The variety of activities at the barn over the last few days has been great. One evening we had an amazing light show with an electrical storm over Spain lighting up the night sky. This was preceded by huge hail stones punching holes in the rhubarb and other veg.

We got out for a walk up to Port de Salau in glorious sunshine and collected a mass of wild strawberries on the way back. Enough for dessert and also breakfast the next day.

In an effort go get a little fitter we have established a round of 6 exercises which we do each evening before showering on the front terrace. Enrolement is still open if anyone fancies joining in.

Then there is the normal shopping down the valley, composting, cutting back bracken in the meadow, strimming and fixing odd little things and sorting odd jobs. We have also managed to catch up with Rene and Anouk for coffee a couple of times as we have passed the Auberge.

In the pantry the worktops are stained and one side is mainly in place. Just some electrics to sort out and fixing the last worktop in place.  We did find that in going through cupboards we have 7 litres of gin.  Any gin drinkers are welcome, lets see how much is left when Scotty and family leave next week.

We have also started to clen up a huge boulder by the barn. Stevie always had his eye on it for climbing and we think of him looads when we are here so work has started clearing the moss and lichen off. Think we will bolt up the top and hopefully get it all finished for his anniversary.

Next up:

• More electrics
• Another set of cupboards in the pantry
• Collecting rocks for building a new wall out the front (about 10 ton should do it)
• Foraging (mushrooms are late this year)

We have now been back at the barn for about 10 days and gradually getting on top of the jungle. We have been doing a lot of strimming of paths and all the areas inside the fencing, it just takes time. Anyway 2 more tanks and we should be done for the moment anyway.

We were excited to see what had taken in the garden but disappointed that the slugs had eaten rather a lot in our absence and devoured the strawbs which looked so healthy when we left. Anyway some TLC and they are coming back but maybe not enough for fruit this year.

Fruit bushes looking really healthy as is the herb garden, cabbages red and green and salad stuff all going well, peas and beans a little slow so we will see. We are the type of gardeners who plonk it in and see what takes and not stress too much about what does not! All good fun.

Wildlife wise so far we have been lucky to see quite a few deer out the back and down by the river and then one morning from bed Al was saying 2 more deer by the piste and then changed his mind to its wild boar! So we leapt out of bed with the binos and he was right two rather large wild boar Wilber and Wilma! First boar we have seen here so very excited.

Main projects this year are the outside terrace wall and finishing off the pantry so lots of units to make from odd bits of wood and fork lift pallets!

So we have made a start as weather has been up and down since we got back some hot days and a lot of mist and mizzle.

So we have begun under the window area in the pantry and now have a unit built under the sink and a cupboard to the left of it, next stage is a wine rack to the right of the sink, the important things in life!

We had paint from UK for back wall in the pantry but had not got enough oops, so that was an expensive under coat layer! Then we tried to match the colour down in town but to no avail so changed the colour altogether from yellow to orange. I actually was not warming to the yellow so quite pleased we had run out and had to change plan of attack!

We had the last bit of tiling to do on the back wall so Al did the cutting and I got the tiles glued and in place. Then let it go off before we grouted it the following day. 3 different lots of tiles in the pantry maybe random but it actually works!!! Fridge now out of the centre of the room so less of an obstacle course to contend with daily!

We have not been out exploring much as I have been full of cold but we got up to Cirque D’Anglade yesterday which was lovely, nobody about and got the weather just at the right time before it rained. There is still snow up there, an abundance of lovely wild flowers and the waterfall looking impressive, not a mushroom in sight though!!!

 

We are definitely enjoying being back and trying lots of new recipes so far a few new winners have been cod with smoked bacon lentils….10/10! A courgette and aubergine layer dish which they called lasagne but there is no pasta in it! The sauce is made from cannelini beans, leeks and stock and goats cheese . Layered griddled aubergines and courgettes with a rick tomato sauce plus the cannelini sauce and bake. Wasabi BBQ’ed salmon very easy and scrummy and a chicken and lentil bake which was average!

Picked rhubarb from the garden and have made an Al friendly rhubarb and almond cake so we can tuck into that today in between DIY.

Monday is meant to be glorious so hoping we can huff and puff up the hill to Port de Salau for some mountain views and exercise. Al and I are also on a mission to get stronger so circuit training has been a daily occurrence on the front terrace much to the amusement of the local dog walkers who watch us jump up and down like nutters!!!

Having driven down from Chamonix with a van full of stuff collected over the winter we opened up the barn to find very little animal activity over the winter. In fact all was pretty clean and tidy.  The grass had grown and needed cutting but other than that it was all in pretty good condition.

We did have some lovely surprises.  The clematis on the gable end of the barn was very healthy and covered in buds.  The cherry tree also had blossom on. All the fruit bushed were laden with buds and flowers.

Before we headed away on holiday the raised beds were weeded and planted up with seed. Clive had ordered us some raspberry canes which needed some beds creating so we sorted that.  We found time to venture up the hill in search of morels, and even though it was a little late we found one.  Our first ever morel!

Although blessed with fine weather we lit the fire each evening to take the winter chill out of the walls.

Hopefully when we get back from Sri Lanka we should have some food out of the garden?

Another summer under our belts in the Pyrenees. This year has not seen the big dramatic changes of previous years, but it is the little things that make such a difference now.

• Water coming out of a tap upstairs inside the building. Not only that but it landing in a sink, flowing down the plug hole and exiting the building.
• Pictures on the walls.
• You can now enter the barn and take your shoes off at the door and don slippers. Gone are the days when protective clothes were required indoors as it was dirtier than outside.

Breezy and I were chatting through highlights of the season the other day and a few things cropped up.

• Definitely getting away for a couple of nights when the weather is suitable to explore further afield. Spain is a couple of hours drive away or a day’s hike. It is so different and the do tapas and Cava.
• Having space for visitors. It has been a very social summer and it has been great to share the barn with old friends and newbies who have never seen it before like George and Emily.
• Learning to identify a handful of new mushrooms and increasing our repetoire. Plus exploring some new areas of the vallies around us and finding fresh shrooming spots.

Before we headed up to Chamonix we ordered a cherry tree in St Girons and arranged for Rene & Anouk at the Auberge in Salau to pick it up and plant it at the barn.

The tree is now in and we are looking forward to beautiful pink flowers and fruit in years to come. The strawberries are still going strong in the raised beds too.

We can hardly believe that it is already time to pack up and head back to Cham and onto the UK again. The summer and the autumn have zoomed by.

Last few days. We have been busy trying to tidy the place up both inside and outside before heading off.

We had all the wood for building stuff on the side terrace and needed to get rid of any wood that was useless and get the good stuff inside. This meant we had a huge pile of wood to burn on a bonfire.

At the same time we decided to get rid of any dead wood from around the back terrace which had come down in storms over the winter. A few hours and it was all cleared up and bonfire was roaring. All the decent wood is now stacked neatly inside in the hallway.

We also managed to tidy up the dead wood and storm damage from the terrace heading to the tree house platform that looks much better too.

Other bits of DIY jobs included finishing off the wiring, plaster boarding pantry back wall so now the pantry is a lot brighter too. Just needs painting next year now.

Then it was the usual pack up stuff, solar panels in, outbuilding locked up, outdoor furniture in etc etc.

Sad to be leaving  as it seems to have come around far too quickly.

Had a good night in Avignon on  way north. A tour around the papal palace was fascinating plus a wander over the famous bridge (what there is of it) and a fabulous meal in the old cloisters where  we were staying as a lovely treat to the end of our trip.

On to Chamonix and a night with Sauze & Patrick before chores around town and a transfer to Geneva to fly to the UK.

 

Great friends from Chamonix Sauze and Patrick had decided to pop in and stay with us in the “naughty corner” for 4 nights and to celebrate my birthday.

27th, Sept – Al and I had a day of getting things sorted at the barn, lots of little jobs needed doing before the evening. Wood box was empty so needed to get that filled up for the chilly mornings, food needed prepping, outbuilding sorting, plants to prune, curtains to put up in the green room etc etc. Beautiful day which helped motivation. They turned up just as we had finished a thirty minute forage for some mushies as an amuse bouche for supper.

Managed to sit outside for supper which was great. The legendary fish paella of Al’s went down very well along with cava and tapas to start with. We got the Swedish flame going which was atmospheric and fun too.

28th Sept woke up to a glorious day. A leisurely start with brekky and then we did some bits and pieces about the barn. Boys started work on the last bit of the back drain and made good progress. Sauze and I did a few trips up and down to the river for rocks to fill the hole up again.

We had a lovely salad lunch on the terrace before going off up to Cirque D’Anglade to mushroom. Sauze knows her mushrooms and we were keen to learn from her. So off piste we went and vertically up we went. Amongst pied de moutons, we found hundreds of trompets! BONUS. We all got quite carried away and excited.

So by the time we got back down it was 630pm ish and Sauze had dropped the dog bleep on our walk but she was pretty sure she knew where it was so they flew back up the hill and found it whilst Al and I got supper ready. Asian trout, patatas bravas and veggies and of course some mushies to start with!

29th Sept…BIRTHDAY DAY! Had a wonderful day full of spoilings. A huge array of cards and some FAB pressies. We had planned a walk which had been on our list for a while and ideal having 2 vehicles so we could do a van drop at the end instead of having to hitch back.
From Col de la Core we had a varied walk mainly traversing across to some cabanes up high, through woodland and meadows so got some lovely views on the way. Met some local bergers who were in the middle of bringing the sheep down plus about 30 black gorgeous horses galloping down the hillside to the meadow, was really amazing.

A stunning valley to walk back down to the van parked at Estours. More mushrooms!!!!!!
Sauze has volunteered to cook wild mushie risotto tomorrow night for us all with what we have found, should be excellent!
We were lucky with the weather and the rain held off until we reached the van.
Collected Billy from Col de la Core and then it was drinks in Seix before birthday bubbles, lamb, cheese, sparkling puddings and more bubbles. FAB way to spend my birthday with Al and 2 very great friends. Thanks for coming to visit and celebrate with us.

30th Sept. – Drain day…..Patrick very keen to get the drain finished with Al. Sauze cleaned up the mushies whilst I waded through e mails and then we did some yoga on the terrace. First time yoga lesson for me twas fun but I am totally useless!!!! Boys cracked on well then it was salad lunch and bangers on the terrace for lunch before the girls helped to finish the drain. 7 trips of rocks from the river to fill in the hole whilst the boys sorted out the pipe work.

Sauze and I walked Toody down to the village and the boys met us down there for a few drinks and a catch up with some locals before back for wild mushie risotto, twas truly delicious Sauze, marinaded pineapple in rum and some last bits of cheese. Chatting by the fire and then to bed.

1st October – Sauze and Patrick packed up the van before brekky and then headed off to Mallorca. They were having a couple of nights in northern Spain before taking the ferry across to meet Cham friends for a week in the sun. Sad to wave them good bye.
An internet day for us and a little bit of catching up. Can hardly believe we only have 2 weeks left down at our barn before returning to the UK, time has flown by far too quickly.

 

So, as always a long list of things to do before our next guests arrived.
One of the main thing we wanted to do was finish digging the drain out the back which took us about an hour on a lovely sunny day. After that we started to tidy up the fruit garden, pruning the currants.

The other big job was to finish the pointing, little bits left in the outbuilding to do, all the lintels in the main barn to keep the little critters out and to make a skirting board in the hallway and point that in. We broke it down so not to be doing too much each day, one day for the outbuilding, one day for holes and downstairs lintels and then one day for skirting and top lintels. Looking good.

Supplies on wood were low and we wanted to make sure we had 2 full log boxes for the 4 days.

The pantry area had also become more and more of a dumping ground and we wanted to get the pantry sink in place on its frame and plumbed in so that was another big tick and gave us the incentive to tidy it up at the same time!

The usual St G day with washing, shopping and general town stuff thrown in there too and coffee with Anouk and Rene on the way back to catch up again.
Lots of little jobs done and we are ready for Sauze and Patrick.

 

We had very kindly been invited to David and Asa’s wedding who run a catered chalet at the top of the road from us so we decided to make a long weekend of it.

Billy safely parked at Alison and Peter’s again and we jumped on the tram to the airport which was so easy and quick. Met in Cham by Keith as we planned to have 2 nights with them to catch up before staying in town for the wedding night.

Friday was a chilled day with mainly food, chat and wine on the agenda. Great to see Sam and Andy too briefly for a quick drink before dinner with Keith and Lyn.

Saturday the sun was shining and we popped in to see progress on the chalet extension which is going to be great and I am confident they will be finished before we go back. Going to make a big difference. Dropped our kit with Lisa and then headed into town for a quick bite to eat at Elevation (bumped into Mark) so he joined us for a drink before we headed up on the train to Montenvers. A very original wedding with a 20 minute walk up the hill to a view point where we all sat on rocks and waited for the bride and groom and poppy their dog to walk down to the venue. Bagpipes playing, sun was shining and amazing views. The bagpipes played us all down the hill, on to the train and through town back to UCPA for the reception. Great mix of folk from all over the place and a great night.

Sunday we had a lie in and then met Sauze and walked from mid station of the Aiguille to Montenvers before taking the train down and catching up with folk for drinks at the Vaga. Took Lisa out for supper at Casa and then an early night before 5am start the next day!

Had a good trip back to the barn in glorious sunshine with lunch in St G on the way whilst we waited for washing. So we only needed a little snack for supper, a quick forage and we had garlic wild mushies on toast for supper with a glass of wine perfecto finale!
Now a week of detox and then looking forward to seeing Sauze and Patrick at the weekend.