{"id":6055,"date":"2021-02-21T17:25:51","date_gmt":"2021-02-21T17:25:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kergudon.com\/?p=6055"},"modified":"2021-02-21T17:25:53","modified_gmt":"2021-02-21T17:25:53","slug":"sunday-21-february-thawing-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/fr\/sunday-21-february-thawing-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunday 21 February &#8211; Thawing Out"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Apologies for not posting a blog last week.\u00a0 The <a href=\"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/fr\/sunday-07-february-next-of-kin-dling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">previous blog<\/a> mentioned that we were due to experience a period of sub-zero temperatures as the \u2018beast from the east\u2019 made a return and so we did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, I suspect we didn\u2019t suffer quite as much as many people further north and east but, for us here in Brittany, it was a relatively unusual cold and icy period.\u00a0 Sadly, we didn\u2019t get any significant snow but the light dusting we had looked pretty, briefly, as too did the icicles formed everywhere with the temperatures although was far more hazardous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"444\" height=\"555\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Grange-icicles.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"6054\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/www.kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Grange-icicles.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.kergudon.com\/grange-icicles\/\" class=\"wp-image-6054 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Grange-icicles.jpg 444w, https:\/\/kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Grange-icicles-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Grange-icicles-10x12.jpg 10w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 444px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 444\/555;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 444px) 100vw, 444px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Icicles forming on the gable end of Grange in the 2021 freeze<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Back-gate-icicles.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"6051\" data-full-url=\"https:\/\/www.kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Back-gate-icicles.jpg\" data-link=\"https:\/\/www.kergudon.com\/back-gate-icicles\/\" class=\"wp-image-6051 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Back-gate-icicles.jpg 640w, https:\/\/kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Back-gate-icicles-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Back-gate-icicles-16x12.jpg 16w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 640px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 640\/480;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption class=\"blocks-gallery-item__caption\">Beast from the east 2021 making the area look pretty<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It did at least prove the success of the air-source heat pumps we had installed last year.\u00a0 We had a lovely family staying with us for a week in Priory to attend a wedding during the coldest of the weather and they were able to stay warm and toasty.\u00a0 Previously, warm and toasty was possible but it meant using the wood-burning stove all day which not everyone is comfortable with.\u00a0 The heat pumps are a huge success and our guests left us a lovely review on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/ShowUserReviews-g1201008-d653233-r782945963-Gites_de_Kergudon-Sizun_Finistere_Brittany.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trip Advisor<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We also had guests in Hayloft who came for a couple of nights together over St. Valentine having left their children with family nearby.&nbsp; Hayloft doesn\u2019t have a heat pump and, after the coldest night, we found its hot water pipes had frozen (the Mpemba effect in action.)&nbsp; Thankfully, we managed to thaw them out prior to our guest\u2019s arrival and, using Hayloft\u2019s super little wood-burner, the g\u00eete was warm and cozy for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The weather was far too cold (and hazardous!) for me to work outside and continue clearing the garage bays so I was able to do something that had needed to be done for a while \u2013 admin and paperwork!\u00a0 For those who have been here, I have a desk in our house that is generally piled high with things waiting to be sorted.\u00a0 While we are (generally) able to keep on top of the essential things (mostly bills and tax related) it can take a while to file and archive things properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Cold-weather-project.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6053 lazyload\" width=\"354\" height=\"225\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Cold-weather-project.jpg 602w, https:\/\/kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Cold-weather-project-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Cold-weather-project-16x10.jpg 16w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 354px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 354\/225;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 354px) 100vw, 354px\" \/><figcaption>Personal admin!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The last time I was forced to go through the paper mountain was early in 2019 when we applied for our residency permits and had to put a dossier together supporting our application.\u00a0 Since then things had got a bit \u2018messy\u2019 again!\u00a0 Now however, all is filed and done and I have resolved to keep the desk clearer and do my admin in a more timely manner!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Clear-desk-policy.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6052 lazyload\" width=\"353\" height=\"279\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Clear-desk-policy.jpg 552w, https:\/\/kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Clear-desk-policy-300x238.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Clear-desk-policy-16x12.jpg 16w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 353px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 353\/279;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 353px) 100vw, 353px\" \/><figcaption>How my desk should look<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Last weekend as well as being St. Valentines, was Dave and my anniversary so David cooked an amazing meal.\u00a0 It is great living in Brittany if you love seafood \u2013 and we both love lobster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Anniversary-lobster.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6050 lazyload\" width=\"250\" height=\"404\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Anniversary-lobster.jpg 343w, https:\/\/kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Anniversary-lobster-186x300.jpg 186w, https:\/\/kergudon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Anniversary-lobster-7x12.jpg 7w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 250px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 250\/404;\" data-original-sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/><figcaption>Lobster anniversary dinner<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>This week has been back to garages when I can but I\u2019ve not made the progress I\u2019d have liked.&nbsp; I won\u2019t therefore show any pictures and hope that next week will be a greater change \u2013 but I said that last time \u2026&nbsp; At least the weather is looking much more favourable for the next couple of weeks which gives me an incentive to get it progressed as we may then be able to actually concrete the second garage bay at the start of March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The drier weather next week is also a bonus for our guests as, hugely encouragingly for February, we have families staying with us in Priory, Granary and 3 sets of couples in Hayloft as it is French half-term.&nbsp; While Brittany can be a little damp at this time of year, it is always a better holiday if it stays dry!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kenavo.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summary of our activities and progress at Kergudon Gites over the last 2, cold, weeks.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6051,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6055","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ben-and-daves-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6055"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6055\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6051"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kergudon.com\/fr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}