REAL LIFE
Dirk constructed three raised vegetable beds in which I have enjoyed growing potatoes, carrots, French beans, onions, courgettes and tomatoes. In front of the house, we
decided to disguise the access covers of the fosse septique by covering a large area with bark chippings and edging it with more stone. Dirk made a really nice feature for me out of some old metal cart wheel rims, and we also added an old piece of farm machinery, which we later found out was for grinding corn. It had been in one of the bedrooms when we bought the house! This little area looks so pretty in the summer, decorated with colourful potted plants. Like most local houses, we
also inherited an old plough that we imagine used to be pulled by a horse. We cleaned this up and it sits at the bottom of the now well-established and pretty rock garden.
SEASONAL SPLENDOUR Just this summer, we added a nice open porch to the front, as we wanted some cover over the front door and a space for logs and wellies. Dirk built the low wall and I pointed it. With a friend’s help, we designed and constructed the roof. It’s been a really useful addition to the house. For some time, I had been
badgering Dirk about a hot tub, but with the garden being on a bit of a slope, there wasn’t really anywhere we could put one. But, I had a plan in my head and eventually Dirk agreed to level off an area just behind the terrace. With the help of a friend, he built a retaining wall, which we rendered, and another stone wall behind that. I very much enjoyed using our newest garden feature this summer! Our garden and the terrace
are where we spend most of our time during the warmer months – we can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner outside. We are very lucky to be south-facing and to have such a tranquil setting. We love to entertain and have spent many a long evening with friends and family, usually ending with a bit of star spotting as the sky is beautifully clear here. During the winter months,
The new hot tub area that Dirk created and Shirley enjoyed using last summer
we often get a decent snowfall, and then there’s nothing nicer than long walks in the forest, it’s quite magical. The French are great at keeping the roads clear, so there’s never a problem getting out of the drive.
it looks magnificent in spring. We often get walkers passing by and sometimes locals who comment on how amazing both the house and garden look, which makes it all worthwhile. Back in 2005, when we
“Within just a 50-minute drive, you’ll find the Super-Besse ski resort and the glorious Alpinesque town of Besse”
I love planting up my pots
and window boxes each year in the spring with the many cuttings that have been given to me and other things bought locally. The rockery is my favourite part of the garden,
bought the house, we had little knowledge of the Puy- de-Dôme department and the Auvergne region, but it truly is a beautiful, diverse and interesting place to live. There are many wonderful
sites here to explore including the Chaîne des Puys, 40km of dormant volcanoes, with the highest being the Puy-de-Dôme itself, standing at 1,465m. Le Puy-en-Velay is famous for its green lentils and magnificent cathedral perched high up on a volcanic plateau.
HITTING THE SLOPES For skiers, within just a 50- minute drive you’ll find the Super-Besse ski and winter sports resort and the glorious Alpinesque town of Besse, an area also great for walking. The area is popular with cyclists and walkers too. We bought electric bikes last year and have made very good use of them, cycling both from the house and taking them further afield. And we are nestled between the towns of Issoire and Ambert, both of which hold fabulous weekly markets. We’ve both worked extremely
hard over the past two decades to create this gorgeous house and garden, and we feel fortunate that we’ve had the opportunity to live in this fabulous part of the world. However, after much thought, deliberation and the tug of a granddaughter, family and friends, we have decided to return to the UK to embark on a new adventure next year. Therefore, we are going to put the house on the market in the spring and hopefully someone else will get to enjoy it as much as we have.■
Shirley and Dirk’s property will be for sale at €296,000, including furniture, white goods and hot tub
laruine@dirkandshirley.co.uk
Piles of stones were redistributed around the garden to create wonderful rockeries and other features FRENCH PROPERTY NEWS: March/April 2025 67
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