wheelchair holiday in Brittany, France.

Wheelchair accessible
Disabled Holidays in
Brittany, France.

Accessible apartments in France building work photo blog

We arrived in La Roche Derrien at the end of August 2003. Originally, four of us came here. Carl, Jacqui and Max Alban, and Carls long time best friend Colin Higgins (aka wiggy). The reason behind coming to France and having such a huge project was that we all had to make a living out of it, plus Jacqui had had an idea, that was not only achievable but a really good one at the same time.......wheelchair accessible accommodation for disabled people to rent whilst on holiday.

We spent months clearing the site, as none of it was habitable let alone accessible. It was during this time that Wiggy, decided that France was not the place for him. He missed the bright lights and the familiarity of the UK, he made the very hard decision to leave during that first Christmas of 2003. Unfortunately Wiggy passed away in July 2005, but his memory lives on with us in France.

Since that time, the Albans became well and truly established into the French way of life, with Max, now 15, settling extremely well into school, and now just over two years down the line, completely bilingual. Jacqui spending several months battling with planners, banks and various other institutions the great build is underway. The masons arrived December 2005 and the apartments are due to be handed over 30th June 2006. With several reservations already for Summer 2006 - I Need A Holiday Too has been well and truly launched!

The photographs below are to show the before, during and after stages of the build. I am sure you will see many photos of us looking stressed, excited and all other emotions involved when building over the months and you should keep returning to this page to witness the progression.......

2004 Your worst nightmare as a disabled person! Accessible?The day we moved in...she (jacqui) really must be mad2 weeks after moving onto the site2005 accessible apartments, can you see them?16th Feb concrete for the first floor apartments16th Feb More concrete....Lift for wheelchairs and lazy peoplethe guvnor! Jacqui Alban25th Jan I have learnt stacks from the French workforce25th Jan not very accessible yet!16th Feb Pumping concrete for the 1st floor31st Jan These windows will come down to the floor giving views of the river - accessible to all8th Feb Casting the lift shaft - giving access to all three floors to wheelchair usersfirst floor concrete is in more pictures of the first floor concrete 22nd Feb Walls on Floor Two22nd Feb Walkway leading to the lift 22nd Feb Walls on Floor Two22 feb 2006 quick time VR movie of building workdigging a pit for the wheelchair liftpumping more concrete24 feb 2006 quick time VR movie of building work9th march 2006 quick time VR movie of building workthe roofing begins 1the roofing begins 2roofing work 3roofing work 4, a room with a viewcarl and the missing roofopenings for velux windows9th May, roof nearly finished9th May, view from the roadMax cleaning up the site!the windows arrive...........cool toy6am, what was I thinking?WINDOWS.........Bill and..........Ben. the flower pot men.QTVR movie of construction work on 19 may 2006