Introducing “Bonkers” Farm

We hesitate to give our new home this title formally, just in case the word “bonkers” has a derogatory meaning in patois Normandy, but this is what amongst friends we are calling our new home.

 

 “Bonkers” is a traditional stone Normandy house dating from 1751.  About four of the houses in our small hamlet have these stones in the wall.  They give the name of the people who built the house and the date.  We are one of the oldest but our neighbours have a barn which is about 100 years older.

  Situated in a small, and I mean small, hamlet about 1.5k outside the market town of Sourdeval, we are about an hour drive from Cherbourg, Caen and St. Malo.  The Normandy beaches are close by, as is Bayeux, Barfleur and the beautiful coastline of Côte des Îles  (Islands Coast) facing the Channel Islands and lower down, their French counterparts Les Îles Chausey.

 

Why “Bonkers Farm”?  Well contrary to popular belief, it is not because we are bonkers to buy such a big project, but more due to the face that the current layout of the house is completely bonkers!  Who but the French would have a oil tank in the middle of a potentially, huge, kitchen?

We managed a good day in the garden on Saturday. 

We started to  clear the "Secret Garden"

Unlike the Frances Hodges Burnett book of the same name, we haven't found a sleeping garden, with a swing and a robin, more a complete tangle of brambles.  But hey, look we found the gate!

Max made a start with the diesel strimmer and I am taking over from here with the manual blades. 

I found the sweetest little birds nest, perfectly formed.  It was a shame to chop the brambles down around it.

We are the last house in the small hamlet.  So small that the houses don’t have numbers, it is all done by name.  A bit concerning as we are new and  haven’t actually moved in yet.  Our worries about the postie finding us were unfounded and mail has arrived.  What were we worrying about?  The only English in the village, of course he would find us!

We are right on the edge of parkland.  The old steam line ran at the top here and much to Max’s dismay the rails and line were removed about 10 years ago and now and the area is awash with walking routes.  We have one of the resting spaces right at the top of our hill, with panoramic views.  We intend to bring a bottle of wine here on our first evening, and celebrate the start of our Big French Adventure.