Category: Summer 2013

Shops & Food

We did not change the alarm and after a quick breakfast headed off down the valley with trailer, rubbish, recycling and an old sink to drop at the déchet (Council tip). Yup, it’s not a typo, we actually had something to throw away. The article in question was part of the kitchen we salvaged from Chamonix and now is surplus to requirements.

First stop is Cazale to buy a trailer load of Spanish Cement; next Intermarche for laundry and food shop. A quick stop at a jeweller for a watch battery and onto La Forgue for wood, concrete reinforcement bars and a load of plastic drainpipe.

If you are super organised with a list, shopping goes very smoothly!

Back up the valley to the tip. Low and behold having dropped off the sink we picked up a double glazed window and a picture frame.

Red Mullet salad

Red Mullet salad

Unloaded the cement and dragged it up to the barn before lunch of red mullet salad which Breezy prepared.

In the afternoon we did a mammoth internet session and made some strawberry and rhubarb jam. A chilled afternoon and evening with a hot prawn salad for supper.

Categories: Summer 2013

Varnishing, Electrics and Another Raised Bed

 

A couple of hours before brekky of shifting rocks and wall prep before it got too hot, seems to be making progress albeit it slowly.

One of the things that Ken mentioned when he was here that he thought the floors upstairs could do with another varnish. So we took his advice and spent the first couple of hours, hoovering the kitchen area upstairs, then scrubbing and mopping before we could start the re varnish. At the same time we got the second coat on for the 2nd bedroom. Banished for the next few hours from upstairs and inside whilst it all dried we then attacked some internet stuff.

Floors were dried by lunch time so we could prep another salad lunch before Al sorted some electrics in the afternoon and I did the final coat upstairs and downstairs. Banished again whilst the floors dried. Outdoor work was on the agenda.

We then had time to prepare some more of the area to make work for the wall building. Moving dead wood, sheets of tin from the old back area to make access much easier for getting to the access the rocks which we will need in due course to re build the wall. Al got the chain saw out and lopped a few big branches off the pine tree which were at head banging height!

Hot showers much needed and then it was a lovely evening outside with BBQed marinaded chicken a new salad with fresh peas from Clive’s garden, mange toute from ours, bacon and pinenuts delicious.

 

Categories: Summer 2013, The Project

Second Bedroom Floor Down

We have decided with this heat the way forward is a couple of hours work before breakfast and the sun hits so alarm goes at 645am and we start at 7am.

This morning the strimmer decided to work so I set to, to finish the large patch of bracken and then we only have a tiny bit left at the back to do tomorrow. Meanwhile, Al continued with digging out rocks from the collapsed wall in prep for Clive’s arrival. I joined him after an hourish. By 9am bracken was gone and the wall is getting there, long process.

Usual fruit galore breakfast and then over to Clive’s before the sun hits there to pick his rasps pretty easy and thousands of black currants. Made a start and popped them all in his freezer for him but a few more hours of that still to be done.

A quick fill up with water and then a drop off of wedding clothes to be housed till next wedding at Anouk and Rene and then back to the barn for lunch in the sun but with the parasol well and truly up. Mushie and chive omelette and salad.

Then we wanted to finish laying the second bedroom floor which all went down pretty quickly and we got one coat of varnish on too. So that just needs a quick sand and another couple of varnishes before we can attack the walls.

A quick mange toute and strawberry pick before red hot showers, internet and we are hoping a BBQ outside steaks and salad on the agenda.

 

Categories: Summer 2013, The Project

A bit of everything

The alarm went off at 6:45 again but this time we got up. It feels like we are behind schedule, though to be honest we don’t have a schedule; there is just too much to do in the time frame we have given ourselves. We both work better under pressure!

Breezy headed off with the strimmer and I started sorting out the area at the front where we are gonna build the wall. Once Breezy had finished we changed the head to brushcutter and she set off again towards the bracken. Unfortunately the machine refused to restart so she joined me digging rocks out of the bank.

Just after 9am we had a healthy breakfast of fruit and yoghurt we came up with a plan.

It is now 6:30 pm and we have installed a new mast for the satellite dish, built the frame for a forth raised bed, moved food stock upstairs, started laying the rest of the wooden floor downstairs and emptied the van.

Salad supper and another early night.

Categories: Summer 2013, The Project

Tuesday

For some reason we set an alarm for 6:45. It went off and we ignored it.

I stirred later and set off with the strimmer to clear the area infront of the barn where we have to build the retaining wall. Breezy followed shortly after and sorted the shower bags, laundry and breakfast.

Yesterday was over 12 hours of travelling and we were more tied than we anticipated.

After brecky we caught up on some internet before having a massive sort out down stairs which culminated in laying battens for the last bit of floorboarding. Showers in the rain before roasted chicken legs with lime and garlic.

Categories: Summer 2013

Montenvers Wedding

The weekend was fantastic!

Flew up to Geneva from Toulouse and stayed in Keith & Lynn’s garage. Caught up with friends and were privileged enough to be invited to Brian & Elaine’s wedding at Montenvers overlooking the Mer de Glace.

Socialising continued all weekend until we flew back on the Monday. Shopped and picked fruit at Clive’s before getting back to the barn gone 7:30. Tired and hungry we installed ourselves in the main barn. Bliss!

Categories: Summer 2013

Seix

This morning we gave Ken a choice of walking up high in the mountains or walking in the foothills around Seix. The fact that Seix has a number of bars swung the vote and so we headed off with a packed lunch.

Parked up by the Rafting centre on the Salat and joined the GR10 for a bit before doing a loop round to the town. Did manage a drink in a bar just as it started to spit with rain. The pace increased as we followed the river back upstream to the van which we regained just as the heavens opened.

Supper was whatever was left in the fridge as tomorrow we leave the barn at 0430hrs. Got to get Ken on a train to Carcasonne before we get a flight to Geneva for a wedding in Chamonix.

Good night!

Categories: Summer 2013

BBQ at the barn

Not so favourable weather today for walking up high in the mountains so the decision was made to have a chilled day at the barn and try and get a BBQ lunch in before the storms.

Breezy & Ken headed off down to the village to collect water and to print out some documents at the Auberge while I started bringing ballast up the hill from by the river. They both mucked in when the got back and by mid morning we had a couple of tons up.

As ken wanted a play with a chainsaw we thought we would get that done before tucking into wine over lunch.

We did manage the cooking bit of the BBQ before the rain arrived but not quite the eating. A mad dash indoors was called for.

An afternoon of watching “Saving Grace” and then a cheese platter for supper.

Categories: Summer 2013

Pic de la Fonta

Up early and picnic made for a trek up Pic de la Fonta. Parked at Col de la Pause and took the traversing  path through the patches of wood land and then back along the ridge to the van.

Popped down the valley afterwards to Seix for a drink just as the heavens opened.

Cherry wood smoked duck salad for supper.

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Port de Salau

Another glorious sunny start to the day. Healthy breakfast on the terrace loads of fruits and yoghurts before heading off up to Port de Salau and a picnic lunch.

It is a good walk up of 1000m but nothing too steep. Al and I were quite interested to see how much snow was about further up for other explore options in the area.  Managed to find a cepe on the way up always a bonus! The first big change is the cabane half way up has been crushed by an avalanche over the winter leaving the shepherd to live in a potacabin style hut this summer, which must have been put there by helicopter. We crossed a few snowy avalanche paths but the rest of the way up was pretty easy going. Good views and Mt Rouch still has too much snow on it for an ascent with Ken.

Port de Salau 14 Port de Salau 12 Port de Salau 11 Port de Salau 09 Port de Salau 07 Port de Salau 05 Port de Salau 03 Port de Salau 01

We had lunch at the col looking into Spain also snowy than we have ever seen it before. There was  a cool wind blowing so only stopped for 30 mins before heading back down. Cold drinks on the terrace once we got back, hot showers and a siesta for Ken before we start on a BBQ for tonight. Hoping the thunderstorms hold off so we can eat outside would be good, we will see. Marinaded lamb in rosemary, garlic and olive oil is on the menu. It was so good when we did it for Dad we thought Ken would appreciate it too, BBQ ed sweet  potatoes and round courgettes going on the BBQ too and salad from the garden and then BBQ pineapple with rum and lime.

Al and I meanwhile attacking e mails and other bits and pieces for Ski Breezy.

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