New volunteers join the crew in south-west France.
It has been a hectic period here at La Giraudiere with many new volunteers arriving and many saying their farewells. This week we had some new arrivals willing to step up for Team LG, three Londoners and a Glaswegian; Robert, David, Roy and Natalie. The veterans of the group helped us get acquainted with life at La Giraudiere and we soon felt at home.
The first full day for the new volunteers group was soon under way, helping with the restoration of the Old House focussing primarily on the main reception area. Others helped with blogging (this post for example) whilst some are helping to create a new website for the village of Brossac. This should be live next week at Brossac Village. The volunteers are generally helping to turn the derelict into a buzzing centre of life.
Natalie, kitted out in the most sort after overalls, was making a new seating area for what will be the reception in the Old House. Natalie a third year undergraduate student is studying Quantity Surveying so the seats should hopefully be here to stay.
David, spent his first day repairing and testing all of LG’s bicycles. Thanks to him the volunteers and interns will be able to go for a group bike ride in the near-future.
Dr Roy, a retired general practioner from Scotland, was learning how to plaster. A major change for a man who previously would have plastered your broken limbs.
John spent the day repointing and tidying up the brickwork of the old fireplace in the Old House. The plan is for the fireplace to eventually be restored to its original red brick appearance and with this it is one step closer to a full restoration.
We must say farewell to Niamh, whose volunteer career in France was cut short too soon. Niamh from Ireland worked on the blogging, the gardening and also in the Old House. You are sadly missed. We hope she enjoys her further travels in France.
Jimmy from New Zealand is here on an internship and is helping with the smooth running of La Giraudiere. His current pet project is the new Brossac village website.
More blog posts by our volunteers are soon to follow.
