Due to the random nature of our exploits and numerous cameras kicking about Iam slowly trying to catch up with what has and has not been uploaded.

There are some new photos on Roadtrip Return,  Bracken is cleared, Shower building at Lee's and Return Again.

 Enjoy

Blue skies again and as Al said as we were having brekky this am. isn't it great to be up early and seeing the sunrise over the barn….well it was 9.15am but lovely nonetheless!!!

My back was on the mend but still not keen to be swinging from trees or doing heavy work so we had a pottery day with a few more ticks off the list.

An hour on the old internet first thing sorting out a few work e mails and photos for the Blog.

We had a problem a few weeks back when we had really heavy driving rain with a small leak in the outbuilding which we think was just from the rain driving between the slates. We had been meaning to do something about this for a while but today was the day. Not too much hassle just putting some wood over the existing chevrons to protect the joint so hope that does the trick once and for all, fingers crossed. Seems a lot easier than the problem we have with the main roof, which we still have to sort….

A yummy chicken salad in the sun, we still have an abundance of lovely lettuces and roquet from the garden which is a lovely change from our usual butties.

Motivation was bit low, we seem to have been here and going at it without much else happening, so I think we are probably a bit tired and in need of some variety, a bit of climbing or walking is on the cards when knees and backs permit!!!

We had wanted to get the out building door a bit more secure. Al had rescued more wood from the skip in Chamonix and we used this to reinforce the front door to the out building, may look a bit bright from the other side of the river for a while but should make the door last a bit longer.

A few spits of rain whilst we had the old outdoor showers but then it seemed to clear again which was good.

Remains of beef cuzza for supps with a game of scrabble on the agenda too.

Gone are the days of scaling a ladder to get to the toilet. We now have a barn, with a concrete floor , joists for the first floor and slap bang in the middle is a staircase.

Started the day by finishing off nailing the joists around the stair opening and then with the aid of the chain hoist lifted the stairs into position. Currently secured with a couple of roof rack straps but they fit perfectly. Once we have the floors down they will need adjusting and fixing slightly more securely.

We then set about making a frame for a glass partition for the bathroom using wood we bought over the weekend. That done we can now order the security glass we need for it before it goes in place.

After lunch Breezy and I started the internal stud wall in the outhouse at the back to come up to half height. The plan being to make the space more usable as the wall is underground.

Beef curry for sups as I am getting the hang of the pressure cooker.

Hoorah at last the sun has decided to return, fingers crossed it is here to stay, makes all the difference.

After a quick brekky we decided to set to and finish off clearing the bracken. In just over an hour the rest of the bracken was cut and now just drying ready to be burnt in a few days time, should open up some more of the meadow. It will probably need another cut later on but should not be so bad if we keep on top of it.

We had also decided that we wanted to make some indentation into the wood pile just by the outbuilding, so we attacked that making it into logs to fit the log burner, all stacked ready for use. We do seem to be getting through a lot of wood with this bad weather we have been having recently as it is so lovely to have the fire on at night keeps us snug.

Salad lunch outside difficult to get going again….

Anyway, the plan is for good weather tomorrow so we ideally are hoping to get to work on the tree house. To make life easier we decided to clear the path to the platform to make it easier for getting the muck truck to it. This then turned into a little foraging session and we managed to find some bollets to go with the beef. Lots of other mushies around but not too sure they are edible so left them out of the cooking.

A cuppa before making the hole for the stairs. All quite stress free so far. Al balanced with the chain saw and cut the 3 floor joists out which we had marked up. Then it was a matter of cutting a couple of chevrons to support the joists we had just cut. Plenty of whacking of nails and we are nearly there a bit more to do tomorrow but showers, food and other bits and pieces beckoned.

Roast chuck for supper and beef cuzza slowly cooking for tomorrow too. Oh we do like our food!!!

We had arranged for Alison and Peter to come and have a bite to eat with us for lunch.

We had a lie in which was great and then set to preparing lunch, hoping the rain would hold of etc.

Just before they arrived we managed to sort out the last bit of the stairs a bit of glue and hammer and nail action to get the treads secure and in place. Hoorah now just to get them up and attached to the floor joists so we can use them!!!!

Alison and Peter arrived and we managed to have drinks outside before cold took over and we opted for a cosy lunch inside…. Al made a wonderful paella on the outdoor paella burner which went down really well, green salad and choccy with manay a glass of wine. Good chat and very relaxing.

They left around 3.30pm ish and we were having a laze on the mezzanine pondering next POA when there was a knock on the door, it was Hans (The Dutch guy who helped us with the roof) really great to catch up with him again and he may well be able t help us with the dreaded pointing job ahead of us for next year. Heard all his news etc over a cup of coffee.

We spent an hour after that just up in the barn planning where to put the stair opening, we think we now have a plan and tomorrow will be make or break time.

Managed to get hold of Dad on Skype which was FAB, seems like his trip to Scotland was lots of fun.

A very leisurely evening, we watch a DVD, ate crisps and had a glass of prosecco…really felt like a Sunday. 

On Sunday we have Alison and Peter coming up for lunch and we fancy doing a paella so off to St Girons for a food shop. As ever when in town we have a list of stuff to sort out at the same time. It always includes laundry but today we also had wood to buy, a generator to collect, a present to buy from the market, some post to get off and a gerry can to fill. The generator was not fixed and they could not tell us when it would be, other than that we ticked it all in record time. We also found a man on the market who could supply a mattress to fit the mezzanine. We just need to collect next week. Yippee! No more pumping up air beds and negotiating the cravass between them.

Back to the barn for lunch and back on the stairs. A bit more tricky than yesterday as the second stringer got put on with the treads in between. More glue and screw action.

Checked emails for Ski Breezy and off down the valley for supper with Clive and Gisselle. Just before we left Breezy spotted a young deer in the meadow below the barn. Good food and company and thankfully their dog is still alive and friendly.

Another day of miserable weather so it was indoor jobs. Having recouperated a set of stairs out of Rob Flemmings chalet in chamonix and transported it down here last year it was time to put it back together. Not having labledany of the parts it was a bit like a big jigsaw.

Withe the aid of a tape measure we managed to sort out the treads and risers into order and establish where we needed to start. Much easier than Lee's shower I must say.

By the end of the day we had one of the sides complete with balustrade and spindles.

Diots, mash & onion gravy mmm…

We had looked at the forecast and since it said heavy rain we thought it would be an ideal day to go and help Lee as he is full on with this house. His tenants have moved in and at the moment no plumbing is in place.

After a fab bonanza 2 egg window treat we met Lee at Pont de La Taule and whilst he went for supplies we painted the bathroom roof before beginning the shower construction!!!

For sure a 2 person job what a faffy job and of course a bit missing which was just a tad frustrating. They had supplied the wrong piece meaning that we could not link the shower up as water would just pour out. So Lee now has to go and battle to find a piece from M Brico…good luck in finding the right piece!! Anyway, the shower unit is now free standing in the middle of the bathroom waiting to be plumbed in.

Rained all day so a good day to be indoors working.

Back to the barn for a chilli beef casserole with fab herby dumplings, we were both starving.

I also made a Damson type shortbread which was lacto weirdo friendly for Al. We got the idea from Cecile a few years ago but now we have no scales so it is a bit of a Breezy throw together.

Roughly 3/4 mug of plain flour, 1/2 sachet baking powder, 1/2 mug caster sugar, 1 egg and olive oil to bind together.

Beat egg add to dry ingredients. Add oil to make it to a dough type textureand then knead on to a tray about 1cm thick ish.

I sprinkled some powdered almonds on top because we had some amd then some chopped Damson's I had found at Lee's on top.

Bake for 20-30 mins depending on your oven. Ours does not seem to have a thermostat  so base was crunchy. It is like a sort of shortbread. 

Guess as normal since I don't tend to measure things it will never be the same again but it was very good this time!!! Would have been even better with some good ice cream.

Finshed the book hoorah must choose a better one next time!!!

Since the weather was good we decided to crack on with burning the bracken and doing some coppicing. We made good headway and by lunchtime we had all the bracken burnt and quite a few areas of beech trees cleared. Hot and smokey work but we really want to make sure that we keep the meadowland we have and it does not get overrun by trees which it will unless we keep on top of it. We have a lot to do!!!

Enjoying our salad lunches with lots of lettuce and roquet from the garden and then adding all the delicious non salady things to it to make it be tasty!!! Chicken, avo and croutons was the lunchtime salad today.

We continued with more clearing after lunch and Al did half an hour with the bush whacking on the bracken whilst I caught up on work e mails. A few more hours and the bracken should be down and then we can leave it to dry if it ever stops raining and then burn it. Already a huge difference.

We managed to find a few bollets as well whilst clearing the beech so we have a few new areas to find our supply of mushies.

We trundled down to Salau to catch up with Alison and Peter who are up for 2 weeks holiday, caught up with their news before back to the barn and Al was keen to start using the pressure cooker as a means of cooking quickly and what a success in 30 mins we had a deliciousand tender beef stew with some of the bollets we had found.

Early night with the books. Al and I both not keen on our books so trying to finish them so we can get a good one on the go!!!