An early start as we had to get Stevie down for the 8am bus from St Girons. So 6.20am alarm was a rude awakening for us all.

Stevie and I trundled off with the trailer to St Girons while Al started work. He managed to finish the holes in the back wall and do a little bit in the bathroom before Hans arrived and then they set to with the 2nd Sky Light.

We left the mountains in glorious sunshine and by the time we got to Seix it was torrential rain. I dropped Stevie and the bus pulled up just as we got there. Then a quick trip to Le Forgue to collect lime and cement. My route was planned around not having to reverse Vinnie having the trailer with me.

Next was collecting a load of sand. Surtra garage was open on the way back so I popped in to see what was happening with the order for the new exhaust. Not good news the silencer bit also needs replacing, ouch far too much money but we have to do it. Hoping to get it done before we leave but we will see.

A big shop at Carrefour to see us through till we leave and then back to the barn. Through all the rain the last thing I expected to see was the boys on the roof but Salau had no rain and for once better in the hills than down the valley.

I unpacked the van and then asked Al to help as a bolt had become loose on the the trailer and I was unable to lift it. Very luckily it had not bounced off as the safety chain had been snapped in the process. It needs a once over before we use it again for sure.

Replenished the coffee supplies so made some coffee for everyone.

Hans and Al continued with the sky light and made super speedy progress. The place is totally transformed. Really looks like a home now rather than a barn. Well at least upstairs does!!!!

Al mixed a load for me and I cracked on with the bathroom pointing. By lunchtime the load was done and the window was looking great. They only had the slates to put back on after lunch. They were 1.5 hours quicker than yesterday knowing exactly what to do and they work really well together which is great.

Hans managed to locate the leakage on the roof, at least we hope so, so with a little luck we are watertight again. No Stevie to help with lifting the heavy window up today so Al rigged a simple pulley which made life really easy and number 2 is in place. It looks BRILLIANT.

We had a quick tidy up and shifted the scaff for tomorrow’s work and Hans left at 5pm. Al and I quickly brushed back the bathroom walls and were done by 6pm. Looked at sorting out the other 2 main windows as well. We may well be able to re use a window velux reclaimed by Al for downstairs which would be good if that works, just need to re jig things a bit though if we do that.

Fizzy water and sitting on the window ledge at the gable end admiring how great it looks, hoorah.

We were both exhausted, me more than Al. So it was a very leisurely night. Trout and veggies for supper then bed and a book by 930pm and asleep by 10pm!!!! BLISS

Breezy was out the door before breakfast on cat feeding duty.

Stevie was baking a breadstick for a packed lunch.

Hans and I were on the back roof ripping slates off.

The weather, though not wall to wall blue was looking rather more promising than it had for the last week or so. Stevie has been desperate to explore up the Mai Valley directly opposite the barn and on up to the border. With lunch and a sack of stuff he set out just after 9am.

Hans and I decided to profit from the weather break and fit the 1st Velux. A slow start and lots of looking at pictures followed by a cautious cutting of the roof and window fitting. When Breezy got back she helped massively by just being around to pass tools up and down at 5 minute intervals as Has and I slowly got our heads around what needed to happen in what order.

By Lunch the frame for the Velux was attached to the roof and we were ready to start putting slates back on.

Stevie arrived back mid afternoon full of joy and soaked through up to his tits. He had achieved the border and dangled his feet into Spain after fighting though dense vegetation and treacherously steep slopes. He came down via the path to Mont Rouche and was definitely ready for beer. So we got him to help hand the window up onto the scaffold to fit into the frame.

A celebratory glass of wine and smoked duck, sauté potatoes and salad for sups.

Sunday and no alarm. The forecast was accurate and it was raining. A great opportunity to catch up on bits and pieces and get some preparation done for the week to come.

Stevie set about fixing a bench that I salvaged from the skip on the way back from St Girons the day before. Breezy got on fitting glass into the final small windows and then onto with scraping out the joints in the walls in the bathroom. I fitted some conduit into walls to accept cables, filled a couple of big holes in the walls downstairs and then helped Breezy.

Mid afternoon all 3 of us took a stroll around the valley. Actually we headed up the valley to the top waterfall to get some exercise as the rain had eased off.

Lardons pasta, salad and a great plum shortbread desert.

Sunshine to start the day hoorah at last.  We had to get down the valley before the Tour came through or Dad would have missed his flight. So we decided to go down early and have a coffee and then see the tour.

We had a quick washing stop and cat feeding stop at Clive’s before getting down for a coffee at 11am and a beer for the boys at midday.

Knowing very little about the tour we got a good spot by the bridge and Dad was happily placed on one of our camping chairs.

Well the caravan arrived and it was freebie city!!! It was like a giant carnival float proession.  Dad sitting in prime place managed to get pressies for all the grand children. 7 hats in total plus many other goodies. We had a good picnic lunch French style with pate, cheeses, French bread and fruit before the tour itself arrived and zoomed by very quickly. Al got some excellent piccys too.

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It was then off to St Girons to wave good bye to Dad, lovely to have you again and maybe next time the sun will shine a bit more and you can stay with us at the barn!!! Stevie arrived just as Dad left so we had a quick beer with Clive (Stevie’s Dad) and Jackie before they headed home and we headed back too. Collected washing and back for a speedy bit of food prep as we had Anne up for a BBQ.

Luckily the sun continued to be out and it was dry so we christened Ken’s BBQ which was excellent and had dinner on the top terrace with the brassier going too.

Chicken and good salads and choccy cookies for pudd.

Anne trundled off back down the valley just before dark and heads off to find the sun. Thanks masses for the visit Anne, next time bring the walking boots and we can explore together in the sun. Piccys on the way of the Tour for you too.

Both Breezy and I took a day off pointing and went for a walk with Breezy’s Father from Col de la Pause up to Etang Arreau and the refuge. On the way there we swung by Clive’s to feed the cat.

The cloud level meant that we did not benefit with great views but we had a great walk and a picnic on the bench at the refuge which was closed.

We left Iian’s car at Couflens so that I could shoot off into St Girons afterwards and stock up with sand while Iian and Breezy headed back up to Salau and the barn. Hans had cracked on with the pointing in our absence and got half way across the gable end with the big window. When I got back both Breezy and Hans were brushing off the last bits.

In the evening we headed off to the Mont Valier Restaurant and Iian treated us to a meal out.

Not a very nice day, the weather does seem to be fairly rubbish at the moment. So Al decided as the forecast was better for tomorrow that he would work with Hans while I went and did something with Dad.

We popped in for cat feeding duty on the way and then down to Seix for a coffee in the sun.

We opted to have a drive over the Col de la Core and a very small walk around Lac Bethmale, which was in the sun too. Lots of people fishing and lots of tents and campers getting their places on the col for the Tour de France coming through on Saturday.

We got back to Seix in time for a late Cassoulet and Croustade lunch again in the sun which was great. Good to have a proper catch up time with Dad.

Dropped Dad at the auberge and then back to see the progress, another chunk of pointing done and it really is beginning to take shape we are pleased.

I took over from Al brushing off, while he tidied up and gave his hands a rest.

A quick scrub up then back down to the auberge for a game of scrabble with Dad and Anne before dinner at the auberge.

Al and I then ventured on to the 14th July celebrations happening in the village which was quite fun and good to show our faces. Meant a late night not in bed before 1am.

Not great weather yet again, getting a bit bored of that now.

Hans arrived at 9am and it was full steam ahead.

More walls filled, 2/3rds of the back wall now done which was good, with a gap left for where we hope to out a window in, in due course.

We all seemed happy with the speedy progress and have got outselves into a routine to make it as efficient as possible or so it seems.

Finished at 5pm again and a quick shower before I zoomed to collect Dad who had just arrived after a good day at Mireloix and a nice stop over at the Auberge Balestie.

Met Peter at the cafe and he lent Dad some wellies which as great.

Up to the barn to show Dad the progress and then it was dinner inside this time as it was still raining.

A few hands of cards whilst the potatoes cooked.

Steaks for dinner, which sadly were on the tough side. As Dad said the baked nactarines were a lot more tender than the steaks!!! Anyway, all went down well with some cheese and choccy to finish off. Al won at Rummy 500.

A wet drive back to the Auberge to drop Dad back and then off to bed.

We set the alarm as we expected Hans to be here around 9am. Al got a mix going and we began. Hans turned up at 11am as he had to drive from Toulouse and WOW what a difference it makes with 3 of us working together.

We as usual worked thought till about 230pm and then sat outside for lunch. We made huge progress, gable end now completed. Hoorah.

Prepped areas for tomorrow and brushed off the walls again. Worked through till 530pm.

Had a quick shower and jumped in Vinnie to go and collect Anne who was coming for supper. I met her half way down the piste so she jumped in and helped with rubbish drop off, collecting water and recycling.

Back to the barn to find a clean Al. We hoped to eat outside but weather was not great. We did manage drinks and nibbles outside before the rain began and we retired inside for a hot smoked duck salad and backed nectarines.

By the time it got to bedtime it was torrential rain so Al drove Anne back to the end of the piste to collect her car.

Bed and then at 3am it all began what a storm. 40 mins staright overhead with a light show going on outside quite mad. Does not bode well for tomorrow weather wise for Anne and her bike.

A HUGE buy at Le Forgue, the Velux windows being the most important and expensive. Poor old Vinnie is once again heavily ladened!!!

Got some Early start as we knew we had loads to do in the St. Girons.

glass cut at Brico before trying to get Vinnie sorted for a new exhaust. Hopefully, the parts are ordered and we will drop him off next Thurs for the fitting. All seemed a bit chaotic so we will see what happens.

Shovelled another trailer load of sand to take back with us too.

Then a big super market food shop for arrival of Anne on her bike, Dad by car and Stevie by train all arriving this week.

We popped in at Seix on the way back to book a restaurant for the Friday night and then collected washing and a lettuce from Clive’s garden.

A quick chat at the auberge with Anouk and a viewing around the place they have bought behind the auberge which I am sure will be FAB and give them the space they need. Out the door by 730am and off to feed the cats at Clive’s and whack a load of washing in ready for our return.

Sun was well and truly out and it was hot!!!

A quick unload of perishable food into the fridge, which is very much still a novelty and has changed life for us down here. Washing out to dry on the mew washing line and then prawns for lunch on the bottom terrace under the brolley!!!

We had a good hour of shifting stuff from Vinnie up the hill. In the middle of loads I decided I had time to do the washing up…..bad move…..put the water on… and when we had unloaded and prepped walls for tomorrow thinking about a glass of rose….eeek the chuffing pan. Needless to say no pan no more, luckily no more serious damage than a burnt pan and a smell in the out building. Opened all windows, threw pan out the door and breathed a sigh of relief that the place had not burnt down. Trying to do too many things at once.

So we are all prepped for a big on day on pointing again tomorrow with Hans as well due to be here.

For once we finished and showered by 6pm and it now seems we have oodles of time to catch up on  other stuff.

Mackerel prepared for the BBQ tonight and luckily it is warm and we are outside so the smell can disappear before bed time!!!