When the world changed due to COVID-19, we didn’t know when we would be able to travel again. Movement even within Australia was restricted, and the country’s borders closed.
But then we received news (and pictures) of water damage to the ceiling in one of our bedrooms in our house in Argenton-sur-Creuse, France, and voilà, on that basis, we were granted permission to leave Australia, and temporarily relocate to France.
In the weeks preceding our departure, we “virtually” attended my daughter’s wedding online (couldn’t even cross the border into the next state at that time) but were able to attend two family funerals closer to home, at least allowing us the opportunity to see some relatives before our departure. A very bittersweet period of time.
Having ended our lease and packed up our apartment, thrown everything into storage, and armed with our negative COVID tests, we were glad to finally collapse into the half-empty plane. At least I could stretch out and sleep for most of two flights (masked up except to eat). And to err on the side of caution, we took a private car from CDG to the regional train station.
By the time we arrived at our house in Argenton-sur-Creuse, we took some time to regain our equilibrium before tackling the ceiling problem, and enjoyed exploring the changes around town – especially excited by the newly restored medieval houses overhanging the river. The rooves of some now in pristine condition, and freshly painted in a riot of colour.
Once Tony identified a cracked skylight, that was fixed in an afternoon (ahead of predicted heavy rain) and after experiencing no ill effects after the downpour, and inspecting the roof by drone, we were satisfied that was the sole cause, and could set about repairing the ceiling. First, the messy job of prising off the plaster from the lathe (wooden strappings), letting the ceiling cavity completely dry out, before cutting a neat rectangle to fill with plasterboard we had left over from previous renovations. A number of days were needed to build up the plaster to fill the banded joints. Then the sanding, before applying primer to eradicate all the remaining stains, and finally painting. Job done: good as new. Great teamwork, and that familiar pride of renovating washed over us.
But one job often leads to another, and having already moved the wardrobe out of that corner of the room I suggested we go ahead and do a bit of a juggle – leaving that wardrobe in the 2nd bedroom downstairs, bringing down the pretty little vestiaire that had been hidden away in our walk-in robe upstairs, and building in the “dressing” I had always wanted up there to make the best use of the space.
No sooner said than done! Off to the hardware store to pick up the built-in wardrobe kit that best fit our rather odd-shaped area, a few adjustments and personalisations – cleverly incorporating a set of drawers we already had – and ta-da! Another job done!
And all in time to welcome some houseguests for Christmas!
A house in France 