winter is coming

winter is coming... and so is the snow and so is the mud... it rained for days only last week - we've had a brief respite "the last days of summer" the papers would have us believe. but dog walking in the dark and the wet is on its' way. we have a lovely torch but no proper boots, so
we've treated ourselves and invested in proper wellies. they were expensive, but worth it - who knows where they'll take us? who knows what mud france will bring 
but right now they're shiny and new and fun to dance in!

dancing wellies in the dark

and today we've been listening to Carl Cox and Grooverider

sunny monday

... and so it is Monday again - but what a day! warm and sunny and perfect. and you wonder why you ever wanted to leave england, but then you remember that only last weekend it rained non-stop for 3 days...

We were brave at the weekend and made the killer journey up through croydon to Ikea - god bless US. Do they have Ikea in France? they must - (but at least it'll be in somewhere like toulouse) We spent a small fortune on blinds and curtains and lights (and about £20 quid on some picture frames) We are determined that the conservatory will become a thing of beauty with a use and not the hideous eyesore  / dumping ground that it tries to be

the dumping ground

the new blinds 2 done, 9 to go!

todays music - a classic mix from the Hacienda 

Little Dog Discs - Viva Hacienda

destruction equals construction

what do they say? in order to make first you have to destroy. i think that's the way it goes. here are the two views of our new shower room - a sort of before and after - though the after is only the beginning if you see what i mean!

one side of our lovely new shower room

and the other - with the shower tray looking tiny! and the first fix of all the new plumbing done. 

so i think that todays listening will be something on Little Dog Discs on the Deconstruction label... 

dreeem teeem - so very fitting huh?

a new day, new rug

so, this is really turning out to be less like us moving to france, and more like Noel's diary... he's struggling to find somewhere comfortable to sit, while maintaining a watchful eye on the gate. In the conservatory, on the car rug, with his rugby ball handy - in case anyone feels like a quick game... the floor is so dusty since it doubles up as Tony's indoor workshop and the concrete so cold, but the view is great. Today has seen a small triumph though - Ikea 10 quid black-out blinds will work a treat for the ridiculous windows. We've put one up and now just have to go and buy 11 more.
where's you head at? france of course... enjoy!

rain rain go away

so, while the building work continues apace, and the rain lashes down - someone needs to guard the house. but not from the perimeter - just from the door - he wouldn't like to get his paws wet. ladies and gentlemen - may i introduce NOEL - our official new security guard... all welcome to come in and play
Carl Cox and Laurent Garnier - what fun

monday, monday

today has been mostly spent watching the Ryder Cup, listening to the mighty Laurent Garnier littledogdiscs / laurent-garnier and watching foam expand... still it's better than paint drying

the christmas break-up part 1

...and so it has passed that the christmas break came early to sussex this year - about 10 weeks early by my reckoning! tony has finished all other work to put all his vast reserves of energy into bleedin' house. the list of really dreadful dirty and dusty jobs is getting smaller - and though the hall look slike the proverbial bomb has hit it, it's a hideaous job done while i'm not there!  and the soundtrack to this mess? pump up the volume... little dog discs - technotronic