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.