The year 2020 will no doubt go down in history as one unlike any other. The world has grappled with an extraordinary virus that few anticipated, and even fewer planned for.
In France as everywhere we have all had to adapt and change our behaviour, our ways of work and our expectations of what we perceive as our daily life. At the same time increasing our contact with loved ones and friends by the Social Media sites has been difficult when you just want to give them a very large hug and say we will get through this.
At first France was locked down for three months, so in the space of a few days an eerie silence settled over the village. Traffic eased and at times seemed to disappear altogether. One thing that did develop very quickly was that our neighbours across the square started to open and close their shutters at the same time every morning and night as a signal that they were alright. Creating the first shutter language!
What did we do during lock down? Myself, I read a lot, continued with my embroidery work and planned for the DIY store to opened. It was a chance for home improvement and decorating which we have had to put on hold over the past few years due to ill health.
Little things seem to be important like the DIY store being open.
Paul started to paint our meandering corridor to turn it into a art gallery for paintings and my work.
Nothing is straight in our home, the floors and the walls weave in, out, up and down which is a character I love about it.
Look at this Paul saved a fortune in making this door to the building at the back of the courtyard.
Next when the weather was a little warmer came the painting of the metalwork on the veranda, courtyard and the balcony. The balcony was only painted when the supermarket was closed so that we could keep the social distance.
‘Well done, nearly finished’.
The gallery is finished.
The squirrel is my latest work that I completed over the Winter months.
Next on the to do list is getting out more and enjoying the sunshine. While buying and planting more plants in the courtyard and balcony.
Stay safe and healthy.
A good view of the many cars in the Place de la Liberté in Daglan one hot Sunday afternoon.
You can probably see the progressive development of the car in the above picture.
One of our favourites.
It’s simply gorgeous.
Imagine these cars racing around the race track at Le Mans or Monte-Carlo.
One from the 1920’s.
I just could not miss out the American Gangster looking car of the 1930’s.
A Reconstruction of a lady’s bedroom in the 17th Century. 
Next to the bedroom is a wonderful room filled with sketches of Ladies fashions from the Edwardian period. I particularly liked this sketch above, the costume looks so elegant and stylish.
We had a sneaky peek into this room which is being restored to its former glory.
This eyesore just had to go.
First came the new roof, also fibreglass and steel that needed replacing. Paul laid down wood and fitted shingles which were a surplus from a friends renovation work. Thank you Angus they work a treat, as the last couple of nights have proven, completely waterproof. In the above picture Paul was working in the extreme 40+ degrees centigrade heat of a hot Summers day so a little shade was needed (top right).
Then it was guttering and down pipe, seen here with the new wood cladding.
Starting to replace the fibreglass panels and voila, we have light. 
What a difference it makes to be able to see in and out. 
Almost finished, Paul also panelled the inside of the utility room. 
Looking great, Our cat Cleo loves to sit on top of the tumble drier and watch the birds in the courtyard.
Our French Dream 