Yesterday we started digging out old slates from the outhouses. It would appear that when a previous owner of the barn saw that the roof was caving in, they stripped the slate off and dumped it in the outhouses that had already lost their roofs. Then they put tin on the roof of the barn. It being lighter has just prolonged its life rather than sorted the problem. We were wondering where the old slate went? Now we know. Lord knows how long it has been there but we have dug up a couple of ton already and not finished yet.

We had to get to the Mayor’s (the Bear) office in the afternoon to go through some permissions and an inquisition. Just as we were going to leave one of our neighbours called by, an old Frenchman with an old dog, he kept us chatting for a while and gave us some very useful contacts and information.

Dashed back to the apartment, cleaned up, put on a shirt, drove to the Marie, via a skip to get shot of a stump, and wandered into the Bear’s office. Having planned the conversation the first thing he said was “ so what do you plan to do with the property?”

Now we have a bunch of forms to fill in to get permission to replace the roof. The Bear however mellowed and even cracked a couple of jokes that we recognised; we laughed in the right places; and now we appear to be friends. In the end he was also quite helpful.

Tomorrow more digging up slate. Yipee!!!

A leisurely start to the day, the mist was hanging over the tops so we donned thermals and headed up the valley.

We decided to try and finish the retaining wall for the access to the bridge, lots of rock carrying and within 10 mins the thermals were off and we were down to T Shirts for the rest of the day. We managed to finish the wall by just after midday yippee.

Exploration time as we tried to find the source…but to no avail. We did, however find another old barn on our land well and truly hidden from all surrounded by lovely big trees and a cracking view of Mont Rouch.

After a fab picnic lunch by the river we prepared the ramp next to the wall for cementing in the near future. More rock carrying! Enough of rocks and we began to attack more brambles which are a total mare to clear slowly but surely we are getting there but still many more briars to get shot of. Ended the day with a 20 minute challenge of removing a very stubborn tree which was surrounded by metal and well and truly embedded. Now we have a much clearer front of the Bergerie to look at and makes access a great deal easier.

  Having weighed up options we went into St Girons in the morning. We have got loads done but recognise that we will very soon run out of options with the tools we have, so tool buying it is. Picked up a couple of forks, PPE for chainsaw, string and a wheelbarrow.

Back to the apartment for lunch of chicken sandwiches in the sun on the balcony and then back to work. Sun shining so set about sorting the bridge. Basically the bridge is fine except for the foot step to get on and off it. So if we want to get stuff over it to put a roof on it means building a ramp either side. Decision was made to build walls to retain a load of stone and pour concrete over the lot. Got on really well dragging stone out of the river (nearest) until we were done for the day. Maybe another day or two will see it finished. Then, a car horn started papping in the 4×4 track. We ran up thinking something was wrong to find “Monsieur le Maire” to welcome us and flex his muscles… “Ooh La La.”

 

We stopped at the bar on the way home to meet up with Adam the old local French guy to try and find out exactly where the source was, well actually we were aiming at him showing…he has no time this week so if we have not found it before then he will come up and show us. Met another couple Alison from Yorkshire, Boston Spa and Peter her fiancée from Central America. Both working and living in Toulouse and have bought a holiday home in Salau, which we were then shown around. Very nice folk and they are already talking about having us over for dinner. A good finale to the day.

Rather a dismal day today but ideal for inside clearance. Looking at the main part all seemed a tad scary and daunting, to me anyway!

 

Concern being that the whole roof would fall down if we touched the vital beams. Eek! Climbing hats went on, very good idea. We decided to clear a pathway to reach the back door safely so we could then chuck the dead wood straight out rather than manoeuvring it around the front of the building. This would have taken ages. A great make shift corrugated iron shoot helped immensely in the time it took us.

Getting the old beams out was interesting, Al being a decent height and me considerably smaller made it challenging but we managed to get the beams out with the walls still in tact. Al was concerned re the central main beam holding the roof up so we constructed a winch system to inch it 3 inches across to rest more securely (we hope) on a more stable cross beam.By the end of the day we had amazingly cleared out the whole main building of dead wood, salvaged as much of the other wood as possible for later use and created a HUGE pile of dead wood outside. We are no ready for a big bonfire! Enough of dust and old hay we opted to clear an area by the 4X4 track. Hopefully this will become one of the driving entrances, which we are planning to do to enable us to drive in one way and out the other.

I was in need of fresh air so we had a little stroll up to Cascade Leziou, which we can see from the Bergerie.

Having arrived last night in Salau and found the apartment. We went up to the Bergerie this morning with a packed lunch of ham, tomato, goat’s cheese and mango chutney sandwiches. The bread in the bread-making machine actually worked which was a bit of a surprise based on throwing something together last night in a tired stupor. We also had a flask of black sweet tea. Progress today was great.

Totally cleared out the granny flat (annex) and dug down enough to put a concrete floor in. Shifted over a ton of stone and earth. Bearing in mind that this only represents about 1/12 of the total floor space, we have a way to go, and the rest of the space is more tricky with some things that are integral to holding up what is left of the roof.

Half way through the morning three kayakers came down the stream wearing full face helmets and paddling from rock to rock (no eddies to be seen – not that they would have used them anyway).

Towards the end of the afternoon we set about the brambles, nettles and bush clearing as a break from lifting, digging and carrying. Looking forward to a bonfire before we leave. On the way home the bar at the Myrtille was open so we caught up with Danielle and Freddy for an early evening drink. One of the locals swears there is an eau de source (spring) behind the property. He was a bit vague as to where but is adamant he has seen it when foraging for champignons and that the water is of quality to die for. Plan tomorrow is to attack the main space. Helmets are a must!

Got the structural engineer's drawings. Martin has done a fantastic job. We gave him the architect’s drawings and a few sketches. He came back with two options for the roof and for each option he has put a table together of all the different permutations of wood thickness and depths of wood that will do the job. So now all we need to do is find suppliers and see what is available. Over the summer we can then give all that to a friendly quantity surveyor who will turn it into a shopping list. Easy really!

As well as perfect timing on Martin’s behalf for our departure on Thursday, the other great thing is that he requires payment in wine. Thank you Martin and enjoy!

Having bought a chain saw for the project, thought it wise to be able to know how to use it (safely).

Friends of ours Alan and Christine from The Peak kindly offered their teaching skills for a day. Another friend of ours Kate Daniels (see piccy below) joined us. A very worthwhile day, in the morning we learnt how to dismantle the chain saw so we could clean and maintain it. This also gave us much more of an insight into how it works, the safety mechanisms etc. which made actually using the chainsaw for the first time that afternoon not quite so nerve racking!! 

Many thanks Al and Christine for your patience and making it a fun learning day. You are welcome in The Pyrenees any time. Bring your saws for those tricky trees!!! 

Kate Chain Saw Day 

We have managed to get the apartment we were looking at. There is a sofa bed and another single bed as well as our room so plenty of space for visitors.

Gradually managing to get tools from the UK to Chamonix via friends who are driving our way which has been very helpful. Thanks to Adrian for carting over the chainsaw much appreciated.

Al has managed to collect 3/4 of a tonne of slate from Kate Daniel’s parents house and has stashed it at work for the meantime. We are intending to take a few sample slates over in May to see how they compare to the slate locally. Thanks Kate for your time in driving over there.

Architects drawings are now with the structural engineer, Martin. He is in the process of designing us a couple of different options for the roof. The best bit is he wants payment in the form of wine!!!

Also managed to line up a QS, Tim, who is going to take Martin’s specifications and turn it into a shopping list and an estimate of man hours and construction phases. This is going to be invaluable in the autumn when the roof goes on.

Had a deal of interest and offers of assistance from friends who want to come and help. Bring it on!!!!

So here’s the latest. We have decided to follow the Mediterranean style of building the Bergerie upside-down, with sleeping space on the ground floor and living / eating space on the first floor. In theory this means that we can use the natural light from the largest window and any skylights we put in during daylight and then sleep where we don’t need light. It also means that we can sleep in the cool and live in the warm. Not planning any new openings but having access from the first floor at the back onto the terracing at the rear of the building. Sketches to follow.

Just need to find out what the local roofing timber is (oak, Caledonian pine, pitch pine) and then we are getting Martin the structural engineer involved to design us a roof. Although the initial need is to get the building secure we are planning ahead so that once the roof is on it will support any future development of the building in terms of light, power, flues and chimney.

Cranking up the planning for our month down there in May at the moment with lists of tools we will need. Lists of jobs to be done and priorities. Any help in that department is grateful. Picked up a chainsaw off eBay and Breezy and I have a day booked with Derbyshire friends for a chainsaw induction. Do this, don’t do that etc. tools include pick axe, chainsaw, spades saw, shovels etc so if anyone is, or knows anyone who is, driving out to Chamonix before May and has space for a few tools or even a box of nails, please let us know. On the grounds that they won’t allow nail clippers in hand luggage I think they may turn their nose up at a chainsaw.

We think we have found an apartment to rent in Salau for the month with floor space and a spare sofa bed so if anyone fancies a visit then let us know. Monti Bianco (Debs) is planning on coming out on the 19^th for about five days which will be FAB. The thinking is that we don’t want to be spending a portion of each day just subsisting if we were to camp at the Bergerie. A hot shower at the end of a day is great too. Having said that if anyone wants to camp then that is cool too.

Had a look at transport logistics for anyone considering coming out:

Flights – www.easyjet.com Sleazy Jet fly to Toulouse which is very handy if you are wanting to catch the bus to St Girons where “Vinnie The Van ” will pick you up or the train to St Gaudens where pick up will be possible too. www.ryanair.com also fly to Carcassone and Pau which are both feasible but it is more difficult to get to us on public transport although hiring a car is an option. Ryan air do have a sale on at the moment – flights from 99p + tax.

SNCF (train) – www.sncf.com Train is 13 euros one way so a bargain.  You just need to make your way from the airport to the train station in Toulouse.

Bus – http://www.ville-st-girons.fr/tourisme/office/infos/bus.htm There is a bus from Toulouse to St Girons.  St Girons is only 40 mins from the bergerie and the bus goes from the train station in Toulouse centre as well.

Car –  If anyone is considering driving we have taken a load of photos and distances to help with getting from St Girons to the Bergerie without a map. Thought it may be useful! Will post it up on a separate page closer to the time.

Crackin’ on!!!

Thanks also to everyone who has helped with the eco tips, very much appreciated.