House now complete (inside!)

We had a good trip back from Guatemala to North Wales, then had a nightmare drive through UK traffic, stopping in Birmingham to visit J,s nephew and family, arriving at the ferry with minutes to spare.  It was a relaxing drive back through France where it was nose to the grindstone almost immediately.  We had plaster-boarded the utility room before we left in December so it was out with the paint brushes then laying the floor tiles, then installing IKEA units, doing the plumbing, hiding all the services and finally bringing the washing machine up from the barn where it had worked for over three years. 

But it didn't like its new surroundings and refused to work in the house.  We hunted for a new one but - just like magic - it decided that all was well and has been happily washing and spinning ever since.

Meanwhile we seemed to be out a lot, first dinner with friends, then a fancy dress in town (sorry, no pics) then a big pig meal and then the rugby club fest.  March was just mad for events.

We decided to get rid of our old settees and add some furniture to one wall so another two trips to IKEA in Toulouse to order the new settees then pick up them and other stuff (there's always other stuff when one goes to IKEA!).

Went away in the caravan for a long Easter weekend - great walking country north of us and south of the Lot.  Weather had been iffy all the time we were back but the sun shone all Easter day and has been shining ever since.

Installed the IKEA stuff when we got back so everything inside the house is done - celebration time!

This last weekend was the walking rally (a quiz on foot) at Condom: great weather, great company and a great lunch afterwards.

Now we've got a lot of little things to do (like tax returns for France and the UK, shifting a huge pile of logs, etc), but the next big step is to do the decking at the front of the house.  We're also waiting for planning permission to put up a garden shed - one of the disadvantages of living within the conservation zone of Montreal.

Today (13th April) was the first day we had our evening meal outside, so we think the good weather is here at last.  Everyone says how late spring is this year.  Roll on summer!