Woke up this morning to the sunshine streaming in through the front window at 7.30am. All looked promising for getting chimneys in on the main barn. By 9am, after catching up on emails and blogging etc half the sky was covered with a layer of cloud.

First job after internet was to collect our new cooker, which had been delivered to the Auberge while we were in Spain. We really fancied one of those range style (piano the French say) gas cookers but trying to find one that did not rely on electric for the grill was difficult. Then we found that Beko do a double oven conventional size cooker with a gas grill. British made, and generally available in France and Spain, But not that model.

While we were away we ended up finding a brand new one on Ebay in the UK and a “Man with a Van” who would deliver. Jobs a carrot, done.

Cooker collected we then called in with Raymond to book in for the chilli night on Saturday for the Fête de la Music.

Having started on ebay, delivered to a farm in Yorkshire, trundled down through France, stored in a garage in Salau and carried in Vinnie a couple of miles off road; the last leg was in the Mucktruck to get up to the barn. Then we tied it up and used the chain hoist to get it up to the first floor where it now resides awaiting a conversion kit to LPG and a connection hose.

Sky became overcast and rain threatening so chimneys is not an option. Instead we made some templates out of card for the plasterboard to go around the chimneys.

After lunch the rain started and the ceiling in the new porch got some attention. By the end of the day all was insulated; all the electrics above it done and plasterboarded.

Roast chicken with marmite potatoes for sups.

Once again we opened the door to our little abode to see water falling from the sky. The Mayor has assured us that the sun is on it’s way though it has not yet made an appearance in Salau.

We are gonna escape to Spain for a few days climbing and exploring so today is a finish food up and tidy up day.

So we started with a boiled egg for breakfast.

That done we started the big tidy up.

All done by 3-30pm so went for a walk around the grounds as the rain had abated. There was actually a small but significant patch of blue sky at 4-30 as we were about to shower though it was a very brief encounter and unfortunately did not line up with the sun.

Next update will be some images of sunny Spain and sea food. I Hope!!!

For some reason I thought it was still Friday. Breezy has been busy over breakfast making a list of things that need to be “shut down” for when we head off on Monday and I though that it was a little premature. I was thinking that we had we were short of a little food for Sunday night but never considered that I had lost a day somewhere. “Diots and salad tonight, Lardons and pasta tomorrow, but what are we gonna eat on Sunday?”

Breezy put me right!

Anyway, after the normal healthy breakfast and short internet session we set about finishing the inside of the porch area around the far door. Table circular saw, chop saw, power sander and power plane, hammers, nails and cordless drills at the ready we managed to get rid of more of the stock of wood to finish the porch. The result is a rather rustic mosaic of bits of forklift pallet. Still left to do is to seal the partition walls to the barn walls, insulate the ceiling inside the porch, plasterboard and tile the floor. Then we will have finished about 7% of downstairs. It all sounded quite good progress until I got to the 7% bit. Only another 93% to go!

By the time we had finished and had a coffee the rain had stopped and we had time to cut a few loads of logs to restock the log store by the outbuilding. Then hot soup lunch.

In the afternoon Breezy sorted out food stocks and I cleared up tools and sawdust (for the composting toilet). A few bits of insulation went up in the ceiling and early showers before heading down to the bar in the village. Back for supper, DVD and bed.

Call it a porch or an entry or whatever, but the glass partition around the end door is definitely taking shape. Got onto it straight after internet in the morning by using 4 bits of offcut plasterboard and painting them a bright colour. Then adding more wood to the frame to fill the gap above the doors.

Hot courgette and chorizzo soup for lunch then add the colour, and the glass, then more forklift palettes.

By the end of the day we still have some bits to finish but it looks quite pleasing.

Another shower under the tree in the rain. Whatever else happens this year, I don’t think that we shall run out of rain water capture.

It is becoming predictable now; it’s raining again. I am so glad that we got the deck done outside the little cabin that serves as home. Without it we would have such a mud bath just out the door that pigs would love.

So indoor work it is then. Having started putting a stud wall together, very quickly it started to take shape. Patrick in Chamonix had given us some old double glazed units which are now destined for a glazed partition to go around the end door to the barn along with an old patio door salvaged from this last winter season.

To face one side of the glazed wall we used bits of forklift palette which as well as using up wood gives a pleasing, rustic effect. Part of me hopes it is raining tomorrow so that we can crack on and get finished.

Late finish toady at 6:45pm; quick shower in the rain and the remainder of the pork curry to look forward to.

Last night we went though a plan of what we want to get done before our road trip and what is feasible. La Forgue in St Girons have our chimney pieces in and I desperately want to get them before we go. If there is a problem I really don’t want the French holidays to stop us getting the right bits.

In view of that I had a list of supplies and odd jobs to do in St Girons while Breezy cracked on with some paperwork at the barn. 1st stop for ma was to fill the Gerry can with petrol, then pick up bread, then La Forgue. Got everything on my list of building supplies except for the parquet flooring in order to finish the wood floor. So best laid plans will have to go in the poubelle. Next stop is the garden centre to replace the courgette and cucumber plants that died in the frost the other day.

Managed to see Clive in Couflens on the return journey and thank him for supper. Back to the barn by 12:30 in time for broccoli and blue cheese soup.

Unloaded the van in the dry before the rain started once more. Rain snow limit around 1300-1400m so chilly at the barn (>1000m).

We checked that all the chimney pieces work though did not fit them as there is no way I want to be up on the roof in the rain. Also managed to hang a picture that Dad made the frame for before starting building framework for an entry around the far door in the barn.

Beef in beer with dumplings and stir fried veg, Mmmmm.