A day of discoveries
Last weekend was a time of many discoveries.
Molly and Joe decided they would investigate the room at the back of the house that is currently just used to store our stock of Foussais apple juice. Having discussed it between themselves, they decided this would be their new den and set about clearing the room out.
Here’s where the discoveries began.
The Power
Firstly, we discovered that we actually have working electricity in the back room. Having poked my finger into the light fitting and felt the jolt of electricity zap up my arm, I figured that it was actually live and proved it beyond doubt by adding a bulb. There was great rejoicing from Molly and Joe as their den now had light!
The Eagles
Next came some interesting objects. Tucked in the corner of the room were two blocks, each carved with a picture of an eagle and the word “EAGLE” carved across the top.
These were both about the size and weight of a small breeze-block, but we have really no idea what they are for. At first they appeared to be a mould, but surely the writing would need to be in reverse if this were true. And why two the same? If you have any suggestions as to what these might be, do let me know!
The skeleton
Next came a rather chilling discovery – “We’ve found a skeleton!” yelled Joe. “U-oh” thought I, this could be trouble. Abandoning my spade in the front border, I ran round to the back room, already anticipating the police sealing off our house for forensic investigations.
“We think it’s a sea-horse” said Joe. All concerns about being surrounded by gendarmes for the next week melted away as I investigated the “sea-horse” skeleton. It turned out to be a poor unfortunate ex-mouse…

The play room
After Lisa mentioned to the kids that there wasanother room inside that needed clearing out, all thoughts of this ourside den were abandoned and this new potential space became a possible play-room.
Up they went to investigate the room, empty save for a tonne of muck and dust, at the top of our back stairs. After several hours of sweeping and clearing, the room actually started to reveal itself as a really good space.
And once we attacked the floorboards with a mop, we very very pleasantly surprised – this room has probably the best floor of the entire house!

The floorboards cleaned up really well and we decided that, with some work on the ceiling and a new velux window, this would be a perfect playroom, home for all the Playmobil currently strewn all over my study downstairs.
Another project for the list!





on 2 May 2009 at 8:51 am :
Haha I know, I was actually just trying to discover what style of bulb it would take, but I suppose just trying one may have been a safer method
Indeed, the eagle things are very perplexing… they seem to be blocks of some kind of breeze-block type of material with the carved piece grafted on top. There’s another photo here http://www.flickr.com/photos/aragornsbeard/3491482911/ that shows the cross-section a bit better.
The museum may well be a good option – I’ll give them a try.
Oh, and thanks Jon – it’s great to be back in the hotseat again!
on 2 May 2009 at 8:31 am :
No one wins any prizes sticking their fingers in light sockets – do be more careful! Sort of daft thing I’d do…
The eagle things are interesting, particularly since the word is written in English. Do you have any idea what they are made of? The museum in Fontenay might be able to suggest something.
Welcome back into circulation, by the way.
on 4 May 2009 at 6:02 pm :
Hi Richard & Lisa
Please say a big thankyou to Molly and Joe for cleaning out our store room for us, it is very much appreciated, but they didn’t have to go to so much trouble. I will remember to bring more goodies with us next time we come.
Richard did you say that the house was owned by an English family before you, I just wondered if they had anything to do with the Eagle tablets of stone?.
Its great to see you on line again.
Love to all
Lynn Gledhill