Time is just zooming by. We agreed before we got down to the barn that we would not be going hammer and tongs this year. We wanted to get the barn finished but not on a mission. Having said that we seem to be cracking on at our usual pace and not getting much chill time. This is not all bad as we should have the bedrooms finished before guests arrive.

So Saturday was spent getting a lot of the damage from snowfall a couple of years ago fixed. The outbuilding chimney is back up as is the vent pipe and fan for the composting toilet. In the afternoon we built frames for the partition walls downstairs and fixed up how the area under the stairs was going to transform into a wardrobe. In the evening we went down to the village for a drink with Rene and Anouk at the Auberge. A cheeky glass of rose and a meal before heading to bed with an alarm.

Sunday was a bit of a continuation of the previous afternoon using up all the random noggins of plasterboard we could find to build the bedroom walls and fix in a reclaimed window to gain more light from the stairwell into the green bedroom. Supper was spice crust salmon fillets with a sweet corn salsa. Though palatable neither of us would be desperate to have it again so you will not see it on the menu at the chalet.

Tuesday 30th June

We have promised ourselves we will not go flat out this year and take things a little steadier…..

Forecast is for a heatwave for the next 2 weeks so outdoor jobs need to be done early in the am before we over heat!

Main jobs for the day were to start strimming the pathways and terraces which are all somewhat jungle like. To unpack and remember what we have and have not got. To go collect the new batteries from the auberge and stock up with water and to get the fridge working, with the temperatures predicted we are going to need a fridge!

After breakfast on the terrace, strimming and a little unpacking we headed to the auberge. Had coffee with Rene and Anouk, collected the 2 very heavy batteries and headed back up to the barn.

Managed to get both batteries carefully balanced on the muck truck and up to the barn. That was good but having the wrong connection cables means we cant link them together yet which we should really do to keep both batteries running at the same level. So Al managed to get enough power from the old battery to get the fridge running and we will survive without lights till we get the right cables. Bit of a pain but not the end of the world.

Hot hot showers, needing to add cold water to the solar bags and then a lovely roast chicken and salad for supper.

Weds 1^st July

A VERY windy night, solar panels had taken a tumble and the wind kept gusting all day.

We did an hour of strimming before brekky and raked up most of the grass from the back terrace at the same time.

Enjoying our breakfast on the terrace. The new table, chairs and parasol are perfect for the 2 of us and will get loads of use.

We cracked on with sorting out the veg patch after brekky and it was really not too bad after a very good weed in May when we were here last. Lots of things have taken, potatoes, radishes, broccoli, beans, courgettes, red and black currants, goose gogs, etc etc. so hoping we can enjoy what we have planted in due course.

It was so hot we moved inside to start building the door frame for the green bedroom. Lack of power tools stopped that after an hourish.

We finished the day with planting some new veggies before having a salad for supper.

Thurs 2^nd July

SHOP day…..Al did a quick strim session whilst I got sorted for things to take down the valley a quick brekky before heading off with our long list of things to do.

We stopped at Seix market on the way and collected some plants for the garden.

The usual fly around and try to get all done before midday and everything closes.

Collected the generator and it works a good start, materials from the DIY shop, laundry in, food shop, bought the scythe that Dad had given Al as a birthday pressie last year. Then back up the valley stocked up on lots of water and then unloaded in time for a late lunch at 3pm.

Hung all the washing out only for the wind to gust so much that it snapped so all washing now strewn all over the terrace trying to dry it!!!!

Delicious prawns and aioli on the terrace.

We prepped the toilet flue which broke last year but decided it was too hot to put it up and too windy to climb a ladder so will wait till it is cooler and calmer tomorrow.

Dad had given us some curtains he had found which Elsie had altered for us, we put up a rail and got them in situ look great and fit perfectly so thanks Dad!

Al made some meatballs and I made a spicy tomato sauce to go with them which was a nice change.

Friday 3^rd July

It seemed a bit cooler and was really blowing a hoolie still so we thought ideal time to do the dreaded bracken, which we had got under control but not being here for 18 months it has gone a bit wild again. Al tackled it with the scythe and I wielded the brush cutter. One. tank of fuel and we were almost there, could not believe it. Hard work but after brekky we just decided to crack on and get it finished as there were so few horse flies about with the wind making it much easier work. Had enough petrol to finish off back terrace and around the log pile one big tick off the list! We had both been dreading the bracken……

With this constant wind we have attached the solar panels more securely to the crates out the back so hopefully they will not tip over again.

We really want to finish one of the bedrooms before the Breese gang arrive so after a yummy chicken and crouton salad we managed to get the door frame up and in place and the corner post also sorted. It all went far too smoothly. Helps having a generator that works and power tools which are charged up! Looking good.

We have been on a healthy eating and no booze since we got back but as it was Friday and we were pleased with progress we thought we would have Rene and Anouks bottle of champers on the terrace with homemade burgers and a new very delicious lentil salad recipe with cumin, spinach, mango chutney and some other weird things but it worked. Enough for 4 people but none left by the end of the night. I had made a rhubarb and almond cake which was still warm and we had that for pudding. Perfect finale to a lovely day.

A long day of travel. Ken kindly dropped us at East Midlands for our flight to Carcassone. Mark and Von who had very kindly looked after Billy for us for 7 weeks collected us at the other end and we landed to hot hot weather…..

After cold drinks and chat with Mark and Von we headed back to the barn with a stop for food supplies on the way and then a stop to say hello to Rene and Anouk.

It was then up to the barn for about 8pm. We had a fabulous surprise of a bottle of bubbles left by Rene and Anouk to welcome us back so we saved that for when it is chilled in the fridge. All looking really good, within the hour it looked like home again, we had a lovely salad for supper before crashing. Lovely to be home.

We were very lucky and managed to snaffle lots of furniture for the barn from Chamonix for next to nothing. Only problem now was so much stuff no way was it going to fit in Vinnie so we had to come up with a plan….

Guests have all gone for the season in Cham so we borrowed a trailer from David up the road and loaded as much as possible into it and Vinnie and headed south. 800km down one day, unload the next day and 800km back the following day!

We left Cham at 530am and got to the barn at around 5pm so a steady slow drive but Vinnie made it which was the biggest concern. Anouk and Rene kindly put us up for 2 nights, delicious food, fab company and very welcomed helping hands for getting things up the hill. Thank you both masses.

We met Henri the Mayor at 7am on the Wednesday and he kindly got the trailer up to the bridge for us which made life so much easier. Anouk, Rene and their friend Jean-Charles came and helped us unload and by 1030am the van and trailer were both unloaded and in the barn. Time for coffee before they headed off and Al and I had time to sort out the veg patch and deal with the snow damage after the winter.

The back gutter is totally ruined with the weight of snow. So we need to put snow bars on the roof this summer to stop that happening again. The flue in the outbuilding was down as was the main flue for the composting toilet so took photos and took everything off that was hanging mid air!!! In need of stronger brackets for sure. Lets hope insurance pay out.

We were so lucky with the weather the sun shone all day for us. The mountains looked beautiful in snow and it was hot in the sun.

So the upstairs of the barn is now full with sofas, wardrobes, chest of drawers, bed side cabinets etc. lots to sort when we get back but at least it is there and we can about find a bed to collapse on for the first night!!!

We had a quicker trip back but still a long way and again very pleased Vinnie made it!!!! Excited about the summer in the Pyrenees.

The last day started as any other; coffee, internet, breakfast and a list. The sun finally made an appearance and what a lovely change that is. Batteries are charging both the barns and ours.

The list is all the little things to do with shutting the place down for winter along with the logical order in which to tackle them. We did get time to mend the big parasol which broke in the wind when Alison and Peter were here. We also made time for a short forage to top up the mushroom omelette with some wild ones.

Now everything is either disconnected or packed away. Vinnie the van is on the side of the piste facing downhill and loaded with stuff for Chamonix and the UK. Another oil lamp evening and early to bed and early to rise and hit the road.

Time for a cuppa tea me thinks.

Another less than satisfactory day as far as solar charging goes. We seemed to spend most of the day dodging the showers to get some of the “outdoor list” ticked off.  Bits of garden sorting; pulling out the beans and courgette plants for the compost. Pulling in bits of garden furniture etc.

As the showers were fairly regular we managed to keep the fire in. Lit first thing it kept burning all day so even though the solar shower bags were redundant we always had a pan of water on the wood stove.

Indoors we got packing sorted out and odd bits of cleaning and storing as well as stock lists of food stuff etc.

Late afternoon we managed to get out for a forage. Pasta tonight os had a search for some shooms. Came back with 3 birch boletes and a handful of hedgehog fungus; lovely!

Oil lamp scrabble; pasta supper with chorizo, sundried tomato, onion, garlic, lardons and wild mushrooms followed by an episode of All Creatures Great and Small.

A drizzly morning so I lit the fire.

It is the time of year when the amount of sunlight, when it comes out, is limited.  At the same time, one priority is to leave the batteries in the best condition we possibly can.  Both at a time when our internet usage is at its most due to sorting out enquiries and websites for Ski Breezy so that we have work in Chamonix in the winter.  So it is generator time; the inverter is unplugged and instead the building is plugged into the generator to charge computers and fire up the internet.  Not very eco-friendly but needs must.

On a brighter note, I had a response from Muck Truck. Given the symptoms they have suggested that the issue is the air filter. Another mail and I have the part number. As the nearest Honda Centre is nowhere near the barn and we do rely on the old Truck I took the filter off and gently attacked it with an old tooth-brush. Hey presto, the symptoms are relieved and we have an operational vehicle again.

I must say that Muck Truck are fantastic and so so helpful. Also that it is well worth keeping old toothbrushes, you never know when they will come in handy.

Due to the wet weather we sanded the walls in bedroom two and applied a coat of paint. A lovely olive green colour (not that it says that on the tin).

Simple lunch of left over Thai curry & pita bread before the rain eased enough to get back up the pine tree. Distance between tree and building = 9m. Height of tree = 7m. No need to cut owt more off so salvaged the kit and chopped some more wood for the fire.

Finished the afternoon with some wiring while Breezy used up some materials and put up some more plasterboard.

Following the theme of leaving the batteries in as good a condition as possible we had an evening by oil lamp.

Roast chicken with fresh beans from the garden and Marmite roast potatoes. Served with enough gravy to feed the chase.

Although the forecast was OK for the day, it was wrong after internet and cake baking it rained on and off all day…..so inside work it was.

Donkeys have decided they prefer this side of the the fence to the other so Al fettled some fencing around the veggies and fruit bushes so they don’t get scoffed by them!!!!

We set too with sanding the porch, then giving it a coat of paint before grouting the final few tiles, looks good. One more coat of paint and all done I think!!!! May need to sort the wood frame out in due course with some colour but not urgent.

We had very simple butties for lunch and then attacked the packing. Sorted out the bathroom so we don’t leave anything we need here. Bag for UK, bag for Cham and stuff to say. All went by very quickly.

Off down the hill just as the storm really hit and we got soaked with a cake for Adam’s 75th birthday in the village and a bottle of Pastis for him too. We had a quick drink and chat with him, Reagan and another friend Paris before heading back to the barn.

Fire on, dry out and Al cooked a lovely Thai chicken for dinner a bit of R&R watching a DVD and then bed early.