tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post1944900421857687863..comments2023-10-29T13:13:23.490+01:00Comments on My Life in the Charente: Laundry and the lavoir at Massignac.Dianehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14782670749466305626noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-83440255211581653922016-02-12T09:38:00.944+01:002016-02-12T09:38:00.944+01:00Interesting info on the Lavoir. When I was very yo...Interesting info on the Lavoir. When I was very young, we also use the wooden wash boards placed in big metal basins to wash our clothes. That was good exercise, scrubbing and washing the clothes. Back then, the clothes were made from more lasting materials. I am following you now and I am inviting you to follow me too. Thank you.Nancy Chanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10790364807514237397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-26982931987037646122014-09-26T13:20:43.600+02:002014-09-26T13:20:43.600+02:00I love the idea of the woodash in the pot. Did th...I love the idea of the woodash in the pot. Did that loosen the dirt I wonder? Interesting too that the soap washing was elsewhere. What a lot of effort to do laundry. No wonder they didn't do it terribly often!Deana Sidneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14908407077861396161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-5980559398862971002014-09-21T18:52:51.568+02:002014-09-21T18:52:51.568+02:00Very interesting post. It is a lovely outdoor room...Very interesting post. It is a lovely outdoor room and much more pleasant that today's laundry that is done in solitary.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15356018786442529490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-3903532091713985832014-09-12T23:55:10.441+02:002014-09-12T23:55:10.441+02:00I think the lavoirs are fascinating places. Of cou...I think the lavoirs are fascinating places. Of course, many are restored and looked after these days but I have come across a few that have seen better days and they're just as fascinating. One thing that I've never seen is anyone washing clothes in one of them, although I knew someone who claimed to have used them when travelling in France as an impecunious student.Phil in the Kitchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15904292856978631382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-53242047590212117422014-09-12T18:40:59.079+02:002014-09-12T18:40:59.079+02:00Amazing pictures!Amazing pictures!Maude Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03669688074743095866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-27888300256665631822014-09-11T20:10:30.840+02:002014-09-11T20:10:30.840+02:00I have see old lavoir in our travels both in Franc...I have see old lavoir in our travels both in France and in Italy. All I can say is, we've come a long way. I can't imagine how hard those two days must have been. Thanks for sharing such an interesting post. KarenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-47971854273126028022014-09-10T23:04:55.093+02:002014-09-10T23:04:55.093+02:00Nice and interesting posting:)Nice and interesting posting:)Gunnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11025645899081000493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-25121605983640373642014-09-10T07:40:35.616+02:002014-09-10T07:40:35.616+02:00I had to buy a new computer recently. The old one ...I had to buy a new computer recently. The old one was so slow and not handling some programmes. It was also out of date after only 5 years. If that!. Interesting post about the laundry system. Wouldn't those ladies be astounded seeing how we wash today?diane bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12002292118984909883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-2357981621069831162014-09-10T06:00:09.950+02:002014-09-10T06:00:09.950+02:00Hi Diane. I loved visiting some of the 'lavoir...Hi Diane. I loved visiting some of the 'lavoirs' in France, especially on the river in Chartres. Thanks for the delicious photos that accompany your post. (I keep losing touch with you, so I have added you to my blogroll!) That should mean I'll remember to visit more often.<br /><br />Your blog is looking so good. <br /><br />DeniseDenise Covey https://www.blogger.com/profile/07106490051555233439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-42647369877677173252014-09-08T03:45:32.700+02:002014-09-08T03:45:32.700+02:00This is so interesting! Sorry to hear about your ...This is so interesting! Sorry to hear about your computer, maybe you need a new one?Chubskulit Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05001712096042262296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-82354443688818085222014-09-07T19:51:09.136+02:002014-09-07T19:51:09.136+02:00hi diana, interestingf to know about the washing h...hi diana, interestingf to know about the washing house and a little history about it. just wondering why they put the scrubbing boards on the roof beam? as decor?lenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16425536535768950935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-83422974926595238482014-09-07T03:20:31.790+02:002014-09-07T03:20:31.790+02:00I remember when you visited another lavoir! It ma...I remember when you visited another lavoir! It makes me very thankful for my automatic machines. Thanks to Nigel for his translation services!Marjiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14950085029835332900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-21728101706954455092014-09-06T16:51:36.475+02:002014-09-06T16:51:36.475+02:00I still remember those laundry washing places on L...I still remember those laundry washing places on Lisbon's outskirts. They all should be preserved.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783877262954668959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-42504673055151482302014-09-06T08:11:34.043+02:002014-09-06T08:11:34.043+02:00Hi Diane. This lavoir is so pretty. We saw it on a...Hi Diane. This lavoir is so pretty. We saw it on a bike ride around the lakes at Massignac. I have a photo of me pretending to do the washing using the old wash boards xKerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14018609709080980312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-8296740359667847532014-09-06T01:32:07.663+02:002014-09-06T01:32:07.663+02:00The photos are very nice and showing the way of li...The photos are very nice and showing the way of life brings all into focus of how nice it is to be able to wash things more than twice a year. We truly are blessed. <br />Catherine Catherinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04945906301035526440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-6977534899044245072014-09-05T23:42:25.428+02:002014-09-05T23:42:25.428+02:00Looks like it would make a nice swimming pool also...Looks like it would make a nice swimming pool also. Sure glad we don't have to do laundry like that today. I'm bad enough about getting it done in the machine. Sure hope your computer can be repaired. And thanks Nigel for sharing this.Gaelynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05784162697113288888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-57564351817710820552014-09-05T19:50:02.068+02:002014-09-05T19:50:02.068+02:00What a great post, and I just love the photos. So...What a great post, and I just love the photos. So sorry to hear about your computer issues, and I hope they will be resolved shortly. Thank you so much for sharing this, it brings me back to simpler times, and I love to reminisce.Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12692170857496442623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-66196544558535101282014-09-05T19:22:49.843+02:002014-09-05T19:22:49.843+02:00What a pretty setting to do the laundry. I imagine...What a pretty setting to do the laundry. I imagine lots of stories and gossip were shared on those benches. I can't imagine the drudgery that was involved to clean your clothes in those days. At least they had that wonderful Marseilles soap. Thank goodness we don't have to go down to the river anymore or push wheelbarrows :)<br />Sam<br /><br />Have a lovely weekend Diane. I've missed you.<br />SamSam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15358601435867848753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-15739795798257680482014-09-05T19:22:07.279+02:002014-09-05T19:22:07.279+02:00What an interesting post, and well done Nigel for ...What an interesting post, and well done Nigel for doing the translation. Makes me sooooo glad that I don't have to wash my clothes in the nearby River Adour!Verahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13235143664894609891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-50705330202820842222014-09-05T18:48:02.438+02:002014-09-05T18:48:02.438+02:00Hi Diane .. sorry about the computer - on the othe...Hi Diane .. sorry about the computer - on the other hand having a willing helper is always mighty useful! <br /><br />Love the story about the Laundry and Lavoir ... washing used to be hard work didn't it .. didn't the wood ash release something that eased out the dirt?! I cannot think what .. <br /><br />When I go back to Killerton, National Trust house in Devon, they had post cards of drying racks and there was reference to washing facilities ... but we didn't have enough time to linger and ask questions ... I shall endeavour to find out .. <br /><br />I am so glad for the washing machine and dishwasher .. love your photos and the wash day info .. cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-69105498783062724892014-09-05T18:31:25.876+02:002014-09-05T18:31:25.876+02:00I actually remember my mother (in Southern Italy) ...I actually remember my mother (in Southern Italy) taking a whole day to wash our laundry, using ashes to "bleach" the whites, and spending hours scrubbing and rinsing, and so the whole day was taken up with laundry details. If the weather was cooperative, and the laundry dried on the line in one day, the next day was devoted to mending and ironing. Imagine, two whole days to get the laundry done. Rosaria Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133147851332084180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-52577594000065402212014-09-05T17:13:15.666+02:002014-09-05T17:13:15.666+02:00Hello Diane,
This is a most informative post. It ...Hello Diane,<br /><br />This is a most informative post. It is easy to imagine the scene you describe at the 'lavoir' and what would have been the daily rituals there. It all looks to be wonderfully well preserved, even to the descriptions and old photographs. It is good to see that the local people are keen to preserve this slice of history.<br /><br />And, what gossip there must have been except, perhaps in the depths of winter when the laundry business would surely have been completed in record time. As you say, one wonders how long the clothes would have lasted with the continuous rubbing, but, perhaps, clothes were not washed as frequently!<br /><br />We do so hope that normal service may resume with your computer before too long.Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3945050858396741262.post-39311361146641032982014-09-05T17:08:12.140+02:002014-09-05T17:08:12.140+02:00i had never seen a lavoir until finding your blog....i had never seen a lavoir until finding your blog. i am fascinated by them.jaz@octoberfarmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17249328159454897124noreply@blogger.com