OK, Spring, you can come back now

This morning was horrible. Thoroughly cold, wet and miserable. One of those Ugh days when you just feel like crawling back under the duvet. But I resisted the temptation. Fortunately. Which meant I have actually got a fair bit done today. Nothing too exciting, mind. Although, I guess you could, at a stretch, class getting the request for a 'Certificat d'Urbanisme' for the barn dropped off at the Mairie as relatively exciting, if that's your thing. If a CU is granted, it means the value of the barn goes up as it means everything is in place for it to be converted to a dwelling, which is not a bad return for doing nowt but submit some paperwork now, is it!

However, we have the somewhat sticky matter of sanitation to tackle before a CU can be granted. We are OK on the supply of electricity and water to the barn but neither it nor the house have got sanitation facilities that that fantastic institution ( you have picked up on the hint of sarcasm there, haven't you?) that is Brussels approves of. If, after a site visit by the local peeps that are responsible for such matters, it is concluded that there is no suitable ground on which a septic tank or micro sewage system can be installed, then the CU will be refused which means the barn cannot be converted to a dwelling and it's value remains that of a barn which is 30,000 euros less than if it had a CU. The irony is, that the waste from the house (yes, we are talking toilet waste here) has been quietly disposed of down onto the slope below the house, which leads off into the wilds of the woodland, without even a murmur for the past 200+ years. It affects nobody, but nobody. But as from 2011/2012/soon, Brussels dictates that every household in France must have 'proper' disposal facilities, whatever that means. We shall watch that space with interest.... maybe.