Monday 21 May 2012

Finally it's happening.

Patience is the ability to idle your motor, when you feel like stripping your gears. Barbara Jones
As many of you realise, my patience has been sorely tested since purchasing My French Folly in 2010.
Beware of him that is slow to anger; for when it is long coming, it is the stronger when it comes, and the longer kept. Abused patience turns to fury.   Frances Quarles
And I have certainly expressed my fury to my Man on the Ground during the last 6 months. But at long-last, it's finally happening - work has begun in earnest on our house in France. The dirt floor is no more, plumbing pipes can be seen and the plastering of some of the walls has commenced. 
Unfortunately the the old clos lit and adjoining cupboard are no longer - the base of each support and panel were severley rotted so they collapsed when the fragments of the remaining floor were taken up.


The placiste remarked on what a great house this once was.  He  found several points of interest that belie its current condition.  Some excellent sections of wallpaper have been retrieved as well as parts of a 1920's newspaper. I requested that any salvageable materials from the house be recycled in order to maintain the character of the building and contain the costs. So and I was relieved, and some what surprised, to receive a photo of one of the doors in the house that has been rehung in the kitchen as the door to the pantry. 
More to come.................... I hope. Not thrilled at the thought of camping in the garden when we arrive in France!

12 comments:

Heather Robinson said...

That door!!! Oh my, this is really, really good news!!! I have my fingers crossed and would say that you could always come down and stay with us save that we don't have a guest room and that would make one heck of a commute. Heehee.
Please keep us posted!!!

French Girl in Seattle said...

Yeah! So exciting. I am happy for you, Elizabeth. That door looks magnificent. Well, if you are going to sleep in the garden, I hope the weather cooperates for you. Hope you won't be too hot out there... Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

Meine Dinge Franka said...

So it's going on!

Bonne chance!

♥ Franka

Unknown said...

Well done. Perseverance pays off especially in France.

LaPouyette said...

Yippeh !!!!!!

Cannot tell you Elizabeth how pleased I'm to hear these good news! The door looks wonderful.....and it seems that 'things' going finally in the right direction, cross fingers!
Please, let the workers keep every bits and old pieces!

You see, never give up! Sometimes we have to battle and struggle to make our dreams come true.

Fully occupied at the moment with packing for Germany, 'sorting Oskar out', pre-cooking for Mr. B, organizing La Pouyette...etc...so much more to do. Desk is piling up..
So, will write to you from Germany where I can be undisturbed for a few days, no phone, no interruption, and a few days just interely on my own, ganz einfach mal die Seele baumeln lassen!

Sorry for not replying to your last mail....Please forgive me, time slipped just through my fingers...I certainly could do with some 36 hour days, every so often...:) :)

All my very best wishes and
a tres bientôt...bisou
karin

martinealison said...

Ma pauvre... J'espère que petit à petit tout va s'arranger.
gros bisous

Ann said...

That's just wonderful! Exciting!

Do you go soon?

The door looks fab and even the walls do, too!

bee bon said...

Marvellous! you are living the dream and really if there weren't a few hiccups, it wouldn't be what it is which is ……… start writing your book! now!
bee xx

Burlap Luxe said...

Elizabeth I would gladly visit France to give you all the much needed lessons in painting all things French, Just remember there are no mistakes in European chic, when a piece is painted and it speaks French it is done.

I so long for a life of salvaging and creating, and one in France is that much more better.
I love and adore your visits, and will be keeping my eyes on you, excited to see the progress of your French Folly...Please share as often as you can. I will be also excited at all the French brocante you add to its beauty!
xoxo
Dore

Mary Ann Pickett said...

Such a beautiful door...great things in store, I am sure.

Jo Farmer said...

I am so glad to hear that they are finally getting on with the works. I am thrilled for you that they retrieved the door and reused it within the house; it's beautiful.

Hopfully, this is a good sign of things to come... work, work and work.

bestest
Jo x

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

Elizabeth, all your waiting and struggles will come to a good end as you get closer to your dream. The door is fabulous and I look forward to more stories and photos as you head down the path to actually living in your dream!

Bises,
Genie