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-452895.html NO I am NOT pregnant so calm doon Ha Ha.MEGA CONGRATULATIONS TO COLIN AND FIONA My brother told me today he is going to be a dad again Both Colin and Fiona are over the moon I wasn't aware that they were trying for another addition to the family but i did know my bro would love another baby. I'm so happy for them both.I'm going to be an aunty again woop woopThey have just found out http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-452892.html Lack of posts in the last few days has been due to me not being well. Got ill on Tuesday with Renal Colic and Kidney Pains. Rob sorted me out with these tablets from the pharmacist and basically all I did for 3 days was sleep only waking up to eat. Didn't even make it out the Gite at one point Carol sent me down food and Rob looked after me. Was feeling a bit better by yesterday afternoon went http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-451422.html Not a nice day today the good weather spell has ended in a torrent of rain Its a very Scottish weather dayHad a semi long lie in then just cleaned the Gite while Rob did a bit work. Went up to the main house for lunch Tattie and leak soup home made with Garlic Bread was yum Tonight I am Trying 'Angels on Horseback' for the first time which is Oysters wrapped in Bacon no idea if I will http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-449937.html Happy Halloween everybody Watch oot the boogeys don't get you tonight. I'm safe enough I sleep with a boogey every night anyway http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-449675.html There are 3 cats here Greebo black Rodin silver tabby and Russeaux brown tabby Only managed to get a pic of Greebo so far might manage to get Rodin but prob wont get Russeaux coz he is semi feral and you don't see him much.There are six or seven chooks too don't think they have names and there are bats in the barn only seen one so far and it was dark so couldn't see it properly. Will hav http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-447727.html This girl is Cuisle pronounced Cushla Caileann's mum she's purebred Border Collie too about 8ish and is a good natured wee thing smaller than Caileann is and a bit of a maddo she had slightly better manners than Caileann does but she has some wild habits she hates reflections and if she sees one on the ceiling she goes absolutely barking bonkers mental another thing that sets her off is http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-447725.html This is Caileann pronounced CayLyn a big softie purebred Border Collie he's about 4ish and his brains are in his backsideBounds about like an idiot launches himself at you. licks you to death gives you the big sad eyes treatment at the table thinks he's dying of starvation and the only dog I know who could replace a prewash on a dishwasher waits till the plates are loaded in the rack the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-447723.html Its pissing down Just like homeWon't be painitng today so will have to be some indoor work. Feeling better now and got back to it on Thursday finally finished shutter 1 what a bloody laborious job that was was glad to see the back of it. Rob finished off some more masonary and then yesterday we moved the scaffold over to start work on shutter 2 and the masonary around that area. Scaffold w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-447722.html Well its finally all caught up with me Ive got myself a French cold head is all blocked up and I have got earache Just spending the day vegitating in my PJs Rob made me take vitamins earlier and made me breakfast then sent me off to bed managed to get a sleep for a wee while at least. Got up at lunchtime but didnt want to go up to the main house for lunch so just skipped it and Rob went him http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-446926.html Garycat is greatHe has decided I am a supercool awesome fantastic wonderfull person and is lavishing me with his attention.He used to mostly ignore me before when we were in Kirkcaldy Not now though Changed days I get him crawling round my legs following me around the Gite sleeping on me taking food from me and even coming to the bloody loo with me hahaI have been accepted as his ne http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-446421.html Chilly morning hot later morning and warm afternoon...no seen rain in daysStarted work at 10am this morning so an early one Spent the day painting mainly doing second coats to the scroll rails and to the shutters was up the scaffolding today was crapping myself a bit at first getting out there via the upstairs window is a bit horrifying but once you realise you are not going to die its http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-446420.html Had the day off today coz we are lazy haha Got a kind of decent lie in then got up and went out for a walk around the area where the house is another cracking day blue sky and a warm sun. Walked down the lane then round a gravel track thru the fields was very quiet and peacefull weird to see so much fruit growing on the trees pears apples chestnuts and then brambles and even flamin mistl http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-446419.html 16th OctNot a major busy day Woke up late and had eggs provided by the chickens for brekkie....yum Soreted ourselves out then headed up to the main house Rob was outside painting the upper window shutters a bright shade of red and having an nightmare with the hammerite paint but it was a braw day so he couldn't complain sitting in the French sun doing a bt paintwork is hardly hard graft I http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-446414.html Arrived in Mazieres at midnight last night Carol and Keith were not up so we headed down to our Gite and got GaryCat settled in before hauling a few things out the car and hitting the sack. Didn't sleep too great really well it's hard to sleep when you have a newly free cat bouncing about your head all night Headed up to the house late morning and met Carol and Keith and the two collies sat d http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Poitou-Charentes/blog-446410.html