After we noticed that the shower tray in the bathroom in Picauville was broken, we started planning the renovation. We actually wanted to do it in December, but unfortunately that didn't happen. So the date had to be postponed to February. Departure was planned for 12.02.22. We finally set off on 15.02...
Barely 200 km after our start at 11:00 a.m. (the plan was 8:00 a.m.), the engine control light flashes wildly in bright orange, the electronics display the message "engine damage / service" and our vehicle is in "emergency mode". Great, considering that we still have 690 km to Picauville.
The next rest area was therefore our destination! After many phone calls and the unanimous opinion of various people that we could still reach our destination after all (because the light is orange and not red), we restart the engine - and lo and behold - the light is off and the vehicle is doing what it should again.
Unfortunately, the joy is short-lived and the game starts all over again. We bravely drive on with countless "off, key out, key in, on" stops and actually reach Maison les Grues after an incredible 14 hours. We quickly make up our beds, throw some food in the fridge and fall into bed half asleep.
New day, new luck! During the first (absolutely necessary) cup of coffee of the day, we plan our approach. But what goes according to plan on this job? The demolition work is still fairly straightforward, but brings some unpleasant surprises to light. The water pipes were imported from England by the previous owners, so they are not compatible with the French DIN standards. So the plumber has to come in! Fortunately, he seems to like us a lot and is on the spot immediately. With a furrowed brow, a piece of the pipe as a sample and a muttered "I'll think about it and get back to you tomorrow", he leaves us after 20 minutes. In the hope that he will find a solution by the next day, we drive off to buy the materials we need to proceed.
In the meantime, we take the car to the garage after the keys to our car have arrived in Appeville. Actually, it should have been taken to the garage too, as the brakes don't really work anymore. So now we're driving around with faulty brakes instead of an engine failure, but you know where the trouble spots are and you just drive slower.
The next morning we start making further preparations. The pile of garbage outside the front door grows at the same rate as the chaos in the living room.
The old oak beam, which was brought to light during the demolition, fascinates us so much that we decide to leave it visible. But then across the entire width, which in turn means having to open up the wall a bit more.
- The mountain of garbage continues to grow... -
More material has to be procured. Meanwhile, the first truck with gravel for the courtyard arrives. While I'm spreading the gravel in the yard and around the garage, the plumber arrives with a solution to the plumbing problem. He lays new pipes in the bathroom and connects them to the old system, connects the electrics properly and leaves again. We are happy! Now the construction can finally begin - I continue shoveling gravel.
Over the next few days there will be a lot of screwing, filling, sanding, gluing in the bathroom... The next loads of gravel arrive - I carry on shoveling...
It's Friday - the tiles are on the wall and the shower tray is in place. I take the garbage to the landfill, leaving the mess in the living room. We still have to grout, put in the shower cubicle, paint the whole bathroom and then, yes, then the plaster falls off the wall in the bedroom closet!
Despair spreads, tomorrow the guests arrive and the house is more than in need of a deep clean. A scream sounds from the bathroom, followed by a hearty curse. I stick my head through the door - what now? During the taping, a joint on the beam behind the door has broken out. That means another delay, as it has to be filled again. It's going to be a long night...
It comes as it must, we don't finish. After an (almost) all-nighter, we wave the white flag, surrender and give in to the idea of not finishing in time.
I paint the wardrobe, Paul paints the bathroom.
9:30 a.m. Rosie our fairy godmother appears on the scene. When she enters the living room, she is almost shocked and her face looks a bit deranged. We discuss the next steps over a coffee and while we are still working in the bathroom, Rosie cleans the bedrooms and I clear everything out of the house that is no longer needed.
5:00 pm, the guests arrive. We panic when we see the car roll into the yard. After all, everything has already been painted twice and the shower cubicle is (still unattached) in its place.
Luckily for us, we have really great guests with a lot of understanding! Apart from the bathroom and hallway, the house is clean, so we can move in - we carry on working.
Our guests invite us to dinner and apologize for the fact that we still have to work for them! Despite everything, it turns out to be a nice, pleasant evening.
We are now staying in Appeville for the rest of the time. The guests go to the beach with their dogs, we reappear on the scene and continue working. The cabin is fixed, the silicone joints are set, I clear the tools out of the way. It starts to rain and it's clear that the guests will be back soon. After we have FINALLY finished, we are invited for coffee and cake!
In the late afternoon we drive back to Appeville, ready but happy to be finished at last. The bus won't be ready until Tuesday afternoon, so we still have some time. I go to bed and catch up on sleep!
We use Monday and Tuesday for shopping, visiting museums and relaxing. The bus can be picked up, we pack and set off on Wednesday morning in pouring rain towards Germany. After almost 200 km, we pull into a service area and when we stop, we notice that the engine is smoking.
What's going on now.... Hood open - oil cap gone, engine completely smeared with oil! Paul admits to me that he has checked the oil again and topped it up. He must not have closed the cap properly... My anger boils up...
The ADAC refers us to the gas station attendant because they are not allowed to help (the highway is private). Fine - I have to go to an emergency call point and ask for help. The towing service arrives after 15 minutes and tells us that someone won't be able to check on the car for another two hours. We wait, it's still raining cats and dogs, we're frustrated and I'm pissed off to boot! I finally want to go home! We are finally able to drive on at around 3pm. We finally reach our destination at 1:00 a.m. without any further incidents but with lousy weather. The welcome is great! I fall asleep satisfied and happy that we've made it!