Decided to make a prompt start with the intention of finishing the bridge access. So a full on morning, with the end result being access for vehicles…BRILLIANT!!!

We had also partly finished repairing the main window shutter, so Al scuttled up a ladder to tackle the final parts so that we are now secure. Another big tick.

Pierre had offered his 4WD to shift the slate pile from the grange 400m down the road. Joel the previous owner and Pierre knew we were looking for more slate so had asked him and he said it is all yours. So now we are pretty sure that we have enough reclaimed for the front of the Bergerie.

Annie turned up mid way through so we managed to get ¾ of the pile moved before Pierre was in need of beer! He has kindly said he will come back tomorrow to get the last lot with us, which is fantastic, makes life a great deal easier with his 4WD.

Day of wildlife too, while having lunch Al spied a fox next to the Bergerie a lot bigger than in the UK. Then as we were wandering to pick up the slates we saw Roe Deer. The Stag’s call is like a dog barking and rather scary too!!  The Female Roe deer was beautiful and so graceful bounding into the forest.

The rain finally arrived so we packed up for the day and headed down to warm up.

   

We also decided that we would drink the Magnum of Champers that Henry (my big bro) had given me for a special occasion. We were going to save it for when the roof goes on but can’t wait that long so we thought that finishing the bridge was a very good excuse. Thanks H, we are just about to clean up and then pop the cork so thinking of you!!!

26^th May

Market Day….off we headed to St Girons in the rain.

We had a few things to buy, mainly cement as we had run out for completion of the bridge hopefully tomorrow. Can’t seem to get the chainsaw looked at so may have to take it back to Chamonix and try and get someone there to give it a service so that it actually works!!

Opened up accounts, food shop and lovely cheese shopping at the market.

If anyone intends to visit you need to make sure you are around for a Saturday morning as it is a brilliant French local market with loads of goodies.

Paella from the market for lunch before heading up for an afternoon of work.

We removed the final bit of manure from around the main poles.

Then on to window making. It looks great that we now have all entrances secured and with the old style of barn doors in keeping with the area.

 

We had a visit from Pierre (Joel’s friend) with a photo of the barn 15 odd years ago. Sadly it still had the tin roof on then we were hoping for a picky as it stood with the old slate roof. Anyway he had good news that he had spoken to the owner of the Grange down the road and said we could go and collect the slates for nothing. A huge pile. He was more than happy to help with shifting it all in his 4WD. Yeah. Think we will wait for a dumper truck before we start; lugging it up from the bridge to the top terrace….maybe wait for Monti Bianco’s next visit. We know how much you loved that job!!!

Caught up with the locals in the bar for a quick rose then home. A good productive day.

On the way out this morning we liberate Freddy’s ladders, which protrude somewhat from the back of Vinnie, who is already laid down with a cement mixer and bags of cement. A slow trip up the road and then we start making concrete for the bridge.

 

Adam arrives to sort out the roof as we run out of cement and the rain starts, so we cover what we have done and help out. Adam is a master builder with years of experience and is like a mountain goat with a hammer, a chain saw and a red baseball cap. A prop is installed to support the existing roof and Adam departs. Lulu arrives who owns a grange down the valley. He has been great in introducing us to locals and giving local information.

First thing we set about the “Permit de Travaux” filling in all the paperwork; gathering all the stuff we needed and preparing what we were going to say to the Marie in the afternoon.

Having got 2 ½ ton of ballast in Murray’s trailer and left it at the start of the 4×4 track we then proceeded to shift it in 6 loads in the back of Vinnie up to the grange.

Once  unloaded, we took the trailer back to Annie and Murray. Then declined a cup of tea and liberated their cement mixer. Feels a bit rude as we are on a mission to get as much done as possible and they have been so good to us. Once we have a new roof I hope we will be a bit more laid back and have time to spend on others. In the meantime we have to hope that what comes around goes around?

Finally got to take the papers to the Marie; the door is locked and nobody there. A pattern is emerging. We hang around; catch Murray as he is working locally; sit in Vinnie and play word mastermind and wait. The Mayor finally turns up; lengthy discussions and we submit the paperwork; it gets approval and we see it put in an envelope and addressed. At last we may have permission to put a new roof on!

5.30am was a rude awakening but we got Debs off to St Giron and onto the bus. Then we managed to tick our whole list of things to do while we were there. Most importantly was getting the papers from the DDE for the “Permit de Travaux” it looks a lot simpler than the other paperwork we had been filling out.

We got back to the apartment for lunch and there was a message from Murray to say he was going down to St Girons to collect sand so could bring a load of ballast and sand back for us too. So Al shot off back down the valley to help. That is great news and will save us a lot of time and money. Vinnie is not too keen on being loaded with excessive amounts of heavy goods.

The mist was hanging over the tops again but you could see patches of blue above which was great. The aim for the day was to clear the inside of the barn which we knew was going to be hard work. A good system with 2 digging and one person trundling with Walter to the ever growing compost heap!!!!

By midday we were beginning to flag but light was at the end of the tunnel and by 1.30pm we had cleared the whole of the inside of the bergerie except for the poles holding the roof up! What a difference.

Debs and I had a wander up to a good view point before lunch by the river.

We opted for an easy afternoon as all a bit pooped. Scrambled up to try and find the source for an hour but to no avail.

Then Debs and I decided as the sun was shining and we were hot and sweaty that we should have a swim/very quick dip in the river!!! We wandered up to the waterfall opposite and found a suitably chilly pool, plunged in and shot out!!! Al just took the piccys….wise move!!!

In the evening we went to see the Scottish couple Annie and Murray who are living just down the road and trying to be self sufficient. Another lovely spot by the river on much steeper terrain than ours and after walking up to the top of their land could quite see how they are both very fit!!! Along with the fact that they have 12 huge Huski like dogs to exercise as well.

We were too late back for boules but ended Deb’s last night with Rumikub and to bed as we had a 5.30am start the next day to get Debs to her bus in St Giron.

Dung Cleared      Looking Down to Bergerie    How Cold!!!

It has been great to have Debs here for a few days and very much appreciated all her work and sense of humour as always. See you when it is finished Debs!

Hi, Debs/Monti Bianco here, well not only have they got me lugging piles of antique cow manure they now have me writing their blog for them!!Well actually Breezy thought she’d just give you a rest from her babble so you can have mine instead!! W e all awoke to a howling wind breezing through the apartment, which did not bode well. The previous days forecast informed we were in for storms in the afternoon so we were prepared for a bit of horrible day-aha but fear not the wind died down and the sun was shining by the time we left the apartment!! Another fantastic and productive day, was had by all up at the Bergerie, we got absolutely stacks done. Much to Breezy and Alun’s relief the slate has all been stacked and graded, the bridge preparation for cementing has been completed, brambles burned and a big chunk of cow dung has been removed from the inside of the barn hoorah,hoorah!! A slightly early finish as we’d achieved so much and then off to the bar for a swift beverage or two and then a game of boules to top off the evening before dinner-lovely! I shall leave you on that note to peruse the piccies as I’m now off to cook dinner-oh no rest for the wicked!!!

Debs arrives today!!

Went into St Girons in the morning early and sorted out a load of photocopying for the Permis de Construit; checked up on internet stuff and got over to the market. What a fantastic market. Got to take the camera next time, it’s great all the local produce, plants, paella, …

Picked up Debs and went up to the grange. Called in at the bar to get some advice about paperwork and all the locals arrived. It went sort of large with everyone giving advice at the same time and drinking. Not a great recipe for success. And all on Debs’ first night. However we did make an arrangement for us to collect Patrick, a local, and go and meet the Mayor on Sunday to sort it all out.

Home for Roast Chicken, and visitors, and wine, and chat, and finally bed.

The sun was shining, contrary to the forecast which was a bonus. So we headed up with Debs to start another day… We had a morning of shifting the slate again…nearly there now and Debs and I graded it whilst catching up on the news. The bonfire was going and can hardly believe we have finally nearly got rid of it all. We then progressed with finishing the steps outside to make the entrance safer to get in and out of, very important for Sept when we are trying to get the roof on the building. Looks great. We left Debs in charge whilst we went in search of the elusive Mayor….unfortunately he was out lunching so a bit of a wasted trip but then all of a sudden a middle aged French man jumped out of the car and rushed over to kiss me….how much did I really drink last night I thought not to recognize him?!!! But it was Monsieur Torte who sold us the Bergerie (who we had not yet met) and obviously word had got around who we were and he was there with his friend Pierre to go through a few things… So poor Debs was left for another hour whilst we went around the land, the boundaries and picked up loads of fab tips from mushrooming to Wild Boar casserole recipes, to secret swimming spots. We were both exhausted though afterwards speaking French at 500 miles an hour non stop!!! Our French I am sure will improve!!! Spent the rest of the pm finishing the wall which looks great before we opened the chilled fizz from the river and sat for an hour just chatting etc. A lovely way to end the day. Fantastic to be able to share our plans with Debs and what a difference having an extra pair of hands to help out on how much more we got done and motivational levels too. Thanks Monti Bianco!!

Today the sun shone all day so we set about outdoor tasks. Having fished a bent metal girder out of the river a few days ago we finally managed to move it up to the bridge. A foot at a time we covered the 50m uphill. Once in place it has finally given us the chance to finish the bridge preparations to get it cemented ready for vehicular traffic. That’s easy to say but then we also need loads of large rocks for the bridge as well. Beyond that we carried a load of slate round the back and graded it. Also started some steps up to the main doorways. When it rained last it was like stepping out onto ice. Even the wheelbarrow (Walter) was struggling.