very cute! Is that Bicester tescos?
I’ve had an absolutely terrible 2 weeks in pieces because order after order, mostly from Lidl but also a really important one from Italy that could have been the start of a beautiful business relationship, DPD’s subcontractor here has literally not made any attempt to deliver on multiple parcels. They are a turd branch of Jardel 53km away at Labastide St Pierre South of Cahors.
Each time they marked it “failed delivery” or worse “parcel refused” when I had literally waited at my gate without moving from 08.00am till their fake failure. Unfortunately that’s what’s necessary to defeat the varioua bêtises of this subcontractor.
2 of my parcels were automatically returned to Lidl after these fake failures resulted in no actual delivery attempt, another from Italy I persuaded DPD to rebook 3 times after zero attempt to deliver when I waited for the delivery. So after 4 dates agreed for delivery on which no attempt was made, that parcel too, which was really important and urgent, was automatically returned to Italy.
I’ve been too upset even to write and complain to Lidl as sender yet.
The good news, however, is that the Amazon package with food from Italy got through. Inside there were also a number of bags of Haribo sweets (varieties unfindable here). I’ve now discovered that there is a Black edition of the Haribo Gold Bears (Gummi Bears) with a light liquorice flavour and they’re absolutely delicious. All 5 bags of them 
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Not the one you might have known - that was flattened for Bicester village to expand. But yes, just inside the entrance.
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Today’s cheerful news
Cherries! Cherries are abundant and I was given a large bowl of about 4 varieties… all equally delicious.
Good grief.. OH and I gorged ourselves and there’s still loads left.
I did a quick tour of our neighbours and each one took a good quantity, with much smiling. so I’ve gained a few brownie points 
Ages ago, I’d been forcefully informed (by a French friend) that it is impolite to “move on” any gift… but (thankfully) perishables are not included in that strict Rule. Phew…
Personally, I hate to see anything go to waste (whether perishable or not… )
Anyway, I reckon there’ll be some delicious baking going on in one or two households … yummy.
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Our family had no qualms, wandergeschenk were a well practiced thing.
Just another example of “we’re all different”. 
and I agree with you, our UK family let nothing go to waste… things were “handed-over” to whomever might profit… if the gift was unwanted.
but, as I say, it’s frowned upon here in my village and I have to be rather subtle, on occasion
I suppose the cheerful news is that OH and I do, often, get given gifts…
and the edible ones rarely get moved on.. but a glut of fruit could be seen as a health hazard in view of OH’s precarious situation 
and all the neighbours seem to adore my OH so that could be their excuse for accepting…
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Good news today…
…Finally finished our main bathroom!…now, I’m back to the external wall fixing….but first a cold beer.
Oh yes…it’s a oak floor so a bit of an experiment, but because we are only two, it should be easy enough to keep dry enough…
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Stunning!!
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You’re a very clever man. And it looks so neat and tidy. If only I could be as tidy as you………
I really am very messy but thanks anyways:)
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What kind of oak flooring did you use, and how well does it stand up to bathroom conditions? I need to redo flooring in our bathroom and would prefer something like that instead of tiles.
Like the spaciousness and light, and we’ve got a very similar suspended loo in one bathroom.
However, condensation running down the underside has stained the travertine underneath, so watch out for that; also your floor looks like it might be a tad slippy when wet.
Hope I’m wrong.
Forty years ago I put polished marble tiles in a bathroom (wanted a sort of Abitare Italian Fifties feel) never again - absolutely lethal…
Its not solid oak. Its engineered and so more dimensionally stable.
If you room is nice and dry and has good ventilation, why not try it. Its very comfortable to walk on. We had the space to instal a 1200mm square tray so nothing splashes out.
We got the flooring from Gedibois and it’s not the cheapest nor the most expensive. If you read the specs of the numerous manufacturers, you will find something suitable for sure. I’ll send you the specs of the flooring we have if you need. Just let me know.
Solid flooring might well be a bit tricky and will shrink. Engineered flooring is the ticket.
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The room is about 25 msq so a bit of trek from one side to the other.
The ceilings have 300mm wood fibre insulation with vapour barrier and the walls also stuffed with insulation so it’s strangely very warm and dry so there will be no condensation on the underside of the loo.
The flooring is treated with a special stuff and is actually wonderfully anti slip…..the wonders of chemistry I guess.
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I’ve also laid solid oak flooring in my bathroom – this one:
https://www.naofloor.com/en/the-innovation-that-protects-the-planet-2
This is parquet flooring made in France from French oak (and not processed in Asia before being shipped back ).
I just make sure to wipe up the water after every shower, which takes no time at all, and it’s perfect !– and much nicer than tiles (which remind me of a hospital or public toilets !)
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Thanks both. @MikeyPotts @Juliet We have oak engineered floors here in the cottage in the UK. One was significantly better than the other, and IIRC is designed to be water-resistant, but haven’t tried such things in a bathroom.
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You should have used a good sealant product. I’ve used travertine in bathrooms and kitchens in the UK and France without any issues. It’s been splashed and soaked in water and all sorts including curry and wipes off without staining. You can also get good sealants that create a non slip surface.
Yes, I’ve used it in several houses - living rooms, kitchens, bathrooms and our main terrasse, but on reflection, I don’t think this floor ever got sealed - I didn’t do any of the work in this bathroom apart from the sink housing. However currently freshening up both bathrooms so it’s a good opportunity to fix this.
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Here’s the stuff I was recommended to use in France. I’ve used it on travertine in the shower and the kitchen sink splashback, and also on slate on the shower floor. The kitchen sink splashback in particular has had splashes of curry and tea left on it for several hours and just wiped off without any stain. You need to do an extra coat every 2 to 3 years.
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Delighted to see 3 hares quietly nibbling away at grass in the field next to our house this morning. I was surprised though when a youngish fox trotted into the field - it definitely saw at least one of the hares and the hare definitely saw it, but both carried on, ignoring the other. I would have thought the hare would have wanted to bolt for safety.
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