Wipe it off

With the wood for the fourth set of shelves planed, sanded and all stuck together, Brian still felt he was a clamp short and wanted to add a bit more weight to the middle shelf, so he improvised with a stack of wood.

By the end of the day we took all the clamps off and I was able to get a first coat of linseed oil on it. After four sets of shelves, I think we’ve mastered the art. And that is to wipe the oil off a little while after I’ve brushed it on. That provides an excellent finish, and it dries more effectively between coats.

Two more coats on this and then we can put it up, and Brian can start work on the side part of the shelves.

Stylish

Our opticians had contacted us to let us know we could go and pick our glasses up. We were both looking forward to having new ones. It’s always a nice treat when we go to Troyes to enjoy a lazy morning coffee or hot chocolate, which Brian has become rather fond of, and today we found a new little café in a back street that served 100% cocoa version. He said it was very strong, but delicious.

After we’d collected our glasses, and had them fitted, I then headed to my 11am rendezvous for my first ever French hair appointment. I’d finally mustered the courage to go.

I don’t know why I was so worried. The salon was very quiet, with soft music in the background. In my best French I was able to share, in a simple way, what I wanted to have done, and in response the stylist spoke slowly and clearly.

We chatted a little during the time, and it was nice to be able to practice my French and learn a little more about French life. And I’m loving my new haircut also, nicely trimmed with no major change.

3 out of 4

With three of the four shelves now completed, we have started to position them on the top of the cabinet.

We are both loving how it’s all coming together, and getting impatient to see it in use. However there’s still quite a way to go.

Something fishy

Earlier this week we went on a voyage of discovery with some friends. They wanted to show us a little farm shop which is about 10 minutes from them.

On a Wednesday afternoon the farm shop also has a fish van that visits, so we planned our little trip with this in mind, so that we could enjoy a fish supper together.

We chose some ‘lingue’ from the fish stall for our dinner with some grey (brown) shrimp’s and Madagascar prawns for a starter. Our friends served the lingue with fresh boiled potatoes and some savoy cabbage, and a tasty caper sauce. It was all very delicious.

The farm shop was awash with homegrown vegetables and locally produced products.

As we were leaving the potager I spotted some little fruit trees, which looked very healthy. I would love a new tree to plant on our back slope, so I’m thinking we should go back and buy one. I just need to decide which one - Apple, Pear or Cherry. The Apples or Pears would be lovely in a tarte, while the Cherries are good for clafoutis. Choices, choices - which one would you choose?

When we headed back to our friends to cook our purchases, we took a mini detour to visit ‘La Fosse’ at the small village of Coulmier-le-Sec. As the name suggests, it was a village that had no access to water. So a rather large watering hole was built to supply the village. The available history seems pretty vague on when it was built and specifically why, but this large hole would fill up during periods of rain, and the villagers would obtain their water as needed during times of drought. There is also a small well for drinking water built about 50 metres away from the hole.

Waste not

In readiness for some major changes this year 2023 saw our region ramp up its focus on the reduction and recovery of waste. It modernised its recycling centres, simplified the sorting of waste and promoted more recycling and composting, all the time reinforcing that ‘we all’ play a major role in what is required to be more green and spend less on waste management.

From January 1, 2024, French and European law actually made it compulsory to separate biowaste from household waste, so ideas were needed to achieve the aim. A simple fix, it seemed, was to make composters available to every household. We picked ours up at a local depot last year, and I have to say it’s going well.

To help with recycling, a government secondhand shop – Recyclerie de l'Orient – was set up in Vendeuvre, a small town about 20 minutes from us. It provides a second life to furniture, household items, toys, clothing etc.

There was also an initiative, in the run up to Christmas, of creating 28 collection points for old toys. This apparently resulted in 400kg of repurposed toys.

A project that happened throughout 2023, was the upgrading of our déchetterie’s (communal tips). We have access to three within a fifteen minute radius of us. All extremely clean with helpful staff. Nearly 34,000 visits were made to these 3 sites last year, which equates to about 4 per household, so it’s great to know they are well used. We certainly make regular visits, and have far exceeded that number thanks to a lot of garden waste.

By 2025, the aim for the region is to not exceed 56 kg/year/inhabitant of household waste and not exceed 200kg/year/inhabitant of packaging, paper and plastic.

It’s been a period of change for all, with adjustments to how everything is done, but by adapting we will all help achieve those targets.

Rubbish

We had noticed, late last year, that a large concrete pad was being constructed nearby to our existing glass recycling bin at the end of the village. Then early this year three new bins arrived. We spoke to some locals about it, and they said that it was part of a plan to get rid of the bin men. ‘Crikey’ we thought, was that true?

A few weeks ago, this hanger appeared on our bin, so it was true.

We were then delivered a newsletter explaining all about the changes.

Effectively each village and town has their own collection points, where we have to take our rubbish to. It is our responsibility to not only sort the glass, separate the paper, tins and plastic, we then have to put them loose into the bins, which have size restrictions to prevent you putting bagged up items in. Other household waste must be deposited in bags not exceeding 50 litres, in a separate bin.

I have to say at first we thought this was madness, driving stinky waste to the bins and putting it in one item at a time, but 4 weeks in and it isn’t so bad. We just have to organise ourselves to do it regularly. I think as the warmer weather arrives we will be doing a lot more bin runs.

Well oiled

We decided to use linseed oil to protect the shelving and cabinet. It’s a natural product that is used a lot in France to nourish and protect all types of wood, including oak. The only time you wouldn’t use it with oak, is on outside wood.

We chose boiled linseed oil, as this dries three times faster than the plain oil.

It’s a nice product to work with, as it went on very easily, and brought out the deep, natural colour of the oak. The smell however is very strong.

I’ve now put two coats on three sets of shelves and I’m waiting for them to dry, which could be a few days, before deciding whether or not to put a third coat on.

A lesson learned

The other evening we entertained friends for dinner. Champagne served, we were asked to go and find two pens and some paper. Apparently we were to have an impromptu French lesson from our French guest. He began by reading us a short story, about going shopping in Troyes. It was a bit quick to follow at first, but then he read it again much slower, asking us to write down what we heard.

Apart from a few spelling errors we were both surprised at how well we did.

A strong part of learning anything is confidence. It was such an excellent way to learn, with a story that fitted closely into our lifestyle, and in the company of friends over a glass of Champagne. We are looking forward to the next one.

Doubled up

It had been quite a grey day today, and we’d both been busy in, and around, the house. Brian was continuing his meticulous build of the library, whilst I was pottering in the garden and researching some ideas for some borders I would like to create.

I am loving how the little daffodils are popping up through the lavender.

We’d stopped around 3ish for a cup of tea, before sitting down for our weekly French lesson. We’ve been practicing the ‘future anterior’, which is not proving simple, so over tea we prepared a few sentences to share with our teacher Clare.

An hour later, after French, I finished off making us a cauliflower cheese for dinner, which I then popped in the oven. We would enjoy it with some nice crusty chia bread and butter. A simple, but delicious, supper.

As I was tidying the kitchen, I could see beautiful, bright sunshine on the vineyards opposite our house, it felt like the early signs of spring were starting to sparkle. At the same moment, Brian was upstairs getting washed and changed and had, in a very timely fashion, caught the double rainbow that appeared across our village.

Joining in

Brian glued and clamped the third bookshelf together today. We tend to bring them into the salle à manger to dry overnight, as it’s still generally too damp and cold to leave them in the workshop.

In the morning he removes all the clamps before we take them through to the library. The whole process is a bit unwieldy, but we manage between us.

As soon as this is done he is back in his workshop, joining wood, then planing and sanding it, ready to build the next one.

1,2,3

After the storm, which was probably the worse tempest that we had experienced since arriving in France, the sky cleared, and although the air was rather chilly, the sky was completely blue.

I wanted to get some more pruning done, and Brian was starting on the third set of shelves.

He’d set up a way of cutting all three shelves together, which ensures they are all the same size.

With both uprights also now made, we are not far off getting the third set finished.

Jazzing it up

When we moved to France, three years or so ago, we brought some old vinyl records with us that we had inherited from our families. Amongst them were a number of jazz albums. I was never aware that Brian’s parents listened to jazz, and I’m not really sure he was, but we realise now that they had a pretty good taste for it. With names such as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker and Jelly Roll Morton we now have a pretty good little collection.

What we really love about our ready-made jazz collection is that it’s a great backdrop to aperitifs and dinner with our friends, family and guests, helping create a warm and calming mood. Now, when we are out at broccantes, we always look for more albums. It’s another interesting little thing to be looking out for on our days out.

Levelling up

We woke this morning to a rather nasty storm, so we’ve decided it’s a day off from woodworking. However yesterday was a good day, and with a bit of help from me to lift it into place, the second set of shelves are now complete.

There’s always a little trepidation on whether they will fit as he wants them to, but they couldn’t be more level.

Inspiration

The villages and cities of France provide so much visual, creative stimulation. From ironwork fences to Juliet balconies, or beautiful gardens to glorious old mansard roofs, the wonderful French style is seen everywhere.

Below is an external staircase we couldn’t help but andmire and photograph on our trip to Besançon.

On a recent trip to Dijon Brian photographed these glorious doors. Photos like these are great for referring back to when you need inspiration. How can you not be inspired.

More clamps

With the second set of shelves cut, sanded and biscuit holes cut, Brian can now start to assemble them.

He has made himself another jig to support each of the shelves whilst they are drying.

I think we could have bought him a few more clamps, I’m not sure you can ever have enough!

Love machine

Last week, when I nipped out to get some groceries on our return from our holiday, I was pleasantly surprised to be handed a token at the checkout to use in the ‘love machine’. All very exciting, I strolled over to insert my token and pull the arm of the machine.

To my delighted surprise I won! It wasn’t one of the 5 romantic getaways, but a little packet of seeds for me to grow my own herbs. An absolutely perfect present for me, and I can’t wait now to propagate them. Thank you Leclerc for a thoroughly enjoyable moment.

Unblemished

With the biscuit holes cut, it didn’t take long this morning for Brian to glue together the first section of shelving. I have to say it was rather heavy helping to lift it into place. I’m so glad we decided to make it in 4 separate sections.

No time to waste, Brian was back at it, and with a little elbow grease, and some patience, he had soon sanded off some marks to the shelves which he was preparing for the second section of shelving. Some of the planks of wood that we’d bought were a bit blemished, but about €15 cheaper per plank than the unblemished ones. Taking a bit of additional time is all that is needed to make them just as good as the others. Definitely worth it.

He was then ready to start to mark up the second section, careful to ensure each of the shelves are going to line up and everything is straight.

Jiggedy jig

Before our little break, Brian was ready to make up one of the sets of shelves, however, he was still undecided about how he wanted the shelves to be attached. His initial intention was to screw them in, but having played with his biscuit jointer for a while he started to feel that that might be an option. It would certainly deliver a better finish. So whilst we were away he gave it some thought, and decided the best way to do it was with a jig. I’m not really sure I understood what he meant by this, but when we returned he set about making one.

It’s a simple little device that clamps around the uprights and has two marks where the holes have to be cut. He made it big enough to be clamped into place, as he needs two hands for the jointer.

Jig in place, he simply adjusts the gate on the front of the jointer for upright cuts and voila! It sometimes helps to stand back from a job and take a rest, and solutions can pop up when you aren’t thinking about them.

This is starting to make sense to me now, I can start to see how it’s all going to come together.

Misty morning

The day after returning home we had another early visit to Bar-sur-Seine, to get the ‘anti mouse box’ and two new tyres fitted to our car. The mornings are still rather chilly but now they are misty too, with the vineyards barely visible.

One of the things we have found different here from our experiences in the UK is that they won’t change a single tyre, they will only do them as pairs. It makes sense, and on this occasion it works for us as we are having all season tyres fitted to match the front two we replaced last year. It also gets us up early to see the beauty of our countryside, that we might otherwise miss at this time of year.

Rather cheesy

During our little sojourn we enjoyed some rather delicious meals. The Jura is famed for its cheese, dairy products and charcuterie, so we made the most of that whilst in the mountains, with meat platters, cheese fondues and delicious cream soups. I always love, after a long walk, never having to feel guilty eating a hearty meal, and we had a few of them. Most very simple, but also simply delicious.