New Choir

I enjoyed my recent experience singing with the choir in Pézénas.  How could I go on from there? One of my fellow altos, whose talent I admired, is a member of the Choeur Symphonique de Montpellier. The choir has a dynamic new conductor, Vincent Recolin, who has been shaking things up and has revitalised the membership. Entrance is by audition and the standard is high. I was very happy to be accepted, in time for the first concert under Vincent's direction on 15 December.

Again Rossini's La Petite Messe Solennelle, but an altogether different experience. I was chuffed to be chosen to sing in a small group, creating a lighter effect, for two of the choruses. Fourteen intrepid friends made the pilgrimage all the way to Saint Thérèse in Montpellier to squeeze into the packed church. Everyone enjoyed it and said the choir was fantastic.

Joining any choir is a big commitment. Henny and I discussed it. The sacrifice should be worth it. So far this choir ticks all the boxes. The standard is challenging, it's all in French, the administration's professional, the people are nice, and most of all, I really enjoy it. Except perhaps the repertoire. Next up, the Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross by Haydn. I miss my show tunes.

Demolition Day 3

Diggers at dawn. The garage was munched by the jaws in about an hour.

Henny enjoyed the mesmerising action in the courtyard from a ringside seat. She sipped her coffee and quickly absorbed digger skills.

Later in the afternoon, she had a go herself.

Okay, I may be exaggerating just a touch. Note complete absence of garage. They've begun to dig the new foundations. This will continue tomorrow.

Demolition Day 2

The digger arrived first thing this morning. The walls didn't stand a chance.

Next it was time to attack the reinforced concrete cistern. The digger has various attachments, like a giant Magimix. We used to pump water into the cuve from the well. A gravity system would then take it, in dribbles, to the secret garden. The system gave up a while ago, but there was still water left in the bottom. The digger operator figured we'd missed a chance to make this into a jacuzzi. Brrrr.

We've lost trees and other vegetation, a fence and a building here. We've never felt so exposed to the neighbours.

At the end of the day, all gone. The little window is in our bathroom. It's never seen direct daylight. The remnants of the cuve are below, which will be cut out tomorrow.  We were advised to take paintings off the walls, etc. as the vibrations could make things fall, but it went all right. The tower's walls are 70 cm thick, yet you could feel them humming. Pou was very brave. He took to his apartment for the day. Rescue Remedy on his little head helps. Tomorrow, the garage.

Demolition Day 1

Henny nostalgically took a few photos over the weekend of sites around the house that will soon never look the same. Here's the shed and covered terrace. The cement cylinder covers our well. Sadly the pomegranate tree will be going.

Today two fellows with sledge hammers, crowbars and saws arrived. The roof was off the shed within the hour. I've never seen the tower from this angle before. The pattern of holes you see at the top is what makes this a pigeonnier, where the birds entered. We've seen birds nest here, but they're no longer invited inside.

By the afternoon, here's what was left. Tomorrow a digger will arrive, and I'm sure Pou will head for the hills. Stay tuned.

Before the builders arrive

In preparation for the tearing down of our garage and shed, of course we had to empty them. Many trips to the déchetterie later, we still have this left in our garden.

The first floor of the tower has always been a storage depot. It's now full to bursting. Other garage-type stuff has moved into our living room, including the clothes dryer. Henny organised it all brilliantly, but we're all going to have to get used to a different lifestyle for a few months. 

Happy Meals

We were driving towards Roujan recently when we saw what looked like a tornado or a huge plume of smoke in the distance. It shifted suddenly and with such grace, we quickly realised it was a murmuration of starlings. Enormous and elegant, amazing to behold. When we got home, we saw a few stragglers had stopped by for a snack. Our kaki tree is very popular. It's lovely to be a Little Chef for migrating birds.

The Plan

From the very beginning, it's been our intention to enlarge this house. First we sold Henny's house in Alignan, then we began plans in earnest for the extension. We received our permission to go ahead in July, have met various builders, and are now ready to go. Here's what's happening.

To the left is our garage, which will become a studio. The courtyard between the studio and the house is currently much smaller and slopes downwards rapidly following the lay of our land. It will be levelled with rubble from the wreckage of the garage, and extended to meet the existing terrace. This is Henny's dream. The new part of the courtyard will get the winter sun and should be more sheltered.

The structure to the right side of the tower is currently a shed and covered terrace. We make little use of this area, so it's perfect for rehabilitation into a laundry room/storage area on the street side, and on the garden side, a lovely new bedroom with ensuite bathroom.

Planners made us create parking for two cars, though in reality, it would be tight. But Henny will finally be able to drive down our narrow lane forwards instead of reversing the whole way. She's great at it, but she's over it. The parking area is also on the slope, so will be filled in with the detritus from the shed. Not everything pictured here is exactly how it will be, but we wanted to give you an idea of what's to come.  I'll try to update the blog regularly for Little French House fans.