Osteopath

The diagnosis is that fortunately I haven't ruptured a disc. I have put a torsional twist into my pelvis. The junction where the two halves of the pelvis join at the pubic bone was visibly misaligned and had to be popped back. The twist has knotted up my lower back/sacrum and various muscle groups that run from there to the groin (Psoas, etc) which have been irritating adjacent nerves. Hopefully, now the twist is gone things should get better.

Roof finished!

Still trying to take things easy...but I have managed to finish the slating and with the help of nathaniel (a neighbour) finished the cover beads to the lead flashings where new and old meet.

Busy preparing for the next stage of works - the central heating!

Recovery

A slow return to light duties as my back slowly recovers...still very sore and requiring painkillers and hot water bottles at night.

Some guttering, some internal studwork and a little leadwork.

The weather is still warm and sunny, but it's getting colder in the evenings and the fire is now regulary lit.

Ow

Last roof 4/5ths complete. I could have finished it today but by mid-day I'd ran out of lead. I pressed on with finishing the guttering and then clearing some of the soil bank beside the timber extension which had collapsed in the rain and was impeding the ladder.
I felt a small twinge in my back from the shovelling so decided to call it a day. In the shower I reached for the shampoo bottle at my feet and slipped a disc! The pain was so intense I nearly passed out. Somehow I managed to make it upstairs to bed but the pain all night has been like nothing I've ever known often inducing nausea, despite pain relief. John and Sandrine my neighbours are beings stars - bringing me food, calling the doctor and fetching medication.

So frustrating that after all the building, I've been stopped by a shampoo bottle! 3 hours more on the roof would see the slating finished.

22 hours after the event now and I've managed to stand up. The ridiculously intense pain is thankfully subsiding a little.

Phew!

Another lovely day - front roof finished and some of the guttering up too. Tomorrow I start work on the last roof, hopefully will get it done before the rain next week.

Roofing again

Excellent (topless) weather for roofing and with John helping me today the work is speeding along. About a metre of snow fell above 2500m over the past few days....still too early for skiing though!

Back at the ranch...

Sun, snow, mushrooms and of course more roofing! The wind over the past few days was strong enough to bring down some trees and branches in the fields, so there was some clearing up to do this evening and a few fences to mend.

Dartmoor

Sunday was a lovely day, so we set off early for a walk on the moor, making a circuit between Haytor and Hound Tor.

On the way home we met a group hunting rabbits with 4 beautiful Goshawks.

An early flight this morning and I'm back home in France. Heavy rain and strong winds have filled the rivers, stripped the leaves from the trees and given the roof a good test.

Makeover

With all the redecoration nearly finished at Susie's, we gave the living room a bit of a makeover. Susie made new curtains and I made some window seats.

Back to roofing and guttering soon!