mpprh
Part of the Furniture
Posts: 614
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Post by mpprh on Jul 9, 2012 5:59:50 GMT
Well, back to documenting the stresses of living away from the Naples of the North ...
We suddenly have a glut of fruit. Apricots, apples, figs, blackberries, melons and almonds all ready at the same time and in huge quantities.
We've had various helpers picking fruit and in return we expect a lot of jam !
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mpprh
Part of the Furniture
Posts: 614
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Post by mpprh on Aug 7, 2012 10:11:31 GMT
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mpprh
Part of the Furniture
Posts: 614
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Post by mpprh on Aug 25, 2012 8:29:37 GMT
 Just to say I keep an eye on the forum, but not much to report at present. We've had very hot weather in the 35C - 40C range (which increasingly I find hard to bear), visitors and the usual jobs to do. It is also festival time with bulls running through the streets and late nights. I get to meet the local holiday home owners and we chat over drinks which I try to do ! Events are all timed for this period and the Tour de France came close again. The interesting news is that after a few fleeting family visits to Morecambe over 40 years I've been twice this year and have had time to explore now that my parents are in NZ. I've got two further trips planned and anticipate becoming a regular visitor. No more photos online, but some youtube clips .... My village (pop 800) : www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo6O0HkylrUSommieres (3500) : www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJwIY27P3GoNimes : www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3QRlI0PhpoCourse Camarguaise : www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmpD0_NRobUBullfight : www.youtube.com/watch?v=Siws8EUQ28M |
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mpprh
Part of the Furniture
Posts: 614
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Post by mpprh on Oct 22, 2012 20:06:51 GMT
currently in morecambe ....
had some good weather, but forecast for end of this week is 1c. overnight, 8c during the day
20+c at home
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trevnhil
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Post by trevnhil on Oct 23, 2012 4:42:37 GMT
Hi Peter.
Well I hope that you enjoy your time there even though it is not Mediterranean weather.
It is still very warm and sunny here during the daytime, but the evenings are a little cooler now.
I am not looking forward to the clocks going back this weekend. I don't like the long dark nights.
Regards. Trev..
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mpprh
Part of the Furniture
Posts: 614
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Post by mpprh on Oct 29, 2012 15:05:05 GMT
Now home ...
Very good trip businesswise,
Good family do on Saturday.
Less good, otherwise ...
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Post by accykeef on Oct 29, 2012 15:30:19 GMT
The last part doesn't sound good Peter.
Is it as sunny there as it is here?
It was very cold here yesterday but today is slightly warmer.
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mpprh
Part of the Furniture
Posts: 614
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Post by mpprh on Oct 30, 2012 16:34:10 GMT
It was sunny this morning and got to 14C, but it is now cloudy and 13C
A cold spell for the rest of the week with some rain, min 6C, max 18C
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Post by accykeef on Oct 30, 2012 17:06:15 GMT
Could be worse, East Coast of the USA are having a nightmare with storms and floods. I look at these places and think none of us have it too bad really.
Back to normal here now after living the Mancunian high life.
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trevnhil
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Post by trevnhil on Oct 31, 2012 5:45:34 GMT
It certainly is bad in the USA. Many many peoples lives have been devastated. goodness only knows how long it will take to get back to any kind of normality.
One thing that surprised me was the number of cars left in the streets to get swamped by the flood waters. Al though I must admit to not knowing the topography of the area.
But in my mind I likened it to living in Morecambe and getting a major flood warning. I think that I would move my car to higher ground in Heysham. But no doubt it is not quite as simple as that.
Temperatures here have dropped but compare to France and the UK then we are doing very well thank you. We are still into the low 20's in the daytime and at the moment (1 hr after sun up) it is 18.7 in the shade. It did drop to 16c overnight.
I visit this Forum at least once every day and always look at the Morecambe weather and temperatures at the bottom of the page.
As Keith will no doubt know, there has been a little frost recently.
Regards. Trev..
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mpprh
Part of the Furniture
Posts: 614
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Post by mpprh on Oct 31, 2013 6:42:16 GMT
Long time, no see ... I check this site quite often but don't have much to say. So, a quick catch up .... I've been to Morecambe quite a few times since 6/2012. Three reunions, an 80th birthday party and I've started doing some business there. At home, the big task has been extending my house. In 1999 we said "love the house, but can't possibly live with that tiny lounge", so the planning stage has been 13 years ! The original owner had a last minute idea to add a bedroom downstairs where the original kitchen should have been. The kitchen was then squeezed into lounge which almost halved in size. The new part has 30m2 of living space and 10m2 of south facing covered terrace. Progress was leisurely : 4/12 Planning permission 10/12 dig foundations 12/12 walls and roof in place The next phase involved opening up the existing wall, before installing glass (there is a hidden patio door between the old and new. Not wanting to live with a tarpaulin in winter we delayed the next stage. Winter was long, then we had visitors so works continued in May ! 5/13 Windows installed 6/13 Electricity installed and floors laid 7/13 Plaster boarding, painting, tiling and finishes 8/13 exterior crepi complete  Sort out the garden ... it still has piles of soil from the foundations The house was L shaped. The extension makes it into a sort of dog leg. There is a space under the floor of around 1m.  Early progress  From next door you can see the old and new roof joint. This was a sticking point with various people telling me it would be impossible. Continuing the existing roof line would have a very narrow extension, and I didn't want a flat roof. I wanted it to look like an integral part of the house.  Nearly finished  Covered terrace  Gutters on, showing joint from old to new walls  |
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Post by accykeef on Oct 31, 2013 7:38:38 GMT
Looking good Peter, have you done the building work yourself or do you have slaves for that kind of menial work.
I particularly like that covered terrace although I assume it's main purpose is to keep the direct sunlight from reaching those patio doors. That has to be the South side.
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mpprh
Part of the Furniture
Posts: 614
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Post by mpprh on Oct 31, 2013 8:25:51 GMT
I acted as gofer but did painting, electrical fittings and finishing.
The terrace is intended to provide shade in summer but allow the lower winter sun into the room.
We now have terraces facing S, E and W.
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Post by accykeef on Oct 31, 2013 8:34:46 GMT
So many terraces so little time.
Are the shutters on the first floor those electric ones?
I like the bedroom to be very dark and those look like the proper blackout blinds.
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mpprh
Part of the Furniture
Posts: 614
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Post by mpprh on Oct 31, 2013 9:02:31 GMT
There are two 2.4m double glazed windows with electric motors in the extension.
The upstairs are the same, but manual, installed by me. One day I'll do the kitchen window, too. The white slats are insulated with foam.
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Sort out the garden ... it still has piles of soil from the foundations 
I had been telling my hubby about the time I was in Morecombe when the Moby Dick and Hotel was hit by lightening and burnt down. My parents, sister and myself had just come off the Moby Dick when lightening stuck