Jack left me all alone with the kids and animals this week! But it gave us a much needed pause to consider if we’re making the right choices for our home. With my pencil and laser measurer in hand I finally figure out the best design for our old french home.
Plus as our chicks are now two weeks old it’s becoming clearer how many are hens and how many are roosters. I found the best method for sexing chickens and it’s amazing to watch.
Check out Rob and Lisa’s channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@Escapetofrance-Charente
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whoa he’s a cool bug isn’t he
yeah Mommy Mommy look D ears yeah
yeah they’re
harmless they can do no harm hi guys
this week it’s just you and me and the
three kids we are on our own Jack is in
Spain for the whole week for work
and I’m
kind of nervous about it I’m not going
to lie Jack is the glue that holds this
whole house and family together so we
are very much going to miss him this
morning has started off with an absolute
Miracle so last Friday I got a phone
call from our Pharmacy I was completely
confused on the phone and I was like
what how do you have what do you what do
you mean you have my bank card and and
my health card and and then I was like
oh crap where’s my wallet the pharmacy
is telling me they’ve got my cards then
they’re saying somebody found them on
the road they’re going to come around
this this evening with the what they
found thank you that’s amazing but also
where’s the rest of my wallet my
residency card my French driver’s
license my health insurance I mean
everything’s in this wallet the key for
our
car so then I’m like trying to go back
cuz I stopped at um our little corner
like our little Supermarket to pick up a
package and I remember walking out of
the shop with my wallet because I had to
put my ID card back in it cuz I needed
my ID to get the package and then I was
like and then I just have a black hole
in my
memory I was like I must have put it on
the roof of the car as I was clicking
my baby into a Cassie and anyway he
pitches up on his bike and he’s got a
little baggie from the pharmacy that’s
all stapled shut and he’s got all my
cards oh I was just like thank you so
much you’re so kind then I check my
phone and I have an email from our
insurance company saying
that um the Mary and vase which a
neighboring Village has some documents
of mine including my identity card and
I’m like well my identity card was
tucked in my wallet so do they have my
whole wallet and I didn’t see the email
until past 7even and it was shut all
weekend this morning I picked all the
kids into the car like quick you got to
get up you got to eat breakfast and
we’re going on a mission to the Mary and
vas and cross all your fingers and all
your toes that they have my whole wallet
and and I walk in and there it is
sitting on her desk my whole wallet with
all my cards the key for the car um
actually I had € 10 in there I’m not
sure if that’s still in there I didn’t
check I was just so grateful that
everything else is in there um so just
so many Good Samaritans that’s like how
many people were involved in getting me
back my wallet the man who found the
cards the pharmacist the person who
found my wallet the Mary and vase the
insurance company to send me an
email so thank you to everybody who was
involved and thank you to France and
French people for being so kind that’s
how this week has
started um hopefully I don’t lose my
whole life again this week we’ll see how
we go so I’ve just come to the car to
check to see if the € 10 was still in
here and the € 10 is gone but that’s
okay that’s a finder fee
um I’d happily have given them more to
get my wallet back so thank you and you
can keep enjoy enjoy the 10s you’ve
earned
it this is the litter that we change
every two days 3 days and it’s getting
like quite smelly um and it’s full of
poop um I was using the pine shavings
but it changed pretty quickly to the
hemp shavings because the pine um is
very dusty and it’s not as good at
absorbing the smells as the hemp so now
we’re using the hemp so that that’s at
least an improvement but they poop so
much and obviously having them in a
living room means that we need to you
know clean it quite
frequently the kids have just taken them
out
to the outside for a minute so we can
clean their C they do not their house
they do not
like to be in here while we clean
it I can have a comfy
bed light back on
all nice and
clean we are on day three of Jack being
away and everybody all the dogs cats
chicks and kids are all alive and well
so that is good news in other news um
building this Garden has meant obviously
that all the work inside has come to a
complete halt um it’s really actually
come at a good time because it’s given
us pause to think about our design plan
so initially our idea was to split this
very long house called a ler in
half down here so that would mean that
ultimately we would have two
houses which would be lovely once we
were living in the meon which is
obviously
our ultimate goal to restore this Mees
and be able to live in
it but that house is completely
uninhabitable it needs everything doing
to it so we thought to improve our
immediate situation and also gain the
skills required to tackle such an
ambitious project we would start with
the
launer and we initially thought that it
would be quick
easy to split this in half renovate half
of it and then move into the half that
we’ renovated which would be this half
here something that we didn’t really
anticipate when we started this
renovation wasn’t necessarily how much
it was going to cost or how much time it
was going to take or how difficult it
was going to be but rather how we would
feel while we were doing it as a family
our kids are young but this is their
childhood and and at the moment they are
being the most amazing kids and not
complaining for a second about being
moved from this room to that room back
to this room to sharing rooms to having
half their house under construction at
all times but with all this renovation
it kind of casts a temporary and
unsettled light on their childhood they
don’t have their own space and even if
we were to finish this half and move
into it it would only be three bedrooms
and that would mean that two children
would still have to share a
room and we have all the
space it seems silly to be doing all
this work and have all the space and
only be using half of it and
also we’re well aware that it might be
many many years before we live in in the
Amon and in the meantime like I said the
kids are growing right now we’re okay to
be living in such a small space but how
much longer is that going to be viable
for anyway like I said the garden came
at a great
time and also sometimes it’s good to
have an outside opinion and that came
from my
dad who I think was having sleepless
nights over what we were doing to this
launch year and he shared his idea with
us of turning this space
not
a kitchen dining Lounge bathroom like we
had originally planned but rather a
master bedroom on suite and
office let me show you so this is where
we have left off doors to the
outside this space here which was going
to be the
kitchen this room
here which is set to be the
bathroom laundry under the
stairs and on this side of the
house a dining area and Lounge so it
would be very small but it tied a lot of
boxes in that every room had great
flow connecting it with each other and
it has lovely natural light and indoor
outdoor flow so my dad’s idea might
solve all our problems right we have we
keep our kitchen and Lounge where it is
we turn this into a master bedroom with
on suite and office that means that we
have can have three bedrooms upstairs
plus another
bathroom amazing right not quite because
this house has some really unique design
challenges only two sides of the house
actually have access to Natural Light
windows and
outside because the back of the
house is actually our boundary with our
neighbors so we can’t put any windows in
there and we never will be able to um
and that half of the house is connected
to the barn
so
only this half of the
house has
light the second design challenge is
that the whole house is divided into
little rooms by loadbearing
walls so ultimately this means that each
room is very separate from the room next
to it and it creates very difficult
bottlenecks when five people and a dog
are trying to get around the house um
and all we have is little doorways that
we all have to squeeze through to get
from A to B around the house so this is
our current
kitchen
dining
lounge and
bathroom it is divided by this
loadbearing
wall which also supports this beam which
supports the entire second floor up
here so that’s why we only have this
very narrow
Doorway to connect our
space we also have all the K the whole
kitchen along this back wall here and
laundry can’t forget about the
laundry but yeah we have the whole
kitchen against this back wall and it’s
just doesn’t get a lot of light cuz the
only light we have is coming from this
side of the
house and it just doesn’t really make it
all the way over here so it’s very clear
that nobody yet has been able to come up
with a good flow between these spaces
that makes them
functional and
also a pleasure to to be in I’ve been
trying to put some designs to paper to
come up with a kitchen dining Lounge
laundry space that works and doesn’t
involve some serious construction uh to
compensate for moving this very
important loadbearing
wall uh so far I have just not come up
with anything that ticks all our boxes
what our boxes are well mainly mine
Jack Jack isn’t he’s happy if I’m
happy he just doesn’t want it to be too
hard I think so that’s why we’re
compromising by coming up with a design
that I’m happy with that also keeps this
wall mostly
intact um so our boxes are that I want
the kitchen sink and the preparation
area to be closer to the Natural Light I
also want an island kitchen counter that
the kids and guests can sit at to
participate in preparing meals and the
conversation and also I want these
spaces to be much better
connected rather than just this tiny
little doorway um obviously we also need
a designated dining area a designated
Lounge area and I’d also really like to
incorporate a toilet in here somewhere
or in a laundry don’t forget the laundry
so yeah that like it’s asking a lot of
this of these two
rooms to come up with something that
works completely but I had an epiphany
yesterday I had the Epiphany that this
room needs I’ve got the idea in my head
up here but in order to make sure it’s
actually possible in real life I’m going
to take some
measurements of the room because there’s
lots of little cutouts and with the
stairs and with this room and um I just
want to know exactly where they are and
that the design can work big rectangle
I’m going to need this measurement and
then this measurement okay so let’s get
those 5
M 4
M 2.5
M 60 cm
thick 4.2 by 4.8 gosh this isn’t a
square
house it’s not square at all that’s okay
hi hey how are you good how are you good
where are the kids there’s one he’s
videoing me oh he’s big isn’t he okay
I’ll show you my
plan okay so the new plan would be to
take out this wall here which is
currently the fireplace
and substitute it for a kitchen
island it wouldn’t be a complete Island
because we would keep this wall here
keep that intact as to hold up the
ceiling um and we would just put an
extra my plan is just to keep an extra
column about
here to hold up the rest of this ceiling
so if the island comes to about here
then that just makes that space so so
much wider and easier for us to all
maneuver around it would also mean that
these two rooms are much more connected
and more of an open plan kind of vibe
we’ll also move the sink to here we’ll
have to move this window up but now we
know what a pro Jack is at putting
Windows into these houses I don’t think
that’ll be too much of a challenge for
him uh so sink underneath the window
will be really nice so we’re going to
keep most of that intact there
um and then just remove from
here where the drying rack is really and
that will be removed and then that gives
us a lovely big kitchen dining
room we’ll remove we’ll take out this
dresser here
and replace it with wider floor to
ceiling storage so I think that will
answer our biggest problems of having
this tiny doorway as how we need to get
in uh get around from A to B and it will
also open up these two rooms to make
living more open plan view from this
side so from that beam will be supported
by the wall and then the rest will be
open what do you think yeah yeah the
only thing that I’m thinking is just the
sink being like miles from everything
else feels a bit odd well it’s not
really it’s as far as it could be room
from your cooking stuff like but we
could do you know how people do the the
tap over the uh
stove that’s so funny you mentioned that
I’ve literally never heard of it and
when I told someone I was about to find
out about my new CIT des and he was like
oh do you know whatever really they want
there a pop fill you get a tap of your
stove and I was like oh that’s really
clever I’ve never heard of that so we
we’re getting that yeah cuz all the
Plumbing’s already
here right cuz it’s right against the
back wall there yeah okay thanks for
your
help I don’t know that I helped but you
did you did
help can’t wait to stand in the space
and and see it yeah before we build it I
think you should do
that yeah probably at least one yeah but
for now it’s
good feels like we have a plan okay baby
all right I’m going to send this over to
you all right take it easy come to see
it I love you I love you
too so our chicks are growing so
fast
um and there’s a distinct difference
that we’ve noticed between
them uh and that’s their
tails
so some of them have got really long
tails and some of them have got really
short stick sticky upy Tails like this
should we have a look so these ones got
really long
tails long tails and then some of them
have got really short
tails and we’ve got many more long tail
ones long tail long tail long tail then
we do short tails so either we have a
whole lot of hens or a whole lot of
roosters
fingers crossed for a whole lot of hens
um so I googled this morning how we
could what’s another way of like sexing
them and apparently we can tell by what
they do with their claws when you pick
them up so if I get a long tail
one so they’re supposed if they’re
female they will keep their feet out
like this when you pick them up
and see how she keeps her feet really
straight out doesn’t hook them in like
this so I think this is a girl so that’s
a boy see how he’s hooked both his feet
up so by that very scientific test that
means we’ve got about four roosters and
16 hens which is just
[Music]
amazing another turn
there
oh his name’s Billy hi goat you enjoying
the
[Music]
sunshine was
mom big
[Music]
bunny a playround with
ghost scary they’re
coming quite
[Music]
[Applause]
scary today is is Sunday Jack is coming
home tonight we have made it through the
whole week without him mostly in one
piece um we even managed to get out and
do some of our favorite things like
petting
bunnies and getting cake from
ghau um last night we went out to Robin
L’s to Christen their new barbecue
that’s robbed from Escape to France
cherant and we’ll link his YouTube
channel
below uh amazing food and great company
it was really nice to get out and see
friends in what was otherwise a quite
lonely
week but it was in a way it was nice
because we have
been so full on so busy and it was nice
to take this week and just be with the
kids and just be with where we’re at in
the renovation to take stock of our
plans to change
them um and to
appreciate the fact that we’re at the
start of summer which is my favorite
time of year and why we just absolutely
love life in France thanks for hanging
out with me this
week we are all super excited to have
Dad back tonight we have missed him
terribly um and yeah just can’t wait for
him to get back and get back to
work um The Garden is like so close to
being
finished no rest for the wicked he’s
going to be on that when he gets back
30 Comments
great you got everything important back, would that have happened in the UK, probably not
Absence makes the heart grow fonder 😊. I think you will have to clone Jack for all that work. Ambitious but with two of you on the job …… certainly attainable.
P.S. laughing out loud here at the scientific method of sexting the chicks. Isn’t nature just amazing 👏👏👏
What wonderful people you are surrounded by for seeking you out and returning your property. Not many people unfortunately, would do that.
I placed a carton of eggs on the roof of my car whilst loading my shopping, the eggs stayed on the roof until I very nearly reached my home, and all of a sudden they shot off the roof. I never put anything on the roof of the car again. 😂
We've all missed Jack. I bet he gets a huge welcome home from you all. Enjoy your Sunday together.
given that you seem to have 3 access points from out side could you not change the kitchen door into a window and put the sink there, this would then allow wider access from the living area.
i have done the same with my wallet putting fuel in i had a kind person return it with all the money i had earlier got out the cash machine .It certainly puts panic mode in when you loss it good you got it back 🙂
Your dad has a really good idea! Having your own suite is important, especially as it’s already configured so well for your needs! I can see how your kitchen, living room, bath/utility area deserve a refresh for your growing family. And using the upstairs for kid’s bedrooms, bath and tv/study room seems like a longer term-situation. Funny how one tweek changes so many other things! But, it all sounds like it answers your growing questions while at the same time, adding some more time and space to enjoy your current home -before tackling the larger projects in the big house! Q: If you have a stair-way in the living room, do you need another one in your private suite? Your utility closet wouldn’t mind a few more feet for storage?! Have a sweet family reunion! Cheers! 🎉
Goodness! So glad you got your wallet back. I, learned a long time ago– NEVER put anything on the hood or top of car. Experience is a tough teacher…
Wonderful home design ideas. I had wondered why you were planning on living in such a small home. (I've wondered why so many Brits renovate large French properties into fairly cramped homes?) If you can afford it, you might want to get a home design software that will show you 3D walk-around renderings, saving a lot of guesswork. I like your plan to open the fireplace wall, add a post/pillar and use it as a counter/bar/worktop. I agree with another viewer that you might consider turning the outside door into a window, for more work surface. Turning the new-build area into master suite and office seems to be an obvious use of the two cottages. As for light: here in the US we have tubular skylights that can turn corners and funnel a small shaft of light indoors. I was wondering if one of those tubes could be sent down an inside wall where plumbing/electrical already run, and illuminate those rear walls, especially in the sitting room.
Don't worry about the kids, to the opposite. I grew up like this and to this day I'm grateful to my parents for what I learned. In fact building and renovating became a part of my life and I know looking back I would have failed without my childhood. Now at the age of 63 I see how much I profited, emotionally and financially. Your kids will be thankful one day.
🍩🍮🍰🎂🍪
Love your videos – watching from NZ. Wondered if you'd thought about keeping your living areas where you've renovated, and turning your current living areas into the master suite – as it wouldn't need to be so open plan?
Free yourself of 20th century living. Needs were defined by status and consumerism and most awful instant gratification. A beautiful house and property will not make you happy if you buy it turn key. Memories of creating and building with your kids will. Over decades adjusting to your needs that change with the years. I realized that because I've been there…
Lovely vlog Becs, I enjoyed hearing about your plans too. Yay for summer
Hi Becs! You did well on your own with the kids this week😊. I hope Jack got some rest because he has A Lot to do when he gets home😅. I think your starting plan is a good one but I’m sure there will be little tweaks here and there but we all have Total Confidence in both of you! I personally think that your kids are having the Best childhood ever! Such freedom and the water so close by, Mom & Dad working things out together, learning how to do so many things by hand and heart, gardening, building. I know you would like things more organized inside but that will happen eventually and in the meantime you get more time with them while they are so young. These are very special years. Tell Jack we missed him too❤❤❤
Also, so happy you got to spend time with Rob and Lisa at ‘Escape to France-Charente ‘. They are both great people. Rob does a thousand different things and Lisa has the beginnings of a terrific vegetable garden. I love seeing good people meeting up with other good people. ❤❤❤
Try tying string on your finger . Will remember.wallet
Lesson learned….you’ll never absentmindedly put your bag or wallet on top of your car again. All’s well that ends well…..what a relief ! Many years ago my husband and I were in the US and did a cross-country road trip from Boston to Santa Fe New Mexico. Somewhere in Texas on a highway in the middle of nowhere , an oncoming driver started flashing their headlights at us and pointing up. We pulled over and I realized I’d left my bag on the roof of the car. Miraculously it was still there along with lots of cash, our passports, etc. Mon dieu 😧 I learned my lesson. Remember that kids only really care about being with their parents and loved. Only adults get unsettled about it. Don’t worry 😉
Love the two of you and your family ❤
You did amazing Becs. Well done on looking after the kids, chicks, designing, dog and cat as well as filming and editing.
Thank you so much for coming to our BBQ and Avangelines present. It was the first one she opened.
Take care and see you all soon
Rob and Lisa
I remember your dad completely removating the old farmhouse in bulawayo and you and Peps living in a construction site for a few years, you loved it! Your kids will be the same
It's nice to change plans and ideas BUT think about all the hard work your hubby did getting that kitchen area done,pipes ans electrical work done to change now plus its close to your sitting outdoor area??? Your house but it makes more sense to leave it where it was planned to go you could swap and put your bedroom where the kitchen is now
Great video well done 👍 🎉
Kids are Resilient. They’ll be fine and having to share a bedroom is a good thing. I say make two houses, because then you’d have a rental property that would bring in extra cash which can offset some of your expenses. You wouldn’t even have to rent it out full time, you could always rent it out in the high seasons .
Kids are super resilient, I wouldn't worry too much about that . How lucky your wallet & documents fell into honest hands 😊. I think your dad has come up with a solid plan ✌️
Oh Becs you're so lovely! Jack we did miss you. Absolutely love tuning in each week! Thank you for sharing your beautiful life with us all.
Great video Becks who needs Jack? 😶 I joke I joke I know how much he was missed! The plans are sounding good can’t wait to see it all soon… 😍
Well done Bec's you held up the fort beautifully….whilst hubby is gallivanting around Spain …lol…but then again us Kiwi's like gallivanting all over the world…great vlog keep up the great work…best of luck with Reno version #……
Chicken poop is amazing for the garden and lawn. Good use of space, what's behind the door to the left of the kitchen? can you put a small laundry/bathroom in there?
An island bench is the center of the action. I agree with both you and Jack about the kitchen sink, I think you will use it more in a prep area than over by the window unless you love doing dishes with a view, it's really out of the way, most of its use is in prep. What about if you move to where the half non-moving wall is that's staying, before the start of the island bench. Right on the side of the center of the action!