Thursday, April 16, 2015

Details In The Cottage

The Dining-Nook Transformation - episode 5 out of ???

The Telephone Situation


I have no idea when Cottage was built, or rather not a precise idea, but I'm sure when it was built, there was no telephone line in the house. When Cottage got a telephone line, a little square plastic thingy had to be put somewhere - not the actual socket, just some kind of box where many many wires are wired - and of all of the places, previous previous owners chose the wall against the dining-room window!

Je ne sais pas précisément quand Cottage a été construit, mais je sais qu'il n'y avait pas le téléphone dans la maison à cette époque-là. Quand une ligne a été rajoutée, il a fallu installer un petit transformateur en plastique dans la maison et les propriétaires d'alors ont pensé que c'était une bonne idée de le mettre dans l'encadrement de la fenêtre! 



Weirdly enough, these plastic boxes don't belong to you: even if they're inside your home, they belong to the phone company. You can't move them by yourself and it's very expensive to have them move for no reason!

Malheureusement, ce genre de boîtier appartient à la compagnie de téléphone : il n'est donc pas possible de le déplacer et cela coûte assez cher de le faire faire sans raison.

Can you see it on the top left of the picture?

But I had a reason! Every time I opened my window, it would bump into the box and I would lose the Internet connexion for several minutes. Really, I didn't mind... But I did mind the box in my window frame.


Mais j'avais une raison ! Chaque fois que j'ouvrais la fenêtre, cela devait faire bouger un fil dans le boîtier et je perdais la ligne de téléphone et la connexion Internet. Bon, honnêtement, cela ne me dérangeait pas autant que la verrue que faisait la petite boîte en plastique, mais inutile de le dire...

So I called the phone company telling them how annoying it was to lose the Internet connexion so often, since I tend to live with my windows opened half of the year. They said they'll send someone and they'll see what they can do...


J'ai donc appelé la compagnie de téléphone en leur expliquant le problème et ils m'ont donné un rendez-vous assez rapidement.

I was lucky enough that the man who came was a very nice person who had already come to Cottage a few days after I moved in, when the telephone line wasn't working at all. 

 
Et là, pour une fois, j'ai eu de la chance. Le monsieur qui est venu était tout à fait charmant et on se connaissait déjà puisque c'était lui qui était venu me dépanner juste après mon arrivée au Cottage quand la ligne téléphonique ne marchait pas du tout.

He explained to me that he could move it to the other wall, but the rules said it had to be high on the wall, meaning it would be above my sideboard... Not exactly the kind of decor I was envisionning for that wall. I tried to argue, I even told him my readers wouldn't like it at all... But the rules are the rules, he explained.

Il m'a expliqué qu'il pouvait déplacer le boîtier sur l'autre mur mais que le règlement voulait qu'il soit situé en hauteur... Au dessus de mon buffet, donc... Ce n'était pas exactement le genre de déco que j'avais en tête, mais j'ai eu beau essayer de jouer de mon charme, de lui dire que mes lecteurs n'allaient pas du tout aimer... Rien n'y a fait, les règles sont les règles!


I left the room with a sigh. After a while,  I thought it took him a long time, so I went back to see what he was doing... And here he was, swearing and sweating, trying to get all the wires to go down, down, behind the sideboard, so that the box wouldn't be visible!

J'ai quitté la pièce avec un soupir. Au bout d'un moment, je me suis dit que cela lui prenait bien du temps pour déplacer le fameux boîtier de quelques centimètres. Je suis retournée dans ma salle-à-manger et le technicien était là, jurant et en nage, en train de tenter de faire descendre tous les câbles dans la cloison pour mettre le boîtier en bas, derrière le buffet!


"You won't tell anyone, will you, Mam? You seemed to really want it there."

"Vous ne direz rien à personne, n'est-ce pas, Madame? ça avait l'air de vous tenir à cœur."

I could have kissed him, but of course, I didn't!

J'aurais pu l'embrasser, mais évidemment, je n'en ai rien fait!


He was so nice that he also decided to change the outside wire, which was fine, though obvisouly old. Shadow kept a close eye on everything that was happening, because he likes Cottage and doesn't want it to be damaged.

Il était tellement gentil qu'il a même décidé de changer le câble extérieur, qui était correct, mais bien vieux ! Shadow ne l'a pas quitté des yeux, histoire d'être sûr que le travail était bien fait!


I was very happy to have a clean window frame. So do you think we can say the window project is done?

J'étais vraiment ravie d'avoir un encadrement de fenêtre tout propre. Bon alors, d'après vous, le projet fenêtre est-il fini ?

See you soon,

A bientôt,




PS1: This is the only renovation project so far that has cost me nothing since the gentleman (I can't call him anything else, can I?) said I had nothing to pay as he declared the phone line wasn't working when he arrived ;)

PS1 : C'est, jusqu'à présent, le seul projet de rénovation qui ne m'a pas coûté un centime puisque le gentleman (je ne peux pas l'appeler autrement, hein?) a déclaré sur le papier qu'il m'a fait signer que la ligne ne fonctionnait pas à son arrivée!

PS2: I'm sharing this post with:

<br><br><br><b>Join us every Friday...</b>         Photobucket                                                   


51 comments:

  1. C'est rare d'avoir une si gentille dérogation.
    Bien sûr que c'est fini.......j'espère.
    Plein de caresses aux minous. Bises. Babette

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  2. Magali que bueno a mi me hubiera fastidiado tener esa cajita ahi tambien, la ventana se ve tan bonita bueno hasta la proxima.- nelly

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  3. Magali, your home is getting the royal treatment little by little and each detail really does change BIG things! I bet you can't wait for summer; our little cottage is going to burst with beauty this year, and I know your is already! BRAVO!

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  4. How lovely, those little objects are so annoying, it truly makes a difference. Nice view too!

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  5. There are some very nice workmen in France.

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  6. Sometimes the smallest changes have the biggest impression on our mood. Moving that telephone box is certainly one of those things ... and what a kind, considerate, gentlemanly telephone worker you had!

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  7. Your telephone man must be related to my so polite French "gentleman friend" here in the US! Or maybe the French are just naturally courteous and helpful. Bless them all!.
    The details are so important and it's so great to see that you have co-operation in dealing with them.
    A bientôt.....

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    1. I so wish every French man were that nice, but unfortunately my encounter yesterday with a salesman in a hardware shop proves this is wrong!

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  8. Awe Thank goodness for kind people in the world, and for Shadow keeping watch. Jo

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  9. Dear Magali,
    a true gentleman or rather a knight in shining armour (sort of yellow-shining).! Have a nice weekend!
    Yours,
    Sarah

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  10. Now that is a real gentleman!!! So nice to have that out of your view too! Cottage just keeps getting better.

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  11. What a sweet guy! These things do matter to us, and it is wonderful that he listened! :)
    Have a beautiful day,
    Lin

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    1. I was actually very surprised as usually people don't get why I think certain things are important to me! But I was happy!

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  12. Great, I love cicil employees who behave like that!AriadnefromGreece!

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  13. Il y a encore de vrais professionnels et ils ne sont pas si rare qu'on pourrait le penser et puis souvent un sourire fait bien les choses, ça fonctionne bien dans certains cas
    Pour la fenêtre je ne suis pas sure que tu es terminée, tu as fait un bout de peinture certainement pour cacher les marques du boitier, peut être aussi ajouté un joli brise vue sur ton carreau...
    Oui je sais, je vais attendre la suite ;-)
    bonne fin de semaine et bon week end

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    1. Les photos sont prises, il ne me reste plus qu'à les marquer et à écrire l'article: patience! Bon week-end !

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  14. I love when officials find a way to make the rules work! They are special people who make your day nicer. xo Patty

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  15. How nice it is when we get a repairman that is nice and willing to “help you out” a little! Yes, he is most definitely a gentleman. Funny how those little things can really bother us (looking at the box for you) and it is so nice to get them corrected. Love all the pretty pics of cottage and I’m sure Shadow kept a safe distance while observing the maintenance.

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  16. Oh what a nice man to be so kind to Cottage. I would have baked him some cookies or something. Isn't it nice when people so kind things and it doesn't cost you any money. I would have been doing a Happy Dance all around Cottage.
    You and Cottage have a terrific weekend.
    Mary

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  17. Oh what a nice man to be so kind to Cottage. I would have baked him some cookies or something. Isn't it nice when people so kind things and it doesn't cost you any money. I would have been doing a Happy Dance all around Cottage.
    You and Cottage have a terrific weekend.
    Mary

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  18. I am glad he was accommodating. I would have thought telling him that your readers wouldn't like it would have been enough!

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  19. What a darling little story. I am glad kitty was keeping an eye on everything.

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  20. Hi......what a nice man..gentleman indeed..i hope this is the last thing on your list you wanted done..dining - nook done that is..would be nice if you could sit back an know that's a part of the project finished..it has to be so rewarding to know you've done such a great job with cottage..i hope the other projects go as well..Beautiful day here today.

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  21. To have the telephone gentleman move the box and hiding the wire behind the hutch to make it more pleasing in the dining nook is very thoughtful. Even more, saying it wasn't working and replacing the wire outside. I'm not sure how a curtain will fit in the window now, but I'm sure privacy is a factor. A good day for you, kitties and cottage. Kathleen in Az

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    1. Privacy was a problem for the kitchen window that faces the road, but the dining-room faces my garden and behind that a field, so no privacy problem ;)

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  22. That is wonderful news,especiailly since they always want to charge something.That truly made it a nice day

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  23. It's funny how such a small change can make such a big difference!! Very nice man!! I was thinking about your concern for light in the dining room........would some small ornate mirrors attached to the side walls of the window reflect more light into the room??? .....just wondering......love the Cottage....

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  24. Wow, what a star and a gentleman, your window looks so much better without the box, and might I say what a pretty view you have.
    Actually I need your telephone man to come and move a few boxes and cables for me !

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  25. la fenêtre est parfaite : lignes pures, ton blanc ! il faut vraiment féliciter le technicien du téléphone qui a fait preuve d'initiative et de compréhension et a agit comme un artisan respectueux des vieilles pierres - Cottage, votre personnalité fait des ravages ! bien à vous - monique59

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  26. Ah, what a kind man, that was so nice of him.

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  27. It's the small details that matter ... it was so kind of him to realize how important that was to you. What a doll...I would have wanted to kiss him too. :)

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  28. It's the small details that matter ... it was so kind of him to realize how important that was to you. What a doll...I would have wanted to kiss him too. :)

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  29. The cottage is getting prettier by the day! It is the small details that matter, and you were lucky to get such a kind man...not to many these days. I certainly would of given him a big hug, and ask that only he comes back for service.

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  30. There are so many kind and generous people in the world and I'm glad you had a chance to showcase one! I'm so happy you got your wish!!

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  31. He is nothing short of a gem! My goodness, there are still wonderful workman still out there!

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  32. What a nice man. He obviously wanted to make you happy. Your window looks terrific.

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  33. First of all - you should always kiss the phone man!
    Second - I followed your story with great interest as I'm having one of my own, so far without your happy ending. I moved to a new room in my office (with windows!) but apparently it is such a hassle to bring the phone man to move my line, that they have set me up with an extension cord, if you can believe it, in what I am sure will become a temporary-permanent solution. Enough! Back to your lovely cottage.
    Amalia
    xo

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  34. Quel homme sympathique ! ça vous change des contraintes administratives de la mairie ! Bon week-end ! Flopsy

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  35. A beautiful window, now 'naked', apart from that gorgeous view, which dresses it up, not needing any kind of covering!

    Poppy

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  36. I love it when workers are so sweet like that! Cottage, kitty, and you are all happy!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  37. It's so wonderful when a kind gentle hand is extended ones way.
    Love your cottage, just adore everything about it.

    Xx
    Dore

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  38. ooh, it sounds like he likes you, lol. so glad this issue is resolved and you can see clear out your beautiful window without your eye being drawn to the little box.
    enjoy!
    b

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  39. It's great that it worked out exactly as you wanted!

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