Looking forward...

The front door

to my next trip when I will get the keys. It will be in February and it will be my first winter visit.

Windows

All large windows installed.

Doors

Double glazed glass doors lets light in.

New windows being installed!

The first new window is in place.

Winter in Auvergne 

Paul sent me these stunning photos.

Doors and windows

The next step is a big one and could only be achieved so soon thanks to my dear parents, who have helped me with founding. The two doors on the front and all windows will be replaced. The windows will be double glazed and it will all be made of oak.

Gutters sorted...

The gutter needed to be restored and redirected as it was pouring water in the wrong places.
This has now been sorted.

All new beams are now in place!

I was very pleased to see all beams securely in place.
Paule and Judith was kind enough to pose for me.

A new trip to the Auvergne...

The same route with a stop over in Paris!
I had some time to explore and this time I enjoyed some very famous French art.

View from the second floor.

New beams!

The new beams are in place... good job Paul!

Heavy work..

Sadly some of the larger beams holding the second floor was in such a bad state that they had to be replaced. Paul removed the damaged beams and I am now eagerly waiting to see the  replacement beams getting in place.

Summer holiday over!

August in France is very quit many businesses close down for the full month.
Finally the holiday is over Paul can order the beams needed.
More to follow...

The beautiful view...

Paul took these photos from my rooftop!

The first job done!

The flashing is now sorted and the roof should no longer be leaking. The next step will be to replace some damaged beams.

The first steps...

Auzon is such a beautiful old village and I was very excited to be back and see it all again.
Paul had been in the house ones before and we had already exchanged a few mails about what should be done first. The most urgent is to get the flashing along the roof sorted as the person who had done the roof back in 2005 had not done it and the result was leaking. Paul will get new flashing laid and stop the leaking. That will be the very first job and it will be done in August. I have asked him to send me photographs when its done and I will upload them here in the blog.

The next job will be to replace two large beams that are rotten and also set in some more beams to support the second floor. I am awaiting a quote for that and I hope it will be done by the time I go back in September.

From Paris to Clermont-Ferrand

It was easy to to take the train from Paris to Clermont-Ferrand and the whole trip was less thank 4 hour. It was extremely hot and a bit of a shock to get off the train that had been cool and air conditioned. I had booked a basic but nice hotel near the station and it was only 5 min walk.

The builder Paul and his wife Jude met me outside the hotel. I checked in, left my suitcase in my room and off we went to Auzon.  Paul is an experienced builder who lived in the Auvergne for 15 years and he specialises in restoring old houses. And I am confident that he is the right man for the job.

First stop Paris...

Chanel

I travelled with Eurostar from London.
Its very fast and convenient and I will probably use it often when i go to Auzon.
In Paris I had a chance to check out the elegant fashion displays. Very different from the simple life in the Auvergne.

An extra plus to owning a house in The Auvergne is that I can (and most certainly will) pass trough Paris to get there.

Auzon

Background.

I bought the house back in 2004 with my husband.

The dream was to restore it and use it as a holiday home.

Much happened over the last 8 years and I am now single and the sole owner of this very old house. I have decided to finally start getting the house restored and I will update this blog regularly with pictures. My next entry will be when I travel to Auzon on the 18th of July to meet with Paul, the English builder who is going to help me on this difficult journey.