Last of (my) 20 degree days

 Basking in the sun

Clouds illuminated by the sun which had already set behind the mountains

Another lovely day spoilt only by being stung on the head (probably several times) by an angry hornet defending it's nest in the outside loo of the barn (I only opened the door!). The pain was unbelievable for over 6 hours and only now is beginning to subside - even after taking pain killers and anti-histamine. If they'd really attacked I think I'd be in hospital. Enjoying the last of the sun before returning to storm battered England. Seems all trains to the South West past Taunton are cancelled because of flood damage, so god only knows what time I'll get back tomorrow night.

All done!

Thank god that's over...I've been putting it off for a long time, but am pleased with the result.

Kitchen wall

Another long day but the first half of the 'problem' kitchen wall has succumbed to expanded metal and plaster! Another glorious day, shame to be mostly inside. Two tea breaks with Jon and Sandrine who were working in the bottom field ensured I wasn't with my nose to the grindstone for the entire day. The other larger part to do in the next two days along with some other chores.

Plastering

All day plastering with the super fast setting french plaster (and this is the slowest setting stuff they make!). After a cloudy start it turned out to be another beautiful day but I was too busy working to really appreciate it. Still clearing up.

Rendering

Lots of hurling sand/lime render today as I attempted to dub out the window reveals and newly exposed living room wall ready for a top coat of plaster. Interesting how little suction there is to granite! A long wrist aching job...still the huge kitchen wall to do : (

 Loire skeleton found behind the cladding

 Weather approaching from the west

New oak window cills - now for the plastering!

First day back

A walk didn't materialise but the weather has been glorious. Spent most of the day cutting the more field no.1, just two more to do before the winter snows arrive.

There's a lot of rendering and plastering  to do this trip so decided to finally remove the horrible cladding in the living room. The wall and window reveals will be plastered. The windows are much bigger now the boarding has been removed.

France

Back in France. the crappy grey weather in the UK is only a few hundred feet thick - glorious sun above! The skies are wonderfully clear and from 37,000 ft there was an amazing view of the huge dome of the Massive Central and the Alps beyond several hundred miles away. Mont Blanc, the Swiss Alps and the peaks of the Ecrins were all clearly visible.

Weather here is warm, clear and sunny. Passed Ian in the car and then bumped into Minsou for a chat. Saw a purple heron for the first time on the way home too.

Today is one of the few days that the sun sets twice...once each side of Mont Valier. Fire and Rayburn are purring away to heat the house through after being shut up for the last 4 weeks...tomorrow a walk to make the most of this weather before getting down to work.

River Avon

After some heavy building work early in the week (groundworks mostly) the weather at last took a short turn for the better so Susie and I took a walk to explore the lower Avon valley between Topsham bridge and Loddiswell, following the old route of the railway. A look for mushrooms but nothing found.

On Sunday Dominic and I took to the Canadian canoe and followed the Avon again, this time from Aveton Gifford all the way to the sea at Bantham with views to Burgh Island. Fun fighting the incoming tide when we hit the sea, but more leisurely on the way back upstream. Lots of kingfishers on the estuary and some big bass.

Stormy moor

Culm coast