Successful Trip!

I'm now back and rested after my two weeks at La Matha.  Virtually everything that I wanted to get done was done, and more.  Improvements carried out:

• Swimming Pool heated, and working very well
• Wi-fi up and running
• Kitchen "extended", by building new units, a large worksurface
• Kitchen tiled
• Wine Fridge installed, which will take the strain off the normal fridge, and ensure that your white and rosé wines are chilled correctly
• New oven installed
• New lighting in the living room
• Small shower room made larger and lighter, with new sanitary ware - looking cool now!
• New door on the pool-house.  Whilst this is aesthetic, it will ensure the pool house is clean, but also has the benefit of keeping the noise of the pump/filtering down
• Sorting out the thermostats on the boiler

 In addition to all this, there was the usual start of season clean-up - washing the terrace floor, clearing out the "utility room" and so on.

Here are some photos of the completed work

La Terrasse

There is a restaurant in Duras that we like to frequent - we have got to know the owners, Millie & Arnaud quite well.  We were there last night for dinner when Millie told us that they have sold the restaurant!  That is a real shame, as their food was french, but a bit different, and we really enjoyed going there every time we visit.

They have been there for five years, and have decided, for the sake of their children to give up the restaurant business, so they can enjoy holidays etc!

They have sold to a Belgian couple who have been running a restaurant in Luxembourg.  The chef is relatively young and trained in traditional French cooking.  Will it be moules-frites from now on?

A sad day!

I've been Swimming!

Whilst I am a strong swimmer, I do not like swimming in cold water.  The med in the summer is fine, but an un-heated swimming pool in May, even in the south-west of France, nah!

The heater said the temperature of the water should be 24.5c - that was about the same as the air temperature, so I gave it a go.  I dived in, and: it did not take my breath away, like it normally does!  Whilst I would not have described it as warm, it certainly wasn't cold.  Big, big improvement, then.  I think the temp should probably be set a bit higher (the pool has been getting warmer by the day).

Swimming Pool Kit

Did I mention that the pool is now heated?

Here is the Heat Pump:

And here are photos of the thermal pool cover:

I still haven't plucked up the courage to swim in it yet - the weather today is not as good as yesterday: maybe I should have gone then!

Lunch yesterday on the terrace - French bread, Camembert, Comté and Jambon Sec, oh, and a glass of red wine!

Well, Here We Are!

This is a momentous occasion - the first post of the blog from La Matha!  Wi-Fi is now set up - I've managed to change the password, but I have a feeling I will have to type out instructions on how to reset it in case it goes down......

Anyway, things are going very well.  Kitchen cabinets being built.  Have moved an electric socket so that the Wine Fridge (arriving tomorrow!) has power.  Work-surface arrives on Monday, but I will have put all the pieces together (hopefully!) by then.

Heater for the pool is doing a great job - with the warm weather of the last two days, it has now got to 24c.  I may give it a try tomorrow!

New shower room has been painted - just a small bit to finish off.  Door to the pool house also painted.

Will post some photos tomorrow!