Both Breezy and I took a day off pointing and went for a walk with Breezy’s Father from Col de la Pause up to Etang Arreau and the refuge. On the way there we swung by Clive’s to feed the cat.

The cloud level meant that we did not benefit with great views but we had a great walk and a picnic on the bench at the refuge which was closed.

We left Iian’s car at Couflens so that I could shoot off into St Girons afterwards and stock up with sand while Iian and Breezy headed back up to Salau and the barn. Hans had cracked on with the pointing in our absence and got half way across the gable end with the big window. When I got back both Breezy and Hans were brushing off the last bits.

In the evening we headed off to the Mont Valier Restaurant and Iian treated us to a meal out.

Not a very nice day, the weather does seem to be fairly rubbish at the moment. So Al decided as the forecast was better for tomorrow that he would work with Hans while I went and did something with Dad.

We popped in for cat feeding duty on the way and then down to Seix for a coffee in the sun.

We opted to have a drive over the Col de la Core and a very small walk around Lac Bethmale, which was in the sun too. Lots of people fishing and lots of tents and campers getting their places on the col for the Tour de France coming through on Saturday.

We got back to Seix in time for a late Cassoulet and Croustade lunch again in the sun which was great. Good to have a proper catch up time with Dad.

Dropped Dad at the auberge and then back to see the progress, another chunk of pointing done and it really is beginning to take shape we are pleased.

I took over from Al brushing off, while he tidied up and gave his hands a rest.

A quick scrub up then back down to the auberge for a game of scrabble with Dad and Anne before dinner at the auberge.

Al and I then ventured on to the 14th July celebrations happening in the village which was quite fun and good to show our faces. Meant a late night not in bed before 1am.

Not great weather yet again, getting a bit bored of that now.

Hans arrived at 9am and it was full steam ahead.

More walls filled, 2/3rds of the back wall now done which was good, with a gap left for where we hope to out a window in, in due course.

We all seemed happy with the speedy progress and have got outselves into a routine to make it as efficient as possible or so it seems.

Finished at 5pm again and a quick shower before I zoomed to collect Dad who had just arrived after a good day at Mireloix and a nice stop over at the Auberge Balestie.

Met Peter at the cafe and he lent Dad some wellies which as great.

Up to the barn to show Dad the progress and then it was dinner inside this time as it was still raining.

A few hands of cards whilst the potatoes cooked.

Steaks for dinner, which sadly were on the tough side. As Dad said the baked nactarines were a lot more tender than the steaks!!! Anyway, all went down well with some cheese and choccy to finish off. Al won at Rummy 500.

A wet drive back to the Auberge to drop Dad back and then off to bed.

We set the alarm as we expected Hans to be here around 9am. Al got a mix going and we began. Hans turned up at 11am as he had to drive from Toulouse and WOW what a difference it makes with 3 of us working together.

We as usual worked thought till about 230pm and then sat outside for lunch. We made huge progress, gable end now completed. Hoorah.

Prepped areas for tomorrow and brushed off the walls again. Worked through till 530pm.

Had a quick shower and jumped in Vinnie to go and collect Anne who was coming for supper. I met her half way down the piste so she jumped in and helped with rubbish drop off, collecting water and recycling.

Back to the barn to find a clean Al. We hoped to eat outside but weather was not great. We did manage drinks and nibbles outside before the rain began and we retired inside for a hot smoked duck salad and backed nectarines.

By the time it got to bedtime it was torrential rain so Al drove Anne back to the end of the piste to collect her car.

Bed and then at 3am it all began what a storm. 40 mins staright overhead with a light show going on outside quite mad. Does not bode well for tomorrow weather wise for Anne and her bike.

A HUGE buy at Le Forgue, the Velux windows being the most important and expensive. Poor old Vinnie is once again heavily ladened!!!

Got some Early start as we knew we had loads to do in the St. Girons.

glass cut at Brico before trying to get Vinnie sorted for a new exhaust. Hopefully, the parts are ordered and we will drop him off next Thurs for the fitting. All seemed a bit chaotic so we will see what happens.

Shovelled another trailer load of sand to take back with us too.

Then a big super market food shop for arrival of Anne on her bike, Dad by car and Stevie by train all arriving this week.

We popped in at Seix on the way back to book a restaurant for the Friday night and then collected washing and a lettuce from Clive’s garden.

A quick chat at the auberge with Anouk and a viewing around the place they have bought behind the auberge which I am sure will be FAB and give them the space they need. Out the door by 730am and off to feed the cats at Clive’s and whack a load of washing in ready for our return.

Sun was well and truly out and it was hot!!!

A quick unload of perishable food into the fridge, which is very much still a novelty and has changed life for us down here. Washing out to dry on the mew washing line and then prawns for lunch on the bottom terrace under the brolley!!!

We had a good hour of shifting stuff from Vinnie up the hill. In the middle of loads I decided I had time to do the washing up…..bad move…..put the water on… and when we had unloaded and prepped walls for tomorrow thinking about a glass of rose….eeek the chuffing pan. Needless to say no pan no more, luckily no more serious damage than a burnt pan and a smell in the out building. Opened all windows, threw pan out the door and breathed a sigh of relief that the place had not burnt down. Trying to do too many things at once.

So we are all prepped for a big on day on pointing again tomorrow with Hans as well due to be here.

For once we finished and showered by 6pm and it now seems we have oodles of time to catch up on  other stuff.

Mackerel prepared for the BBQ tonight and luckily it is warm and we are outside so the smell can disappear before bed time!!!

We were expecting a rainy day but actually woke up to sunshine which was a bit of a bonus.

It was time to continue with the pointing.

We had a slow morning it felt like as the top of the gable end was really fiddly. Al started on the top right hand corner and I sat high on the scaff tower and filled the top section. It seemed to be slow.

Lunch in the sun. Brush off and prep walls for tomorrow.

Another early start as we were expecting Alison and Peter for coffee and needed to feed Clive’s cats beforehand. So a quick zoom down the road, washing on, fed the cats, collected lettuce and clean washing and back to barn for brekky by 930am.

A&P arrived as we were just finishing so that was good timing. They had bought a rhubarb crown for us which is great, so will plant that in and enjoy it. We showed them where we were at before then attacking a couple of hours of pointing. Breezy pushing mortar into holes while I mixed in the wheelbarrow. We have decided best not to point after 2pm or it means brushing walls after shower and dinner not ideal and far too dusty.

Left hand side of the gable end done looking good, just takes time.

We prepped up the walls again for tomorrow so we are then just ready to go, makes life a lot easier.

A quick pasta surprise and a film before collapsing.

As per Day 1 but with an omelette and salad for supper.

Breezy is still talking to me, great!

We rose early expecting Hans to come and start work with us. By 0830hrs he had not showed so we started ourselves. Last year we had a token start on the right of the bathroom door so we continued on that wall and the results were promising. I was delighted, not so much with the finish but that Breezy and I were still talking at the end of the day and that she also was pleased with the progress.

Our only prior experience was doing the outhouse we are now living in. At that time our best information was to wear old clothes, goggles and gloves and make the mortar into balls in your hands and throw it at the gaps between the stones. Once completely clarted, the walls that is, then brush with a wet hand brush to smooth over to achieve the desired effect. You can imagine what carnage 2 people on a confined space throwing lime mortar can make. Needless to say that Breezy was not looking forward to pointing up any walls.

This technique differs quite a lot. Mix the mortar, put a dollop on a board and use a pointing trowel to force it into the gaps. No chemical warfare suits required! Once hardened but not completely gone off use a wire brush to rub away any excess mortar and expose any hidden rocks as you desire.

The result is a rather pleasing, fairly flat wall with the rocks exposed.

Having completed our target area we prepared the next area for the following day. This entails raking out the earth and any loose stones and brushing it down.

Spicy casseroled chicken and baked spuds for supper.

A bit of a gloomy day but not raining so great for outdoor jobs as not too hot.

We as always had a list of things to achieve before the end of the day.

Getting the steps to the top terrace fixed in place was first on the agenda and very quick to do. Onto the bottom step which also was quite speedy with Al suggesting wedging the support for the step into the main barn wall. All in place and all looking good for lunch on the terrace with easy access and a parasol.

Al got a load of ballast up for tomorrow’s pointing before we set to with re making a bench that Al had salvaged from the UK. His Dad had made us a missing strut for the bench so all we had to do was reassemble and make a back template to support the frame.

I set to getting as much as we could together with nuts and bolts while Al sorted out the template. We got this all done before lunchtime. I had time to prep a chicken salad while Al whacked some wood preserver on the bench and meaning after lunch we only had to assemble the back.

Lunch outside but no need for the parasol. We wanted to have a meander about the land before the rain arrived to plan what coppicing we need to do by the end of this stay. On wandering we did come across a bit of a bizarre thing….just beyond the tree house, somebody had tied up a large animal and covered it in black plastic and just left it there. We thought initially a donkey but Olivier I am sure would not have left it there like that….all a bit odd.

Anyway, we left the bench to dry a bit more and managed a quick hour of coppicing. Ideal weather not too hot and not many bugs about either.

Then it was a quick dash to get the bench all in one piece, looks fab and Ken;s BBQ assembled. Ken kindly gave us a great BBQ for a wedding pressie but we have only just got it out here from the UK and looking forward to christening it very soon.

Hot showers before internet and blogging and a Mexican night awaits us here at the barn!!!!