Saturday 10 December 2011

Wand in Hand.....

We won't be sleeping in this
room for quite some time!
For the uninitiated to the Harry Potter world, seeing me  gesticulate madly with a wand in hand while chanting accio, accio accio will have little meaning. This incantation, which can be used over long distances,  is a summoning charm that supposedly sends any object (or hopefully, Mr M, my man on the ground in France) directly to the spell-caster.....Desperate times lead to desperate measures! 

Mr M has had the keys to my property for 12 months now, and also a contract to project manage its renovations. Nothing has happened. Not one nail removed, not one door rehung, not a floor repaired, not a spouting replaced, not  a tile inserted , no utilities connected not a ditch dug. Not even a single quote for works has been sent in my direction. 

My Man on the Ground has become increasingly invisible, and when (after months of effort) he is located, he is  progressively more creative with his excuses. 
His Houdini act has sorely tested my patience and the patience of others ........3 sets of keys have supposedly been sent to Switzerland and Australia on 3 different occasions but have never arrived, (until recently when one set  turned up in Switzerland), meeting times at My French Folly with my representative, (a girlfriend who was holidaying in France) were organized then cancelled, which definitely didn't add to her positive holiday experience or my confidence in Mr M, ........the list goes on.........and on........and on.

Just as a generous friend, who has renovated in France, starts to pen a terse letter with heavy legal overtones to the possessor of the keys to my house, he surfaces via email......His  olive branch! 
After 12 months of hopes being raised then dashed, I think that a whole dammed olive tree would have been more appropriate!
Apparently my house has " fallen through the cracks" due to the unforeseen, rapid expansion of his business, coupled with staffing problems!  Perhaps he should invest in a a few "how to " books......... Good Business Communication for Dummies or How to Efficiently Run a Business for Dummies. And concurrently, I should purchase How not to Lose Your Retirement Savings In a Global Recession for Dummies

I've started to think that my cup is half empty instead of being half full...... and it is all my own doing!

Pinocchio
Original art by Enrico Mazzanti

Keep climbing to the grenier
Post script: Just as Mr M started to dash my faith in others, 2 wonderful people with houses in France.....you know who you are.....have restored it, with offers of help. Now hopefully Mr M will help to maintain it, by keeping to his word and revised renovation schedule.

Corridor to the bedrooms -first floor

12 comments:

French Basketeer.com said...

All I can say is, it will all be forgotten, and it will all be very much worth it, when "My French Folly" is completed! Bon week-end~

Ann said...

How frustrating!

And also pretty exciting! I hope Karin's helping- she's so knowledgeable. What area of France is your house in?

Mary Ann Pickett said...

How frustrating!!! Bon courage.

Elizabeth at Eiffel Tells said...

I do need bon courage...The chaos in the Euro zone is not helping to boost my confidence either.

Yes Ann, Karin is one of those who generously offered to help.

Andrea, you are my guardian angel, and thanks to you I am starting to become excited about the possibilities.

julia said...

hopeful news at last!
I am really hoping that your Project Manager is not known to me. I don''t think so, surely his tendrils don't reach that far.

But now you can begin to dream again and plan and look forward and that is lovely, isn't it?

Heather Robinson said...

Holy cow! Oh, I am so mad just reading this! I want to go give him a good talking to! Actually, I would like for REMI (who studied law before becoming a photographer and can puff up like a gorilla when he is mad) to give him a big talking to!!!

I think that your house is quite far from us but if there is anything that I can do to help, please let me know!

Bisous.

Elizabeth at Eiffel Tells said...

Yes Mouse, it is great being able to think more positively again. Now let us hope the EU can get their act together, then I will be beaming.

Thank you Heather for your offer of help. There appears to be no end to the talents or Remi and you. Please don't waste your precious energy on me because my predicament is of my own doing!

julia said...

Excuse me! It is not of your own doing, not at all, the blame lies with the man in whom you placed your trust and your money!
Your doing my foot!

Meine Dinge Franka said...

Yes your cup is half FULL!

Bonne chance!

Amicalement!
♥ Franka

Elizabeth at Eiffel Tells said...

Thank you Mouse for being so generous!

Yes Franka, my cup is half full. We have won the lottery when we were born into countries with good education systems, health care and job opportunities - particularly as women.

LaPouyette said...

Dear Elizabeth,
My first thought for this ongoing, frustrating case was:
Beth, get your gun !!!!!

I know, I know....does not help to end in a French prison....but....
Will send you a mail regarding this matter, probably next week when things calming down here.

Your house is looking interesting and I can image that - when finally restored - it will be very charming and wonderful!

Please keep your head up and make sure that your cup is always half full and never empty!

xxxkarin

Elizabeth at Eiffel Tells said...

Thank you for your encouragement Karin. The possibilities with my French Folly are endless, but unfortunately my bank account isn't. Time to be creative! I am looking forward to being able to welcome you and some of our mutual blogging friends over to see the house in situ.