Author: SpinningStreak

Anything else like to complicate my life this week?

MacBook has decided it’s April Fool’s day. No idea why its date has reverted, or why it has sprouted a rainbow apple. Nothing wrong with it a couple of weeks ago when I last used it but this appeared as soon as I opened it up. Seems fine behind the stripes but I’m now fed up with dodging around them, jiggling windows from side to side.

Phone it is then. Don’t know how long I’ll last out on WordPress like this – I’m not that great at the best of times. Hmm.

Back home

Septic tank (allegedly) sorted in France – now this….When we got back last time at the beginning of September we were greeted by this:

And it kept getting worse…No-one could work out where the water was coming from. Plumber and builder thought we’d have to replace a nearby flat roof. Inspiration struck in the middle of the night (after 2 more weeks of water damage being attributed to torrential rain ) – we thought to turn off the water in the street – and it STOPPED! Roof replacement cancelled, plumber returned to drill randomly into the (very) wet and crumbling plaster where no pipes should be – and there it was. A Victorian lead pipe, doing nothing, going nowhere… but coming straight off the mains behind the lath and plaster. The end of the pipe had simply been bent up as a crimp, but this had given way. Repairs have now begun – you can see the shiny new part in the top picture!

And for an extra treat – builders are starting work tomorrow at the very top of the house replacing great stretches of lead. Just hope the various teams don’t get in each other’s way on the stairs….

Châteaudun, Eure et Loir

Day pictures this time. Châteaudun, (which has the first of the famous Loire castles if you are starting from Paris) has become a favourite retreat in the last few years – and not just because it is a convenient distance from the Channel… Very civilised, very polite – very French, in a medium-sized sort of way! We wandered through the historic area around the château last night, taking yesterday’s (not great) dark photos – definite autumn nip, almost deserted streets, touch of mist, scuffling leaves – magic! And then we ate in a surprisingly modern restaurant, directly off a C16th street – not without ambition, but I couldn’t help regretting it had somehow lost touch with its surroundings.

Great croissants in the square this morning though – and amazing November 11th/ 18th October floral decorations on the central fountain – the 18th October bit commemorates the heroic (but unsuccessful) attempt to defeat Prussian invaders in 1870. The town suffered severe arson damage but it was later awarded the Croix de la Légion d’Honneur for its bravery.

Ps – also a very classy (VERY French!) artisan bakery on the square. Of course we called in – and when we left there were only a couple of those millefeuilles you can see in the picture left on the tray…!