Woke up to sunshine which was great, always much more motivated with a bit of sunshine.

Had brekky in the sun and then set to on giving the floor a quick sand and varnish which did not take too long, looking good, we are both pleased with how the outbuilding is shaping up.

We then headed down the valley to do a couple of errands, lots of recycling and the tip en route to collect some slate nails from Clive. No luck there as Giselle had not been into town yet but is going in the next couple of days which is great as it will save us a trip to St Girons before Saturday.

We then went on to see Lee at his place he is doing up in Pont de la Taule as he has a few large slates for us which we are in need of for the roof. He is cracking on with his pad there and it is beginning to take shape. We snaffled some slates and a sink too, thanks Lee. We had a cuppa and planned a little walk tomorrow with Lee so hoping the weather stays good and we can go and explore a new area up from the mines which Lee knows. Headed back up the valley for lunch at the barn after unloading the slates and sink. Delicious chick sandwiches in the sun again.

We decided to finish the veggie patch as it looked like the rain was going to descend on us later and leave the second coat of varnish until later, so we carted a good few loads of the compost to the veggie patch and dug it all over. Next on to fence building in an attempt to keep the donkeys out, not sure it is boar proof as I am pretty sure if the wild boar want something in there the fence will be uprooted by them, trial and error we will see. Only got half way through that before giving up as we seemed to be getting eaten by mossies which was a shame.

Another quick sand and varnish of the new floor and that is now finished. Always good to get something completed.

We have also decided that we do need to keep on top of the pasture land we have or it will get overrun by trees. So we attempted to start on clearing the new saplings by the river as a starter, but again gave up after the mossies followed us.

Hot showers and beef curry for dinner.

A full day was planned for today as Al was very keen that we should try and get all the flooring down in the outbuilding, mezzanine and main floor. Although small, these things still take time. Al was very patient whilst we went through how to floor again and I set to upstairs whilst Al started prepping the downstairs with batons ready for the flooring to go down.

We fired up the generator which went all day. Thanks Dad, a really lovely pressie and it will get a lot of use, we will think of you each time we use it, I am sure. We had the generator running in the workshop which was great which meant as we could not hear it, made working much more pleasant.

Thanks Dad the FAB generator  Finsished the floor and a finished Breezy too!!!

A late lunch and we had the mezzanine done and the batons down, backs beginning to ache a bit too!!!

The challenge had been set and by 730pm we had got the rest of the floor down and it looks great and creates more light in there as well, quite transformed from a few weeks ago when we arrived, almost habitable!!!!

By the time we had tidied away and put dinner in the oven, had a shower etc etc it was 10pm we were starving so raost chuck went down well. A quick game of “Dicewords” which is a game Dad gave us and we are just getting into it, makes a change from Scrabble. A few more layers on the bed as it was still quite nippy and bed by midnight a late night for us!!!

We were hoping for a nice sunny day as we had asked Lee and Peter for lunch. So we got a few bits and pieces done before they arrived at 1pm.

We mainly tidied up the outbuilding brushing down walls, cleaning the floor etc so we were ready to attack flooring tomorrow.

The rest of the morning we prepped food and moved the table upstairs to the back terrace. Al had put a few brackets on to the legs to make it more sturdy which seemed to work well.

Lunch was a few nibbles and Peter had brought up some of Raymond’s Foie Gras which was delicious, beef goulash and dumplings with broccoli and melon and cheese, we were stuffed!!! Peter disappeared back to Salau and we had a wander with Lee to see if we could find any mushrooms but no luck there. We did manage to see a small baby deer which was good.

Lee left just before 6pm and we went down to Salau to get some water, check internet, make a few calls and before heading back up to the barn for a couple of glasses of wine and a game before bed, no need for food we were still both really full.

Lunch with Lee and Peter  The table serving a purpose

Rain early morning gave way to sunny spells and showers.

Intention was to get to the market at St Girons before dropping Stevie off at the bus which connects to the train to Toulouse where he starts work with Bambooco on Sunday. Peter showed up as we were sorting breakfast so he stopped for a coffee. The we set off down the valley with the rubbish and recycling. We checked bus times and there are far fewer trains and buses over the weekend – seemed more sensible to drop Stevie at the train rather than go to the market. Next week perhaps.

Mc D’s on the way back to update the blog, sort pictures and mail.

 

Drizzle in the morning gave way to patchy cloud and sun so the three of us set off to explore up the Mai Valley opposite the barn with the intention to get a route through to where Stevie explored the previous morning on the track up to Mont Rouche. A steep climb up through the beach forest gave way to boulder fields and the base of a waterfall and snowcone. We explored a number of options to scale round the falls without success so used a rope to retrace our steps. As we set foot on the snowcone again the heavens opened so it was probably a good job we did not find a way up as we would have been well and truly committed as the weather closed in around us.

We had lunch at a sheltered rock as we descended back towards the forest then on to the barn again.

As we still had some of the day left I mixed a load of mortar and Breezy and I fitted the last two windows in the out building while Stevie got the huge slabs of rock out of the barn (uncovered when we dug the place out).

More beer at the Bar and collecting our solar panel and kit which had been delivered to the Auberge. Stew and dumplings followed by scrabble. Breezy won again, she has always kept score and always won. Mmm…

              

 

After breakfast Stevie went off exploring for a couple of hours while Breezy and I set about a bit of coppicing. Having been surrounded by chainsaw contractors for the last couple of weeks we realised that if we don’t do some maintenance on our land then the forest will slowly take over all the pasture. Two hours of felling trees and saplings generates a lot of wood and leafage.

When Stevie got back we made a packed lunch, drove up to the old mine and walked up to Cirque D’Anglade. Avalanche snowcones made it feel semi glacial. Found a perfect lunch rock and then had a walk up to the waterfall over the snow.

When we got back to the barn it was time to build a big fire and clear up the mess that Breezy and I made in the morning.

A couple of beers in the Myrtille bar and then Roast Chicken supper.

    Vegie Patch   

As we were due to pick up Stevie from the train station early afternoon we set about some small jobs at the grange. First off we made another window to fit into the outhouse and then packed out both remaining frames with odd noggins of wood so that we could mortar them in place later.

Before showering to go down the valley we finished digging over the patch at the back for veg. all the weeds gone now so just digging in compost to do.

A shop and Mc Ds for internet on the way and then off to get Stevie.

Alder smoked Salmon for supper was great.

Finished Table

Three loads of mortar saw the end, yes the end of pointing up the walls of the out building. Yippee.

A late lunch and then we finished assembling the table legs so that we completed the table too.

Right side with window    Back wall done!

Decision was made to crack on with the joints so I mixed up a load and we did just that. Dug over some more of the veg plot while waiting for the mortar to go off before brushing it off. Just finished brushing as Annie and Jean turned up. A bottle of white and a good chat with them before lunch. Then back to mixing and pointing. Two loads later and we have certainly broken the back of the job. Another three mixes and we should be done.

Then it’s just floors, windows, stove, la, la, la…

Evening fire and blog writing, pasta surprise and scrabble I hope.

As we were invited to lunch at Alison and Peter’s we decided to potter about for a couple of hours in the morning. Fairly bright with a few clouds and odd showers.

Had a bit of a sort out of kitchen stuff and food. Graded the last of the slate from the back of the main barn. Stripped some more box for the table legs. Then off down to Salau to do some chores before lunch. Caught up with Annie and Jean on route to arrange for them to come up to the barn for a drink.

The bridge in Salau was like our office with Breezy on emails and me on the phone. Sorted out payment for a load of solar kit for electricity, so hopefully that should arrive soon. Spoke to Stevie who is coming out to visit this week. Spoke to Lee who is going to do Mont Valier tomorrow. We bailed on that one as we only have clothes for working and eating, not winter kit, and inadequate footwear for Mont Valier. Arranged to do a day walk with Lee Thursday or Friday.

Gathered some more drinking water from the spring then off to A & P’s to charge up drills and phones as well as eat.

Eleven of us in total with a couple of faces we had not met before. All predominantly French, fab food and managed to get away by 5pm

Had a visit from Adam and Patrick from the village. Patrick builds walls for a living and said that he would point up about 30 square meters in a couple of days. Mmm… maybe we get him in for the main barn?

Started making table legs; a bite to eat and bed.