Introduction

Welcome to the first post for Le Petit Reve.

We saw the property in February 2008 and after a few discussions as to why we shouldn't buy it, we put in an offer, it was accepted and then in July, we had a reasonably informal 'meeting' with the vendors and the notaire in Rochechuart, and then it was ours, just in time for my birthday. Just fantastic! Could not really believe that after so many years of browsing through property magazines and more latterly online, that longed for dream of a little place in France had finally been achieved.

This is it when we saw it in Feb 2008:




It sits on about 3/4 acre plot, reasonable steep slope to the west, with the one roomed farmer's cot facing south at the end of a row of spruce trees forming the driveway. The community is Les Peyrieres, just on the edge of Pressignac, the local village. We are surrounded by sheep (having just met the farmer, we now know he is very proud of his 'Suffolk' sheep and his English collie) and the beautiful thick set, rich brown Limousin cattle.

The market town of Chabanais (Charente) lies approx 6 miles north west, the other side of the Vienne river, and our other market town Rochechuart (Limousin) lies approx 8 miles south east. Angouleme and Limoges are our nearest cities. It is such a beautiful area, very like the Devon / Dorset countryside, very lush, with small fields and rolling valleys, we cannot believe how lucky we are to have found such a gem - and one that we could afford!



Our intention is to gradually modernise in a sympathetic way, taking care not to spoil the magic of the place. We have permission to demolish and build new but we have decided not to do this. We would rather rebuild, make good and modernise what is there for now. Maybe when we eventually move out to France, a new extension to the west face for a larger living space would be good, but this will not be for a good few years yet. These two pictures give a good idea of how it is now and then how we would like it to look in a couple of years time.



I will add more as we go, there are a few posts to add to catch up, for instance I have just come back (a couple of weeks) having spent a long weekend down there with my mother. It was her first trip abroad and will describe this trip in a later blog.

Any suggestions on how we might keep this little building intact and still have bathroom facilities, a kitchen and a bedroom will always be welcome.

Debs