It's off to a good start !

-Maybe we neede this time (more than a year) to take action. We do not regret this maturation. It allowed us to think, to feel and to perceive our project.

Conclusions: our project is more than ever close to our heart, we have redesigned it completely, we made the right choice of a good architect who accompanied us, we waited for the best time to negociate the best bank rate for our bank credit.

For three weeks the yard is started. The house is empty, there is almost nothing in it anymore. Even the ceilings and floors will disappear ...

In a few days the roof will be modified to create six windows.

The work will last 9 months until now. We will move in the house in spring.

Reset...

--
Who would have thought that the financial crisis was going to affect our quite small project... But i guess it must be that the international turbulences paralyze the bankers and the small artisans.

It is now 3 months long we run around with banks and construction workers but the result is almost nothing. At the beginning of October, we have neither loan nor estimate.

On the one hand, the banks: on 5 banks whom we consulted, one made a rickety proposition, two did simply answer after having spent more than two hours in meeting with us, the other one said that it would not answer, and the only one answered with a month of delay with absurd conditions (2.000 € of "administration charge" !!) by explaining that it was a base of negotiation. Crazy world...

On the other hand, the artisans : the past generosities of the credit swamp them with work. A general contractor came twice (scuffing), made a first part of estimate (a small third of all the works) after a month of reflation, then went on holiday, and did not honor the last meeting. He never called back. We reached it yet to order now windows and the kitchen. Wow.

Regarding the heater, we received four estimate with four totally different prices. We finally received an offer which seemed serious, but it would seem that the proposed boiler is sufficient to heat all the village. Another company asked very seriously in which year we wish to be delivered.

Our friends had warned us. But we did not think that it would be so... Then we reset the project, with stricter conditions of contract, notably in energy savings, and a longer lead time.

Target : opening in April, 2009. We bought some fuel...

Renewable energies: firewood or heat pump ?

--
Alsace is located on a geologic fault. The plain of Alsace sinks of some millimeters by century between Vosges and the Black Forest. The geothermal energy is available in the region. Our first reflex to replace the ancient fuel was to opt for a heat pump.

After a long and intersting interview with a engineer of Alter Alsace Energies, we will probably going to abandon this track to choose a firewood boiler.

The reasons are the following ones:

The inconveniences of the heat pump (in deep drilling):

• Uncertain ecological balance: the heat pump consumes some electricity, produced by nuclear plant or fuel. The environmental impact of the maintenance (transport, energy, use of polluting liquids) is not clear
• Required to modify the circuits of water for the heater (underfloor heating)
• High capital cost
• Risk (according to certain testimonies) of noise pollution for the neighborhood

The advantages of the firewood heater (automatic boiler fed by granules):

• Excellent ecological balance: completely renewable energy. No carbon. Recycling of waste of sawmills. Clean production. Reduced transport (granules are produced in the region, from wooden waste of the region).
• Available source of energy: the European forest increases every year
• Excellent performance
• Reduced cost of installation

I still wonder about the emissions of particles. But according to Alter Alsace Environnement, this problem is solved by the new boilers.

The cost of the energy of the heat pump (electricity) is weaker than that of the wood-fired boiler (granules). But that of the firewood boiler is twice lower than the fuel. The price of both sources of energy should not vary significantly in the years to come. At least, it is risky to dash into forecasts.

The heat pump allows to air-condition in summer. It is the only advantage. The solution consists, not to install air-conditioners, but in multiplying good practices: good thermal insulation, to close shutters and to aerate during the day.

How to arrange a big lounge in L?

--We modify our plan of our big lounge. Our first idea was to reduce the kitchen and to make a lounge and a library. But nothing looks like more a lounge than a library. And two lounges, while there will be two other lounges for our hosts in floors that begins to make too many lounges.

Then, after turning around in the big room in L, moving sofas (which are sooo heavy !), we finally said ourself that a single, not too big lounge, would be nice and cosy. And as a result, we shall make a dining room near the fireplace, with a big table to welcome better our hosts for dinner. The kitchen can be bigger, and we can even install there a small table, when we are alone or with a few guests.

Really, we see that we make changes permanently, although we thought we had a clear idea of what we ant. Nothing takes place as expected, and it is cool. The most important is to be ready in December… but not sure.

The travel through our days

--
During the week, we tested the regional trains : schedules are perfect for our working rhythm. We take the train between 6:50 am and 7:05 am, we are unless 5 minutes in bicycle of the station.

One quarter of an hour later, we arrive at the station of Strasbourg, right in the center of the city. From there, we take the streetcar or the cycle. At this time, it is not still the rush. It is very comfortable and as we are morning, it is very well convenient for us.

On the way back, a train approximately every twenty minutes, till 8:25 pm, allows to choose the schedule the most adapted at the rate of the day.

We were very impressed by the precision of trains. We knew that in Japan, there was a tolerance of 10 seconds in the departures and the arrivals. Well… surprised: in Alsace (by the way, famous in Japan) it is similar. Repeatedly we noticed that trains left in the second near.

It is very reassuring, unstressing, and it is important to be able to count on the public transports if we want to avoid waste of energy for the transport.

Cat's tale

--
Hansel and Gretel have a passion in common: hunting flies. At the beginning, each went hunting from his part. At the moment, they venture on strategies of alliance. Yesterday, they sat both side by side, in front of a wall. On the wall, a fly faced them, derisive. The fly flies away. Two small cat’s heads follow attentively the evolution of the fly exactly as the spectators of tennis match to Roland Garros, perfectly coordinated. The fly had a plan: it lands on the nose of Gretel. Gretel, surprised, remains immovable by squinting at the fly. Hansel, in a fraction of a second arms its drive and Bang! Stick his right-paw side down at the nose of Gretel. The fly flies away, satisfied. Gretel counts the stars on the ceiling. Hansel follows the fly, who flies away by chuckling.

First special equipment for the guesthouse

--
Yesterday arrived the washer. It is a machine of 10 kg capacity which we bought on internet. I appreciated the quality of service of the site on which we ordered: user friendly, seriousness of the order steps, and perfectly respected lead time.

This washing machine will allow us to wash our household linen and that of our three rooms in any circumstances.

The 108 kg machine (really…) spent at first some hours in the garden before reinforcements arrive to install it in the lingerie. Since, it has already proved one's worth: silent, solid and persevering, it produced quantity of appropriate clean linen.

Now we have to resolve a new problem: where to hang out and dry all this linen?