La Giraudiere - Working project

For those of you who do not know, La Giraudiere is an ongoing project in the Charente region of France. Paul and his two brothers purchased the property over a decade ago and after many summers spent slowly working on the project, Paul decide to live out here full time about 2 years ago. He started running the working project last year after having many holidaymakers at La Giraudiere offer to help, when the lazing about in the sun got too much. After the success of last years month trial period this year workers arrived from June onwards staying usually for atleast 3 weeks but with most staying for more. Here is the link for more information: http://www.lagiraudiere.com/workprogram.html

Holly and I were looking for jobs in France to improve our french before we emabark on our years abroad. We found La Giraudieres working project and after being accepted booked our flights for 28th July-20th August. Here is the 1st few days of our stay at La Giraudiere.

After arriving at Angloueme airport on Tuesday 28th August (safely thankfully after a Ryanair flight!) . Holly and I realised that we had no idea what anyone from La Giraudiere looked like! After a minor panic attack we were aproached by two gentlemen who introduced themselves as Paul (the owner) and Ed, another worker. The journey took about an hour which consisted of hundereds of questions from me and Holly and our first experience of the Charentaise sunshine.

On arriving at La Giraudiere we met the rest of the crew (Julie from Scotland, Christine from Nz, Yanna from Slovakia, Lisa from America, and Ed from England). We took a look around the place to get some idea of what we would like to do and what needed doing etc and then settled down fro lunch in the shade, meeting the other workers Juian and Olivier who are locals and work for Paul permanently. The property itself is stunning and you can tell just by looking that everything is done to perfection and despite it being a very slow process when it is completed it will be fantastic. I'm definitely boking myself in for a holiday upon completion! We then decided to take a walk into Brossac which is the nearest village only a km away. This was fine on the way and we stopped off at the tourist office to get some ideas of things to do with our spare time, coming back however was boiling and we struggled! After cooling off and chilling out for a bit we experienced our first meal at La Giraudiere. Prepared and cooked by the lovely Julie we had a fantastic meal of gralic stuffed chicken fillets wraped in bacon - delicieux! The cuisine here very much depends on whether there is a competent cook in residence but meal times are always fun with everyone sitting together outside and sharing stories. The meal is always the main event of the evening with a very relaxed atmosphere, a perfect way to end a good day. We then took an early night to catch up after and early start and knowing we had a week of them ahead of us.

Wednesday 29th July

After rising at 8, slightly later than normal, because Paul was out and about running errands, we breakfasted and started on re-painting the fences in the Garden. This seemed like a good job at first, outside and not too strenous until the full heat of the sun hit us about 10.30. We finished up as quickly as possible and after asking Paul to stay inside for the afternoon we started on the restoration of the windows in the older part of the house, sanding down all the frames ready fior undercoat and a re-paint. As far as jobs go in La Giraudiere Paul is very relaxed about what you do. As long as you use your common sense and keep yourslef busy with something that actually needs doing then he will be happy. We were a bit unsure at first as to what was expected of us but the main aim soon beacme clear - to enjoy yourself. If there is anything you would like to learn or practiser let him know and i'm sure he will sort something out. There is such a lovely relaxed atmosphere here that work becomes something you look forward to and you can also then look back at your day and feel you have really achieved something. Additionally you would not want to be out and about in the midday sun here it is unbearable for more than 5 minutes. It uis nice to have 5 minutes breaks, have a coffee or beer and stand in the sun, but any more and you'll fry!
After finishing out work for the day around 4 we headed to the local lake which has a manmade beach and also mini golf and other games for the nearby holiday village, Etang Vallier Julie took the lead into the water and we followed soon realising we would be swimming the whole legnth of the lake, which although not too far (probably about 400m) is pretty difficult to swim when you don't want to put your head under the water and can't stop! After returning and dining we headed to Aubeterre -sur-Dronne for a clasical music concert held in the monolothic church there. Holly and I decided not to go simply to save money and instead had a look around the town, Pierre Very's house/museum, the shops of course and stopped for a crepe and cafe in the town centre. Une tres bon nuit!

Thursday 30th July

Ed left early this morning over breakfast which was sad not only for those who had spent the last 4 weeks with him but also for us who had only met him two days before. His wicked sense of humour and freindly banter would be missed around the dinner table. It was amusing to see him ask to get arrested by Julie (resident cop) whilst he pretended to be a terrorist at the airport!

We started early to beat the sun and finished the last of the garden fences. We then did a bit of weeding to clear the place up a bit which soon became hard work in the sun but we then stopped at 11 for our weekly french lesson with Celine! This was just waht i needed to get back my confidence of the language and force myself to speak it. With so many different abilities in the class it will never be completely suited to your standards but Celine does really well at including everyone and teaching us all new things. After a long lunch we did a few more hours work to undercoat al the windows we had prepared the day before.
We then hit the sun hard with our first real sunbathing session! Thursday evenings Etang Vallier at the lake puts on a concert and so we headed down there for some SLAM music! This is a french style of music in which the singer speaks rather than sings and a bit of music is played in the background/. I was a bit dubious at first but it was actually a lot better than it sounds - i just wish i could understand the lyrics!

Friday 31st July

Today was the best day so far because WE BUILT A WALL! yes you heard holly and I with the help of Julian and Olivier built our own wall - impressive eh? it took us most of the day but with a bit of high school musical and entertaining dialogues between us and the frenchies trying to understand eachother we got through it! Whether it was drilling holes into a concrete floor, bashing out bits of breeze block, chiseling away at filler, whisking glue, sawing breeze block we made it ridiculously amusing in some way or another! Just a tip though don't try and make jokes in another language until you a certain they make sense. Olivier didn't find it funny when i asked him is we could use the whisk for cakes too!
Fact of the day: a saw in french is un see, good way to remember see-saw!!!!! love it!
Made lunch today too a quiche - my first bit of cooking in La Giraudiere but i have the feeling it won't be my last! When Julie (resident cook at the moment) leaves tomorrow i think i maybe replacing her. Casserole for dinner after another length of the lake, then off to St Bernards, the local restaurant/bar in town for desserts and drinks on Julie as it was her last night : ( Pauls freinds Dave, Tracy and their daughter Georgia arrived today for their annual trip.

Sat 1st August

First lie in here which doesn't work as well in a boiling room! Then spent the morning writing this and planning what we are going to do!

Speak soon folks
Lou-Lou x