After the first week that was mainly used for formalities we again head for France. It's end of March. We have ten days and many plans:

• We want to be able to wash ourselves, including showering;
• We expect a visit from the carpenter. He should measure the doors and windows;
• When we have good weather we want to plant some trees and bushes, and complete the fence;
• We want to break down a wall;
• We have to make an appointment for the pavement in the living area;
• We want to meet the major.

This time the trip takes a bit longer, because the car is pulling the caravan. With the caravan we have a clean and tidy place to spend the nights. The caravan is quite loaded: we repaired our old picnic table, had a good bargain (50% discount) for a washbasin and we had a broad collection of garden plants waiting for a single trip to France.

When we arrive at our second house, we find the soil to be quite marshy. Yet, the caravan has to be moved into the garden.
We decide to unload the car and caravan to the maximum. First I cautiously drive the car over the terrain. It gives me confidence and rejoin the caravan.

With the least possible interruption I again enter our terrain. This time the front wheels slip when I move the caravan to its intended position. Not a bad start - but things to not always go well!

 

The tent is built up and electric power is connected. Our private cam site has its first visitors.

Tomorrow the carpenter will come to prepare us an offer for the new doors and windows.

We spend our first night on this new spot in France in our caravan. Outside thousands of frogs make a concert. When it becomes silent around eleven, our snoring is probably the only sound that can be heard. It is tranquil and we have a perfect nights' sleep.

It's Friday, Good Friday. But this is not a French public holiday; we expect the carpenter in about three hours. do some shopping. We want to buy a new boiler, because we do not trust the old water heater. Also we need a new hand shower. We find a good 150 litre boiler, a shower set and also buy some plumbing accessories. Its time for plumbing!

 

The shower set does not fit; the shower tap has a different connection. For the time being we will have to use the old and dirty hose.
 

The boiler is hung up and connected. A full set of accessories is delivered with the boiler, including a pressure control unit. It has a trap with a flexible hose.
 

Everything gets connected and the main water tap is opened.

And we close it immediately, because we have an unplanned shower. 

 

A second attempt is more successful and we fill the boiler.

When the boiler is filled, a valve should block the supply of water. The instructions manual says that the heating will expand the water and 3% could drain. After two hours we feel that more that 3% drained and the valve is making a lot of noise. De trap cannot handle the draining water, so we close the main supply.

 

Meanwhile it's 3:30 and we hear a car coming. The carpenter arrives timely. His wife is joining him; we saw her before in the little showroom in town.

Our blueprints are clear and after 15 minutes he completes his measurements. When we want to say "au revoir" he notices the rose in front of our house. He appears to be an expert in roses and tells us that we have been too careful trimming the rose - at least 50% more has to be cut.

I have an idea! Quickly I pick up the pruning shears and (for fun) I hand them over to him. To our surprise he starts trimming the rose and 10 minutes later we have a beautifully trimmed plant.

After the Carpenter family has left we go back to water management.
 

First the old equipment has to be removed. It was mounted with creativity: glued to the tiles. It's impossible to save them. We lift the new furniture a little, hiding the missing tiles.

 

Now we can wash ourselves and take a shower, but it requires close co-operation: one operates the tap of the boiler when the other needs hot water. Taking a shower has become a social event, but it works for the time being.