VISITORS

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Thanks Monti Bianco (Debs)  you beast for getting me into gear on this front!
We have had lots of interest from family and buddies some who are very keen to come and visit, lend a hand, sample the local wine, eat the yummy cheeses, wander in the mountains, or just to get away and see this area of The Pyrenees.
So for those who would like to squeeze a visit in this year, here are the dates we plan to be down there.
Al has booked time off work from 4th May until 4th June. I am as some of you think on one permanent holiday!!!! so will be there with Al until the summer season kicks in in Chamonix.
We would ideally like the first week to get ourselves organised before having any visitors. So feel free to visit any time from 11th May until 4th June.
If you are unable to make a visit in the Spring we are also planning a month or so in September dates not yet confirmed but I reckon from about 7th September. Will keep you posted on that though.
We are planning to rent an apartment for these 2 months to make life easier. We are in the process of finding somewhere but as yet do not know how big this will be and how much bed/floor space will be available. Again we will know more soon re lodgings…..so watch this space. There is a lovely place in Salau “Auberge Myrtille” where we have stayed cheap and cheerful with good home cooking too and a little bar which would be a good second/first option depending on finances and level of comfiness!!!
As I am sure you are all aware we have just a tad to do on the work front so we will not be able to do pick ups from the airport so it would mean renting a car to get to us. This will also let you go and explore the area and get away from the DIY!!!!
There are lots of options flight wise with old “Sleazy Jet” and “Ryan Air”.
There are 3 main airports to choose from all about 2 hours drive away.
Carcassone who I managed to get a ticket £15 one way with taxes. Very appealing to my Yorkshireness!
Pau
Toulouse.
We would love to see anyone down there but I think we need to emphasize that we will be working hard for the month we are there although we are intending to get to know the area as well with a few explores which we will try and time in well with visitors. Rest assured food and wine will floweth in the evenings to keep us going!!!!
As and when people decide to come and stay we will post it up on the Blog so that we do not have too many people all at once.
Look forward to seeing whoever comes.
Categories: The Project

Information sharing & useful links

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Many thanks to Matthew and Esther Phillips for their information sharing on the eco front. They have sent through a couple of links which are really useful:-

http://www.kyocerasolar.de/products/solar_faq.html which is an easy read FAQs on photo voltaics.

http://www.naturalinsulation.co.uk/cms_items/20060607164406.pdf  which is the result of research paper about making buildings 'breathable' and why it's better all-round than the modern technique of trying to envelop buildings in impermeable barriers. This is especially important for old buildings with their stone walls without damp-proof courses. Like ours! Be warned this is not an easy read unless you are a boffin. Still not sure what meaning to take out of that one.

Thanks also to Mark & Lauren who added a comment to the previous post with a couple of useful links to pages of links. I will plough through them but I am impressed with this site purely for its numpty proof, plain speaking information.

http://www.navitron.org.uk/

Next steps for us is to work out what power we need to generate and how, then identify what implications that has for the roof design so that we don't end up having to alter the roof after we have built it. Just seems like everything needs to be considered in detail before you start anything. The biggest nightmare is establishing where to start as there seems to be so many variables.

Happy New Year to all! 

Categories: Ecofriendly Matters

Christmas News

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So, tiz Boxing Day, after a very Merry Christmas Day in The Chamonix Valley. Long lunch with champagne sitting in the sun up the mountain gave us lots of thinking time and ideas. Chatting with Keith & Lyn, we discovered a few people in the valley have already invested in various eco friendly systems. We now have a few contacts to touch base with, and hopefully glean some hints, tips and also how the French system support eco investment. We also need to traipse around builders merchants and talk to a couple of builder friends regarding French roofing techniques and materials. This is gonna be vital for the structural engineer so that we can actually make what he designs. We also need to find the “French termite map” to establish what timbers we require. If anyone knows where to locate this map then let us know!

Christmas Lunch

Christmas Lunch

The blog seems to be working as we are getting more information and contacts to talk to. Thanks Jane & Richard (Fletcher) for finding this and putting us in touch with Ester & Mathew looking forward to hopefully meeting them in the New Year and sharing ideas.

Categories: The begining 2006, The Project

The Roof

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We have the plans back from the architect so need to pass them onto the structural engineer. Gonna get them scanned and put them up here for anyone interested. Current thinking is to use salvage slate for the roof covering as this is what it would have been originally. There are a few slates around but we need to track down a load more old ones so if anyone out there has a stash in the south of France please let us know. Don't worry I won't hold my breath. Put a couple of pics in to show what sort of thing we are thinking.

   

 

Still need to think through what we want the roof to do for us in terms of eco friendly stuff, power, water heating etc, and design that in as well. If anyone has experience to share on that front please let us know. It would be a shame to make unnecessary mistakes. 

Categories: The begining 2006, The Project

Update

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So, we have found a friendly architect who is doing drawings for us. Well actually he is a student architect who has jumped at the opportunity to earn beer money. Fantastic, we like.

Also got a structural engineer onboard who is going to design the roof. Martin Ward is happy to be paid in wine! So it is all coming together.

Next steps are to get a tools list together and acquire a small generator from somewhere so that we can use power tools etc in the spring. Oh yeh, the plan is to get out there for a month in May time and do a load of work in preparation for putting a roof on in the Autumn.

Watch this space! 

Categories: The begining 2006, The Project

Eco Concepts

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Essentially we are starting with a very solid but basic shell of a building with no power, water, sewage, post box and most of a roof. The intention is to fix it up in such a way that it can be self sufficient once the roof is fixed. For us this is quite a challenge and has meant we have done some research en route already. This we propose to share in this category. We know that we will have to do loads more and no doubt we will have to overcome a few issues as well.

In documenting these and also identifying sources of information and support, then hopefully it will become a valuable resource for others attempting similar projects. Immediate thinking includes use of:

  • Solar power using Photo Voltaics
  • Wind power
  • Water Power (using the stream)
  • Heat Sink (need to learn loads on this one)
  • Thermal mass
  • Solar heating (hot air)
  • Solar heating (water)
  • Composting toilets
  • Filter / Reed beds (not sure the climate will make this a feasible option)
  • Carbon footprints
Categories: Ecofriendly Matters

The Purchase

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Things in France just seem to take time. So we have finally sent money over to complete the purchase of the Bergerie. Now we wait for something to come back.

We spent about ten days over there in October and measured up as best we could. We also managed to get a couple of really great walks in around the valley. See the photos below. The alpine meadow was covered in naturalised crocus flowers and although one arm of the stream running through the property seemed dried up, when we walked up the valley there was tons of water flowing. Where it goes we just don't know. The area is limestone though so we may have to put a well in? We also came accross a donkey trying very hard not to be found. 

  Donkey HidingDonkey Hiding Upstream sculpted limestone  Upstream waterfallUpstream waterfall  Upstream sculpted limestone

Next steps:

  • Get plans drawn up having been out and taken loads of measurements
  • A friendly Structural Engineer is then gonna come up with a plan for the replacement roof (old slate)
  • Then try and track down a friendly Quantity Surveyor to give us a steer on labour and a materials list
  • Lastly get out there and start some works

Categories: The begining 2006, The Project

In The Beginning…

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Once upon a time there was this small, derelict, stone building, up in the mountains and miles from any other habitation. The gorgeous views, and the several acres of land that belonged to it, made it irresistible …

 

Categories: The begining 2006, The Project