Sun

Lovely weather her in the UK at the moment, so after Susie had done some work in the garden and I'd fettled with the car (adjusting the clutch) we all headed off to Thurlstone beach for some rockpooling, frisbee and ice-cream!

Phew!

It's been a short trip but I've got plenty of work done!

All the plasterboarding is done except for the bathroom, all the first and second fix wiring is done except for bathroom and utility room, the gas hob is working, the staircase is taking shape (though the flights are still temporary) and the entrance is tiled.

Much of the building rubbish/waste has now been disposed of, the vegetable garden dug, one hedge trimmed and two fields strimmed.

Time for a rest.

snow!

On Saturday the weather remained hot and I pressed on with mostly electrical work indoors, starting to build the new staircase and later when it was cooler strimming field 3.

Sunday and all change on the weather front, rain overnight quickly turned to sleet then snow, but the ground is too warm for it to settle. More electrical work and stair building, then two more viewings at Pont and a quick visit to see Jason and Grace.

In the evening I lit the Rayburn and cooked myself a birthday dinner of roast chicken!

Dry

Dug 2/3 of the vegetable garden this morning. Hard work as the plot is covered in nettles and the ground iron hard - it's been an incredibly dry winter, I've never seen the soil so dry at this time of year.
Spent the rest of the day progressing the kitchen. Gas hob and electric oven now working as are the kitchen lights.

Quelebu again

Back in France. Glorious weather, 33 in the sun today.

With spring approaching looking after the land is once again competing with the extension for my time. With such perfect weather I laid the hedge under the electricity line in field 4. Some blisters and scratches for my efforts.Field 1 was strimmed also. The vegetable plot might get dug over tomorrow.

Inside I stripped the cladding in the old kitchen, oiled the worktops twice, fitted the sink traps and might get some wainscotting done tonight.

All go!

Pumped

Another day, another bathroom! This time progress with my mum's en-suite.

A leaky fuel pump on the Saab has been occupying my time also. Spent a half day making and fitting new gaskets which failed to solve the problem, then the fuel line developed a hole en-route to mums and was gushing fuel. This was quickly replaced and after some investigation it seems the fitted fuel pump is from an old Ford Pinto and not the pump for the V4 engine. A new pump is still available at a very reasonable cost so will replace it later today before leaving for France.

Cornwall

A short weekend away in Cornwall staying in a lovely old Gypsy caravan.
The weather on Saturday was beautiful and we walked around the coast through the daffodil fields and exploring the old gabbro mines. A shame we had to come back so soon.
Next time we might stay in the tree house!
Back to France in a couple of days.

Ivybridge excursion

Back in blighty, building an en-suite for my mum and John.

Susie is external examining most Fridays and needs a lift to whichever school she is visiting. Today was Ivybridge and even though the examining only took 2 hours, I had time to dash off and visit Hangershell rock, Piles Hill, Three Barrows and Sharp Tor.

Hangershell Rock with Hanger down clump in the distance across the valley

Hangershell rock

Sharp Tor

View from Sharp Tor