It wasn’t long into the marriage that I realised that my husband’s many skills did not extend far into the practical. Not just his skills, but his interest too. Happily I could change a lightbulb and wheedle help from friends if anything was beyond me. We did borrow some indoor scaffolding and, together, after work, painted over the distemper which someone had applied to the dining room ceiling. After this long and very stressful adventure, we decided that we would have to get other people to help us.
The garden was a trifle overgrown when I first viewed it. That seemed to add to the house’s fascination.
By the time we bought Brel we had found support for practically everything in our UK hous - Victorian and needing constant attention. We shared painters, plumbers and builders with neighbours and friends. But in France, building a network was not so easy when you don’t know your neighbours and moreover don’t really know what skills you need. The cafe at Roquecor seemed to be a good meeting place for people who had various talents of rather different levels! At this stage, Helpful Husband was working full time and could do little more than the all important signing of cheques as well as monitoring the grand plan (fix plumbing, electrics, roofs etc) from afar.
Professional on the job - the maison s’amis gets a new roof
We had always had a vision for the house but at this stage got I bogged down with just keeping track of what was being done. Workers came and went and their interaction and back stories were fascinating but were just a distraction from ensuring steady progress. The heroin addicted electrician caught by the police and the Chilean who found himself in Tarn et Garonne with a mad Irish girlfriend were worthy of their own stories!
The kitchen starts to take shape
Finally, everything started to make sense when Michael came into our lives. A builder of many years’ experience in the UK and France, he listened, found solutions and did the work. Instead of various tasks happening simultaneously, projects happened one by one and one job was properly finished before the next started despite our constant excitement about getting on with the something new. Peter retired and spent more time in France.
Peter’s interest in what was going on grew apace. He decided to take over the potager and immediately got wonderful terraces built to replace the dug-over slope where I had previously grown the vegetables with some difficulty. Michael spoiled us sinking water storage tanks to provide rainwater from the summer storms. When there were few storms each year, he installed a water pump in the lake. Good crops were assured.
The staircase in the maison d’amis built into what was a crumbling oven
He gave us a garden room and maison d’amis and then fashioned - with help from my brother - a little concert hall out of a barn without a floor.
The music barn takes shape.
When we started to host musical residencies, Michael extended the accommodation at the top of the house with more bedrooms and bathrooms. He did everything - new flower beds for me, cleaning up in the spring, closing down in the autumn. One thing that we both agreed. We could never do without him.
But nothing stays the same and unfortunately for the last couple of years MIchael has been ill. He’s on the mend now but would you believe it he has retired. We are learning to do things ourselves - with instructions from Michael and a little help from our friends! But with lockdown we are having to really learn new skills if we want things done.
So it was with great delight that I discovered that Helpful Husband had taken several photos himself of the transformation brought about by the newly acquired high pressure water cleaner - the first time he had attempted to carry this job. I call that proper job satisfaction. We have quite a few areas for cleaning so the job satisfaction can continue.
Transforming the lower terrace
Far be it from me to imply that this is the only string to Helpful Husband’s bow. From not being keen on changing lightbulbs when I met him, he now has a crateful of different bulbs required for all the various light fittings I’ve bought here and there.
He has a very good electric drill and can hang paintings or install wires for roses. Hurrah..
Time to plant out the tomatoes.
Although I considered it a bit of an aggressive takeover when I was relieved of my vegetable gardening duties, it has to be said that the new Head Gardener works with enormous precision - particularly neat rows. He also carries out lots of research into varieties which grow well in the climate. He documents evenything. And the potager terraces have now expanded with a large extension where a huge variety of vegetables grow through the season.
It’s not an easy life in the garden. The lettuces are currently being attacked by some moth larva which eats the root at the base of the leaves. Happily the broad beans and peas are producing well and the artichokes are just about to start. Growing your own is perfect for lockdown!
Feuilletee aux asperges with chervil butter sauce
Not quite sure what the next learning curve is for either of us but I reckon our love of the house plus lock-down has brought us full circle - from never wanting to do anything ourselves, to not only actually doing stuff but also enjoying it. Of course we have to make sure that Helpful Husband leaves himself time for cooking ....
….and the wine. Salut!