August 1996

Diary Years

Eight people working for 3 weeks in August 1996 gave us some big improvements in the state of the house, both inside and out.

Everybody did a bit to make sure all the exterior paintwork was changed from a rather odd orange-brown to a much nicer dark Normandy brown.

There is an awful lot of grass at La Martinieré and, although Remi (our very helpful neighbour) cuts it in June each year to use as hay for his handful of cows, it is still a job that needs doing at every visit.

It was usually Keith who took on the task (well, it was more fun than painting!).

One job which John does not want to have to do again is reducing the height of the conifer hedge!

This hedge at the side of the house forms a useful windbreak for the side garden, but unfortunately it had been allowed to get much too high and needed to have the top 6 or 8 feet cut off. It is quite a long hedge and cutting mature conifers balanced on top of a set of steps using a bow saw is no fun!

Still, at least now it only needs an annual trim with the electric hedge cutters.

Unfortunately, the majority of the work was inside which meant we didn't get out in the sunshine unless it was time for a 'cold beer break' (which thankfully tended to come at regular intervals!)