After a short (comparatively) internet session we cleared part of the floorboards on the 1st floor ready to varnish.  Earlier this year we only got so far before running out of varnish.  Having been back to the UK, Crazy Ken did some shopping for us and we trundled around France for a week with 2 x 5ltr tins of varnish, 25m of 3 core and earth electicity cable, several pull chord switches and a jam pan.   Anyway we are slowly putting another couple of coats of varnish on the parquet floor upstairs. Once hoovered, scrubbed and mopped Breezy applied a coat of the stuff while I got the fire going in preparation for some chopping of trees.

A couple of hours coppicing in the heat of the day produced very few logs for the log pile, a lot of heat in the fire and quite an oppening in teh woods. brefore we leave we would like to get another line of logs on the pile seasoning for a couple of years before burning.

After a salad lunch we set about filling some of the joints in the internal walls we put up ages ago and I did some wiring for lighting and electic points.

Once the varnish was dry we rearanged the furniture again and loaded up the log box. Hot showers under the tree without having to add hot water to the solar sacks and then a mushroom hunt.  Came back witha nother load of pied de mouton (hedgehog fungus) and a fantastic birch bolet.  Looking like it may be a wild mushroom omlette this evening with salad from the garden.

Final brekky with Sauze and Patrick before they headed back up north. Twas really FAB to see them both, great company, brilliant tree choppers and even better to have an explore too. Thanks for coming to see us mucho appreciated.

We then got turned about with lots of bits and pieces. I tackled some internet stuff for Ski Breezy while Al pottered on with building steps outside.

Then it was time to get on top of the garden, picked any veg, weeded lots and then a big haul of brambles to keep us going.

A late, quick and light lunch in the sun, list making and then on to a bit more coppicing of small shrubs in preparation to clear another area over the next couple of weeks.

A quick forage and we found some pied de moutons pretty small but should be good for going into something we concoct.

Hot showers and BIG internet session before we have marinaded chicken on the BBQ with left over salads and an early night much needed.

A leisurely start to the day, breakfast, lots of tea and coffee before we started with some very happy helpers to do some log chopping and tree felling.

Many hands make light work that is for sure. A whole new section of the log store is now full of logs chopped and ready to season for use in 2 years time. Then it was on to clearing more trees behind us to stop the encroaching woodland. Al and Patrick doing most of the chopping and Sauze and I doing the smaller chopping and clearing of the fallen trees. good team work and all went really quickly.  We had 2 large clumps to do and by 3pm the clumps were down, log pile looking much healthier and all ready for some lunch.

Lots of leftovers for lunch along with pates and cheeses etc.

Sauze then headed off for a run/walk with Tood. Patrick relaxed and knocked out a few zzzz’s. Al and I caught up on internet and prepped some fajitas for supper.

A games night after dinner with Rummikub and Chinese Checkers which was fun.

A great day just chatting and catching up with our guests from Chamonix.  We found time to go for a wander accross the valley in search of mushrooms but to no avail.  A late salad lunch on the terrace and a BBQ in the evening. Bit of a shock opening the squid to find that it was not prepared at all. That is when having internet access and google is fantastic.  Good old U Tube.

At some point in the afternoon the donkeys arrived on our side of the piste too along with Olivier (donkeyman).

Patrick cooked the BBQ and we ate on the terrace.

Having arrived back yesterday we had a load of catching up to do on the internet.  And of course we still had to unload stuff from the van, clothes to dry having swept by the laundrette yesterday plus a lot of little things to sort out.

Sauze and Patrick were due to arrive late afternoon for a few days so some of the chores related to them staying in the outbuilding.  Making the bed up and airing it after having been closed up for a couple of weeks.  Sorting out the garden and picking whatever was ready to eat.  Prepare food for the evening and stock up the fridge with drinks.

Having got sorted and ready we booted up the laptops and cracked on with more internet stuff for the Ski Breezy website and emails.

We heard the horn of a van about 4pm as our guests arrived so a quick instalation and beverages were sorted.  Soon after we had other guests waving from the piste.  Gilbert and Patrick from above Couflens came up for a drink and a chat.  Gilbert was the last Berger (shepherd) who worked the barn and the land and has photos from the 1970’s which will be interesting to get copies of.

Paella for super.

Ten days away from the barn. London for Fi’s birthday; parents for a couple of nights; 2 nights in Paris and a wedding in Brittany.

Breezy was back up the tree first thing before the sun hit us. Once she reached the fork in the trunck near the to she came down and helped me clear up the debris and chuck it on the fire. After coffee and cake, it was my turn up the tree.

After a bit of wrestling branches I managed to cut away the top in 2 lots above the fork. The tree is now bald, and we can get the rest down in our own time.

Late lunch and pack away tools before heading down to Salau to catch up with Renee and Anouk. Met up with some of the locals at the bar for a drink before heading back to the barn to finish the food in the fridge. Omlette and salad for supper.

Pretty much teh same as the day before but in reverse.

We did however finish the decking terrace out the front of the barn in the morning, Yippee, fizz tonight!

Lovely salad lunch and then Breezy went up the tree with a saw again.

As Breezy cut away branches I cut them up and burnt them and at one stage the wind changed and swung the smoke from the fire round to the tree. The light effect was amazing.

By the end of the day we are both sweaty and filthy (and Breezy is covered in sap). Shepherds pie in the oven and fizz on the terrace.

Autumn is definitely now with us. The sun hits the barn at just gone 10am. The leaves are all starting to change colour. Some trees are like orange beacons amongst the green.

After the usual start to the day we kitted up and went round the back to the pine tree. Breezy nursed the fire back to life and I took my turn with the saw up the tree.

By lunch time we are well over half way. Gotta empty the fridge before we head off at the weekend so salads are getting really great. Mixed leaves, cucumber, chives and nasturtium flowers from the garden, smoked salmon, capers, goast cheese, bulgur and tomato. All with some dressing made with the oil from a jar of anchovies and served on the terrace with some bread and mayonaise.

Afternoon chore was decking the front terrace. We bought a bottle of Blanquette de Limoux for when we finished but alas the generator ran out of fuel at 5:30 and we still had another hour and a half to go so it seemed like a good time to quit and take a shower.

Roast chicken with mustard & basil paste slavered over it, marmite roast potatoes and mixed roast veg served with thick n rich gravy resembling molten chocolate.