On February 22, 2021 - Our team has been hard at work (as always). Lately they've been working on some projects that, although they may be less glamorous than big restorations are so important to the work that we're doing. You know what they say, the devil is in the details!
Here's what's been happening:
1. Paul has patched up the gutters and take the old pool heater off the chalet roof. He's also swept all the leaves off too. Next steps for the chalet roof will be a total replacement. The current roof is sheet steel, which we think, hope and pray is insulated. This modern building is in the worst shape, though. Guess it's true: they just don't make things like they used to!
2. The handrails have been given a fresh lick of paint - and look at them glistening even on an overcast day! That's one of the things I love about painting and decorating, just a simple job that elevates and makes things look so much more inviting.
While some may say these renovations and restorations are mundane, we understand that they're necessary details needed to achieve our big picture!
On February 24, 2021 - Here's a gold star lesson we learned early on in this process: you must be organised. There is no way it would be possible for us to be able to get anything done without having our ducks in a row. Those two photos I've shared are of the list of jobs we left for Paul when we left after the summer. I also like to remind myself of all the things we've already accomplished, and the things that we tried but that didn't work out! For instance, we used a pipe camera to try to find out what was underneath the chateau. FAIL. It seems like it's just full of rubble. There were times, though, that we felt like Geraldo looking for Jimmy Hoffa. We also stripped the wallpaper from the hallway downstairs and let me tell you, it's an absolute mess down there! We made dozens of tip runs as we emptied the caves to clear way for Ben's workshop and my gin bar. Gin is always the silver lining!
Joking aside, don't underestimate the power of a good list! It'll keep you grounded, give you direction as you move forward and provide encouragement as you look back on all you've already achieved.
On February 26, 2021 - THINGS TO DO IN CREUSE: Le Labyrinthe Geant or the Giant Maze. Located on the edge of the Chabrières forest just minutes from the center of Guéret, the Labyrinthe Géant des Monts de Guéret covers 22,000 m2 and has 4.5 kilometers of alleys. Construction started in 1995 and took three years to complete and open to the public. The giant labyrinth of Guéret is a much-loved attraction in Creuse. It’s a puzzle maze in which you solve a series of questions in order to find the correct paths to take. There’s question levels for all ages and even a set of questions available in English.
The entrance to the labyrinth leads you to the center, where you need to choose a path from one of the seven different alleys leading out. Not making a correct choice quickly leads to a dead end and you need to return to the center. But once you’re on the way, correctly answering the various questions is the key to finding the exit.
Open from February to November, but check the website before you plan to visit as these things may change.
Til next week!