First day back off hols and it is a bit of an odd job day. I started by disconnecting the solar panel and battery in the outhouse and redoing the circuitsto incorporate a buzz bar off a boat. Essentially it is like an elaborate choccy block but it just makes adding things in easier without having to have shed loads of wires all connected to the battery terminals. Also put in a 3 port cigarette lighter extension so that we can charge up phones & cameras plus plug in the fridge that Breezy's father bought us. Breezy got the strimmer going around the main barn before weeding the vegie patch and sowing some more rocket. Think we may be eating lettuce for a while.

We have decided to build a low false wall in the outhouse against the wall that is underground so that we don't have to be careful about leaning stuff against it to save it getting damp. The plan is to use "patch panelling" so we had a measure up to check we have enough.

Another plan is to lay another concrete floor in outbuilding 3. Currently it has no roof and, low walls and is dug into the hill. At the moment we could mix concrete and just pour it straight in rather than having to barrow it through a door. There was a certain amount of beech growth around it so we cut it all dow. This then lead to the realisation that the forest is encroaching quite fast on the meadow so we carried on creating several huge piles of stuff to burn.

Roat chicken supper!

Arrived back at the barn late afternoon after a great roadtrip into Italy. Started off driving over to Provence and staying just outside Gordes to see Stephano & Reikke (Danish friends we know through Winters in Chamonix). Camped there for 3 nights with them and Reikke's daughter, with a bit of exploring by car, on foot and even managed a climb at Cavaillon (Breezy got attacked by bees).

Left Provence on Monday and drove through to Finale on the Italian coast to find some more climbing. Fanatastic area and well thought out guide book. It even shows you when a particular crag is in the sun.

2 nights camping in Finale before heading over to Tuscany for the wedding. Laney and Rich had booked a fantastic villa in the middle of olive groves on a hillside – Padrignone. A couple of days build up to an amazing wedding in Sienna which could not have happened without Simon's help from the villa.

A couple of days road trip back to the barn, staying in Bezier (don't stay there – it's not nice). Tried to pick up some saolar stuff on route but it had not been delivered. Tried to collect the generator from St Girons but it had not been fixed, and we are still on blow-up beds as we still have not found a mattress to fit the mezzanine.

A rather random assortment of people last night gathered at Olivier's for the BBQ. Apparently in times past at the beginning of August a mule train trekked up to the mountains above Salau to collect ice blocks from the Cirque and carry them down to St Girons.

Olivier has reinstated the tradition and gathered a band of Donkey enthusiasts from across Europe and they head up this morning to get back to St Girons Saturday.

Olivier is a great host and the selection of 20 people with their beasts and chariots were all interesting and quite unique, each in their own way. Good pracice for our French.

For example – there was a lovely German woman who had been driving her sons donkeys with a dog and her grand-daughter for two days to get to the Salat for the adventure.

It is good to have the sunshine back with us again.

We had brekky in the sun before heading to Clive's for final raspberry picking and a couple of loads of washing. No sight of Flash their dog so do hope he is OK.

We were meant to have Rene and Anuk for lunch but sadly they were tied up with guests so we decided to have a lovely smoked duck salad anyway before having an afternoon of pottering.

Cleaned the outhouse, much needed and looks much better, made a shelter for the small wood pile to keep us going till Oct. We plan to make a sturdier one out the back before we head off. 

Few other bits of cleaning and gardening before heading to the Auberge for a quick drink.

We needed to touch base with Steffen as we are planning to meet them on the way to Laney's wedding next week end. Text from Steffen so he has booked us in to the campsite for 3 nights along with them before we head on to Italy and they head back to Denmark.

Caught up with Anuk and Olivier stopped to ask us to a BBQ at his tonight as they have the Chemin de Glaces this week end so he is feeding people tonight. Should be fun. We can even walk there and back must not forget the torches!!!

We woke up to see the sun coming through the window. Hoorah must be 8.15am!!

Breakfast in the sun and then on to tackling the outdoor steps which have collapsed really, with all the muck truck action they have had.

So we decided to repair the steps since we had the mixer and some cement and ballast left over.

It was hot work and by 1.30pm we were wilting so 3/4 of the way through we stopped for a bite to eat before the final slog of hand mixing since the generator seems to be playing up.  Sounds like the same problem as before, needs a trip for a service I think.

Looks great and another tick off the list.

Al dropped Clive's mixer back at Raymond's and I tidied up the debris from all the cement work.

Hot showers and a large glass of wine.

Since we ate all the beef last night we are on salad from the garden for supper tonight.

We started with a quick job of removing a few rocks to fit a waste pipe where we are hoping to build a pantry, storeroom area.

We had been putting the next job off and I was trying to convince Al into maybe it was not necessary but to no avail.

The bathroom door upstairs had 2 small openings and whilst we were putting the roof on Al had the insight to build in a larger lintel so we could open the gap to fit a door. So this was the job.

Bring the wall down safely and then rebuild it so it will accommodate a door in the near future.

Rocks, dust, rocks and more dust…..it got everywhere, bigger rocks and more dust. I think you can see the picture.

By lunchtime the wall was down and we had found some old oak to use as a door frame, which we seem to have got vertical which is a first!!!

A quick lunch and then the mixer was a turning again and we started the job of re building the wall.

By 5pm we had the wall re built and Al had made a cracking job of it. I am pleased he convinced me to do it, it will make a huge difference and maybe now we can even get a bath through the door.

A quick pack up and down the road to Clive's to pick his rasps, feed the dog, the loire and have a very good shower!!!!

Al cooked a delicious beef stew with chive dumplings for supper. It was meant to do 2 nights, but so good not a chance it all went!!!!

An early night as were both pretty tired, maybe something to do with dust in the eyes…

Eggy bread for brecky and real coffee again (we ran out a few days ago).
Last night we talked through Ski Breezy and the coming winter at the chalet in Chamonix coming up with a plan to start organising things so the morning was taken up on the web until we both had enough of computer screens and keyboards. Then off to Ian’s.
Lee was there already with a charming couple of his house guests so it was a great time to catch up with everybody and see Ian’s house and lathe work. Thanks Ian, good food and great company.
Back at the barn by 5pm and the cloud was down and drizzly. No great motivation to start anything so in all a chilled evening ahead with good old chicken supper and a fire.

An early start and off to Clive’s to pick raspberries and to get some washing done then off to St Girons. On route we saw Dudley who is feeding Clive’s dog. He is away on Monday so we sorted out taking over from him for the last week Clive & Gisselle are away.
Flew into town and picked up some waste pipe and the strimmer which had been serviced before heading to the market. In place of the market was a fairground. A little inquiry revealed that the market had moved to the other side of town.
St Girons has a fabulous market with all manner of fresh produce, arts and crafts and a mattress stall. Unfortunately the only one they had the right size for the mezzanine was far to expensive. Apart from a snack or two we came away empty handed. However we did meet up with a friend, Ian, and secured an invite to BBQ lunch the next day before shopping for the week and heading back up the valley to collect the laundry.

A well earned lie in after the floor laying. In the morning we set about making a storage box to fit at the head of the bed on the mezzanine. Cutting up some planks that were salvaged from the déchèterie in Chamonix and fettling a piano hinge recuperated from somewhere else. By lunch time we had a robust “rustic” box with a hinged lid to keep clothes in. No more is the hold all gonna be at the foot of the bed.
The day was overcast and the temperature dropped in the afternoon so we decided that keeping moving was the key. Passing the staircase parts down from upstairs and generally tidying up ready to put a load of rubbish in the skip on the way to the market tomorrow.
Caught up with Scottish Annie early evening for a drink at the Auberge before a super finishing up what foodstuff we had left before shopping in St Girons. Stir fried duck and pasta in a peanut butter sauce. You won’t find that on any menu.

After astormy adn very wet night, we decided for a lie in, well I did anyway. I think Al had been awake for hours but finally we emerged after 9am BLISS!

After brekky it looked like it might clear up  but then the heavens opened again so we set to lowering the inside window in the main barn, keeping the outside look the same. A few bits of dodgy moments when we thought things might collapse. We got to the stage when it was too late to go back so we then had to finish the floor to get some extra cement to hold the window sourrounds in place.

Al donned the waterproofs and headed for the mixer while I was the lucky one to be wokring dry indoors.

The last section of floor was the smallest so we thought 3 hours would see us through. 2.5 hours later and it was DONE what a big relief and it looks great as far as concrete floors go!!

We had a barrow of cement left to glue the window back together so a very successful day.

It was then a very quick bite to eat before zooming off to Clive's to pick the rasps and trip the electric back on which had been knocked out in the storm. Quick showers and back to Salau.

I had chatted to Francoise the other day local osteo and she said she had time to look at Al's knee so we are going to see what she thinks as it is still not 100% better.

I am sipping a glass of wine waiting for him and then we will load up the ladders and head back to the barn hopefully before it rains again as it is looking quite black!!!