The clean-up work started two weeks ago:






They should finish this week, then get around to scaffolding and reinforcing/rebuilding the neighboring walls... it's a townhouse sort of structure.

drying out papers (the last of what the demolition men found in the house):

When do you expect to be back home?

me & my girl...

PANDURITO said:

well... they said 4 or 5 months, at first. that seemed REALLY fast. now we need to rebuild one of the four outside walls... our neighbor to one side is taking charge of that... so who knows how far the project will be dragged along now.

you see, there's a barn on one side of us, and the roof/beam has not been replaced since, say, 1860. that helped contribute to the mutual wall crashing in, no doubt.

Heiress said:

where is this,city?

Do you plan to rebuild it as it was before, or you'll take the chance and make some changes.

Women always have ideas about changing distributions and such

OzlemUcucu said:

it's actually in a corner of countryside, near Montpellier. it's a slice of a square farm structures.

we're renting by the sea for winter... the prices get a lot higher in summer, of course, so it will depend on what insurance says... i hope they don't make us move again, for no good reason.

PANDURITO said:

oh my, we are adding a master bath and pantry to the kitchen, for two. nice american ideas. we had one huge bathroom upstairs, now we'll have two smaller ones.

overall, however, we've simplified the structure for more openness and light.

Heiress said:

That's always a good idea

Good luck and let it be finished by next Summer

PANDURITO said:

summer is an excellent time in our neighborhood! the front garden's facing full south.

then it's time for barbecues and petanque in the courtyard.

Heiress said:

i saw it is by the seaside, where is montpellier?

OzlemUcucu said:

south of france...

Heiress said:

Yes, that's the mediterranean and somewhere over the horizon, on a clear day she can see me waving from the south

PANDURITO said:

how's the weather down there? beautiful and sunny here...

you guys are always a degree or two warmer than us.

It's excellent weather right now.
Incredibly warm considering February is supposed to be the coldest month

I'll soon re-start my morning walks by the sea.

Heiress said:

i thought it would be in france, but wasnt sure, could have been in canada! The weather must be cold there right now, it is freezing here,neighbour country!

PANDURITO said:

soon as i finish this dab of lunch, i'm going to head out w/ the daughter for our little walk.

OzlemUcucu said:

the beach in canada would be DARN cold just now.

Heiress said:

how come france is not cold? I am in Germany and it is cold here, i would say!

Heiress. I hope you'll be back home soon.

Heiress said:

see, despite of all the things you lost, you've still got
the only thing that REALLY matters right there with you..

she's lovely!

IstenSzek said:

that's a beautiful pic ilene. i'm glad things are going well for you with the rebuilding and all. i'm still disappointed all that work you'd done on your garden is gone! that was a beautiful yard!!

keep us updated!

OzlemUcucu said:

we just came in from outside... it's windy here, but so long as the sun is shining, it's all right.

Reincarnate said:

oh me too, thanks! 6 months doesn't seem long, for an adult... but i'm imagining that it's an eternity for my daughter!

she's saying she's through with houses now... doesn't want any more houses. well, that's today's mood. tomorrow might be different!

IstenSzek said:

you are so right!

fantasyislander said:

ah well, what's left of the grass is still fairly green!

in fact, we're planning to get that poor garden back in shape pretty soon... going to plant some grapevines, and make an arbor to give us shade this summer. yeah, sounds optimistic, but might as well!

IrresistibleB1tch said:

well... considering what it was two weeks ago, this is progress!

it was full of rubble and burnt things before... really a horrible mess, and seemed hopeless.

now we see a light at the end of the tunnel...

The picture by he sea is beautiful!