I went up to The Summer House last weekend to clear it of all the flood-drenched items – furniture, linen, bedding, books, chattel in general.
The trip up there was devastatingly beautiful. Sunshine, blue skies and a scattering of clouds – and birds as in the picture below.
When I arrived the neighbours were already busy, clearing their house of everything that had been in it. The sight of their house’s content piled up on the still-flooded lawn was rather abysmal and disheartening, but that is their stuff and I won’t show you what it looked like. One’s possessions tend to look rather shabby when drenched with fjord water and piled up on a flooded lawn – there were numerous cases of this up and down the road.
I had a carpenter come by on Saturday and another on Sunday to make an assessment of the damage and give an estimate of the works needed. The floors needed to go, so the first carpenter did some exploratory cuts to see what was underneath. Not surprisingly there was soaking wet insulation, another layer of wet wood and then a puddle on the ground underneath the floor.
The main part of the house – the sitting room and the kitchen – is in the oldest structure of the house, and that’s basically a log cabin, only with very narrow logs, so it has been insulated externally with Styrofoam and an external wood cladding. The insulation and the cladding might have to go – apart from anything because Styrofoam is highly flammable – but the main structure remains healthy and with moderate moisture measurements, considering the circumstances. 2′ up the wall the moisture levels are at 25% relative humidity which is not far from what you’d find in a healthy unheated wooded cabin in winter.
It was sad, though, to clear the house for all non-salvageable items. Like books… At the bottom of the pile to the left is a small collection of Astérix and Lucky Luke comics I bought while I lived in Paris. At the top to the left is the cookery book that my aunt gave me when I tuned 18 as a “get out of your parents’ home” present – hence the 10 months in Paris… And then there’s Mrs. Beeton on the lower right; I bought her myself, but I’ve loved her dearly.
And then there’s everything else. The entire “previously covered terrace” is full of furniture and other wet stuff, and then there’s a large pile on top of our double bed, standing in the watery lawn. And there’s another pile behind the house. It really does look like so much junk piled high, but when it was dry it was the trappings of a holiday home. Still, it is replaceable stuff, and for some absurd reason I’m thrilled that the dart board we’ve never used has died in the flood whereas out croquet set, Viking game and petanque boules have all survived.
So there. Much is lost, and to be frank I’ve had a rather miserable weekend emptying the house and the annex. And yes, it’s taking it’s toll on me, but I’m pulling through. The house is safe if I just stay cool and get things done. And I will get things done.
Tonight, though, I will enjoy the fact that there is nothing I can do right now. And I will indulge myself in a bout of misery and feel really sad about our poor little house that we love so much. It will survive, no matter what I have to do, but it has taken quite a beating and it can still make me cry now, nearly 1½ weeks after the flooding happened.
It might be just a house, but it’s MY house. And NOBODYÂ messes with my house! If I have to tear out the floor myself, I’ll do it. I will do whatever it takes. It hurts so much to see it like this, and the only comfort is that some day in spring I will go up there to spend a weekend in a lovely, healthy house. Even if I might have to camp out on the floor the first couple of weekends.
I am glad to hear that the main structure remains healthy. You have the right attitude. It is a pity about the Astérix and Lucky Luke by you will be able to buy new ones!
Bon courage and don’t give up!
I shan’t give up. That much I promise…
I will, though, allow myself to feel sad and powerless and utterly destroyed at times. Like tonight. And then tomorrow I will get up, go to work, call the insurance and try to get an appointment with the assessor in charge of the building.
But yes, the Astérix and Lucky Lukes can be replaced. They will just never bee the comics I bought when I was 18, living in Paris and occasionally bought a comic at the bouquinistes when I was strolling past on the morning after the night before. Actually I think they where the most important items in that book case…
Really feel for you. What an awful thing to have to do. I’m trying to imagine how I would feel if my beloved books and momentoes were damaged. I would be devastated too because even though I would tell myself they didn’t matter as much as a person and health they hold so many memories and creating memories is what life is about. So it’s understandable you feel so gutted. It is surprising what can be done though and hopefully once spring comes things will be so much more positive. And your lovely home will become ready for lots more happy memories. Take care x
It’s our holiday home, thank God, so there was just 50-60 books in the house (plus comics), and all the photos and paintings are now dry again and safe in the apartment (though the apartment looks rather a mess with all the things I’ve salvaged scattered throughout the living rooms).
I can’t imagine how I would react it it were my primary home that perished. The loss would be unimaginable, though perhaps less so after loosing 90% of the contents of the holiday home…
But yes, one day there will be room for happiness up there again. Just not for the next many months.
I am so sorry for your loss but grateful that you did not have any illness or loss of life…it does little for you in this time of loss….but know we are thinking of you and sending hugs and warm wishes to sustain you.
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