M-K's Bedroom

I started chipping and scrapping the cement off the floorboards last weekend and phew I've finally finished. I've a third of the room to sand still, and then I can strip the walls ( the green wallpaper is lovely in comparison with the black woven wall covering in Alexis' room and the same but in brown in Gaby's...sorry no photos, stripped that off the first chance I got).

Impossible to finish today, but I'll give it a go...

Update at 17H15.... was a little optimistic, got started late as I had to wait for a chronopost parcel ( we have a telephone after a a 3 month break). Anyhow floor sanded, and half a room stripped and I did clean out the grout between most of the floorboards too..tedious job!

Tomorrow will be more productive, I hope!

New arrival in our entrance

I wasn't going to even think about painting the entrance until the top floor was finished, however our new Milton console table has just arrived so I think I'll have to put this job on the list just after Marie-Kate's bedroom which I am doing at the moment (luckily only 12m2 of cement to chip off the oak floorboards).

This New House

Going to have to change that plastic door handle real soon

We put the house on the market in Sanary in June and sold it on the 28th July after probably 50 visits via PAP and real estate agents.

It took 6 long weeks to sell, something of which I'm not used too, as all the houses I have ever owned (three) before sold within days and only after a couple of visits. These house were in the UK, perhaps that's where lies the difference.

Anyhow, here we are in the Yvelines. We bought the first house we visited, and it wasn't even on our list. We visited 7 more just to be sure but we were all smitten by this house, despite the work that would be needed.

house and shutters to be painted next spring

I am working on the floors, which is tiresome, and we have the painting to do everywhere!

25m2 just in this bedroom

Picture Frame

Marie-Kate's 55,000 drawing of a girl and a house

I found this neat idea here to make frames for our numerous drawings that the children produce everyday

Alexis' picture frame and his his colourful pattern.

Marie Kate's Autumn Leaves.

While Alexis wrote a story and Gaby, Charlotte and Oliver completed their homework, Marie-Kate painted. I told her to think of the colours that you see in Autumn and to choose leaf shapes from the garden to cut out to make a Autumn Garland.

Garland (with autumn sun), drying in the porch

Sunday's Soup

My favourite soup tureen

After a hard day decluttering, we made a easy soup and the girls chopped up some melon and some mozzarella to make a salad for us all to share.

We're still eating outside, both for lunch and dinner, as the weather's still great. (probably will till the clocks go forward towards the end of October).

This Old House

Marie-Kate playing with her 1970's dolls house

Ok, it has taken a little time to have a routine since the children returned to school, but I think we're organised now. Five children , four different schools, four different timetables...

1. Oliver 7.20 each day to catch school bus

2. Charlotte 7.45 to be dropped in-front of college

3. Gaby and Alexis to be at school for 8.20

4. MK to arrive in class before 8.40

All children (apart from Oliver) eat at home... first pick-up is MK at 11.20, then Gaby and Alexis at 11.30, dart home, yummy(hopefully) food in oven and Charlotte who's home for 12ish.

Back in car at 13.10, drop-off Charlotte, the G and A before 13.30 and finally MK before 13.40... now I al able to recover, until I begin again at 16.20 just up until 18.00, no until dear hubby arrived home, usually about 19.30.

That's my average day, not that I'm complaining, it's just I

don't have time to check-out my favourite blogs, well at least just up until today.

What has changed?

I've decluttered ( especially in Charlotte's and Marie-Kate's room (that makes me feel so good)

A Corner of Marie-Kate's room

I've signed all school work in advance (quite a defeat for me)

I've cleaned the house from top to bottom. Just the garden to do, but not this week.

Post-Script: Today's Wednesday, guess what? The house is still looking good, even the girls room!