Pic de Seron (4)

Today dawned beautifully clear so we made the most of it with the ascent of Pic de Seron (2489m) and then a circuitous return via Etang d'Aube and Col de Cerda. Windy in the morning then very hot in the afternoon. Saw a frog, a vulture and a ptarmigan.

Still snow below the summit

Thirsty?

Visitor

Clare is back at Quelebu for a week. After a fairly lazy day in the sunshine on Monday, today (Bastille day) we went for a walk in the woods and collected a bumper haul of mushrooms (mostly chanterelles and Hedgehog of the Woods) and a punnet of bilberries from beyond Coumes. A tasty Risotto and Fool for dinner.

Clare est revenue chez moi pour une semaine. Après avoir passé une journée assez feignante au soleil le lundi, aujourd'hui on est allé se promener dans la forêt et ramassé un panier de champignons (principalement les girolles et les pieds de moutons) et une boîte de myrtilles de coin de Coumes. Un risotto délicieux et une crème de myrtilles.

Just one more clue still to get on the Financial Times Cryptic Crossword.

Il ne rest q'une seule indice a résoudre des mots croisés du Financial Times.

My Rayburn (for Weequizzie blog readers)

It's 27 years old. I bought it on e-bay from N Wales and after some loving restoration I brought it here in my little trailer. The story from the original blog posts in 2006 are here and here

Elle a 27 ans. Je l'ai achèté sur e-bay et je suis allé la chérché du Nord du Pays de Galle. Apr&egraves avoir la restoré je l'ai amené ici dans mon petit remorque. L'histoire de cette affaire en 2006 se trouve ici et ici

Makeover

Yesterday was a productive day at Pont de la Taule - kitchen is now 95% finished.

Hier c'etait une journée productive à Pont de la Taule - J'ai presque terminé la cuisine.

Back at Quélébu, after changing the bathroom door a few days ago, today it got a coat of varnish. The bathroom got a mini makeover too. Fresh paint, pictures and towel rails rearranged, windows washed.

À Quélébu, après avoir changé la porte de la salle de bains il y a quelques jour, aujourd'hui je l'ai mis une couche de vernis. En même temps j'ai refraîchi la salle de bains. Avec la peinture, les panneaux et j'ai aussi nettoyé les vitrages.

And now the weather...

Low pressure sat over Norway means we will have a second week of hot, very humid and very thundery weather in the Ariege.

Une dépression rest au dessus Norvège donc une deuxième semaine de temps chauds, humids et orageuse en Ariege.
Yesterday evening and this morning I busied myself in the house, I got rid of the horrible flush door to the bathroom and made a new ledged and braced door and frame and installed it on the kitchen side of the doorway so there's more room to get in, you don't bang into the central heating pump, and the door lines up with the threshold between the wooden floor in the house and the tiled floor in the bathroom. I'll finish the door once the humid weather has gone and the wood has dried out a bit more.

Hier soir et le matin je m'ai occupé à chez moi, J'ai enlevé la porte de la salle de bains (moderne et moins chère) et j'ai fait une nouvelle (renforcé en 'Z') et installé sur la face cuisine du mur - comme ça il y a plus d'espace, et plus propre. Je vais vernir après le temps humids sont passé et les planchés sont seché un peu plus.

On the bike

Skipped the mountains today in favour of doing some laundry and then cycling to Pont de la Taule to do some more work, just as well as the mountains were full of thunder and lightning this afternoon. The climb back up from Castet to my house is still a killer, 450m (1500ft) of height gain mostly at 1 in 6 and 1 in 7. The profile below is from my house to Pont de la Taule - left to right takes an 1hr, amazingly right to left takes 1hr 10mins, thought it would take much longer. Je ne suis pas allé aux montagnes aujourd'hui (heuresment parce que il y a des orages), plustôt j'ai lavé des vetements et puis allé à Pont de la Taule en vélo afin continuer les travaux. L'escalade entre Castet et chez moi etais très pentu - 450m de denivelée à 18% et 14% le pluspart. La silouhette au dessus est chez moi à Pont de la Taule - gauche à droite me prend 1 heure, droite à gauche (seulement) 1 heure 10 mins

Beaucoup trop

Epinards, salade, courgettes, soleil, mouches!!

Hot and humid again today - 35 degrees and close to 100% humidity - thunder, a brief shower this morning but no storm. Lots of clegg flies. Tomorrow I'll escape to cooler altitudes.

Chaud et lourd encore aujourd'hui - 35 dégrées et 100% humidité - des tonneurs, des petites averses mais pas l'orage. Les taons partout. Demain je vais échapper vers l'altitude plus frâiche.

Tonight for tea a spicy concoction of spinach, mince, leeks, courgettes and garlic with rice plus the last of the ham from Barker. 18 months since he was killed, a bit of salt, no sight of a refrigerator or freezer but it's still delicious. In today's supermarket world of preservative injected meat that survives in it's packet in the refrigerator for a week maximum and certainly should be eaten within 3 days of opening, it makes you realise that something is wrong.

Ce soir un recette de epinards, steak hâché, poireaux, courgettes et d'aile avec riz et le dernière morceau de jambon de "Barker" (mon cochon). Dix huit mois depuis je l'ai tué, un peu de sel, pas de frigo, pas de congelateur, mais delicieux encore. Au supermarché tout la viande sont injecté avec conservateurs et on doit consommer avant une semaine ou trois jours si ouvert.

10.15pm still very hot, but bilberry fool has hit the spot!

22.15 chaud encore, mais crème aux myrtilles etais exact!

Things I didn't 'twig' until recently

A Courgette is a Marrow picked young.

Bilberries are Blueberries.

Busy and hot

After yesterday's session with the chainsaw I was hoping for a calmer day today. I had thought to go for a another walk in the mountains, but I met Paul in the woods mushroom hunting yesterday afternoon and he asked if I was going to the Fête du Feu de St Jean in Castet d'Aleu in the evening? I hadn't realised that there was a fête but decided to go.

Après j'ai pris tout hier travaillé avec la tronconneuse, j'esperais un journée de repos aujourd'hui, peut-être un rando aux montagnes? Mais j'ai rencontré Paul dans le bois (il cherche les champignons)et il m'a demandé si j'irais à la fête du Feu de St Jean à Castet d'Aleu le soir? Je n'ai pas lu les fiches sur le Panneau à Biech, mais j'ai decidé d'aller.

As is normal here you pay 5 euros and bring your own plate, knife, fork and glass. Thereafter everything is free and it's l'apero followed by an al fresco meal at about 9.00pm - three courses, wine and l'Eau de Vie. As this was the Feu de St Jean, there was a bonfire at about 11.30. A nice evening but after a little too much to drink a walk was ruled out today.

Comme d'habitude ici, on paye cinq euros, porte ton plat, verre, couteau et fourche, puis toutes sont gratuites. L'apero, un repas dehors à neuf heures (trois plats), vin et l'eau de vie. À onze heures et demi le feu a allumé. Un soirée sympa, mais après un peu trop de boire, pas de rando aujourd'hui.

This morning I collected the thinnings from the tree clearance which I had put aside and used them to repair the hazel fencing around field number 2. Then M. Larcher arrived - the owner of the ruin beside my house, my front garden and many of the surrrounding fields some of which I have cleared and use. He was clearing some of the scrubland beside my vegetable plot and he said if I wanted I could fell the ash trees which were there. They threaten to fall on the telephone lines and here ash trees are like weeds. As he was there to help, I decided that there was 'no time like the present' and by 2.00 we had felled and logged the dozen or so trees and tidied up. It was hot work as it's been about 34 degrees all day, plus there was the nuisance of clegg flies biting all the time. In the late afternoon I went for an explore beyond the hamlet of 'Coumes' just down the road (possible deer stalking terrority). Afterwards I traversed the back of Joubac high above the Arac river before a long and steep ascent to the summit of Joubac with it's amazing views. I managed to collect plenty of myrtilles, but alas too late for the fruits of the forest summer pudding that I made last night to eat tonight.

Le matin j'ai ramassé les batons de bois que j'ai gardé depuis hier, et réparé mes clôtures en noisetier au tour de pré numero 2. Puis M Larcher est arrivé - proprietère de la ruine à côté de chez moi, mon jardin et des prés pres d'ici (un moitie de la nouvelle extension de prés numero 1 par example). Il a nettoyé le terrain à côté de mon potager et il m'a dit que si je veux je peut couper les dizaines frênes la (ils ont poussé sur les lignes de la téléphone). Nous avons travaillé ensemble et par quartorze heures toutes ont fini. il fait chaud (34 dégrees) avec les mouches nuisibles - les taons. L'après midi j'ai fait un exploration plus loins que l'hameau de Coumes. Un peu après l'hameau j'ai contourné le versant nord de Joubac bien au dessus l'Arac (rivière) puis un longue et raid ascension au sommet - vue panoramique des Pyrènees Ariegeoise. Beaucoup des myrtilles, helas trop tard pour un dessert des fruit du bois j'ai fait hier.

I didn't get home until 8.00 but it was still a comfortable 25 degrees. Tonight mince stuffed homegrown marrow with homegrown spinach and pine nuts followed by the summer pudding and cream.

J'ai rentré à vingt heures, 25 dégrees encore. Le repas, courge farci avec steak haché, epinards, pignons et après mon dessert des fruits "summer pudding"

Even after a hard days work this was too much for me to finish!

Tree felling

Field no 2 got a short back and sides on Wednesday, then yesterday I was working at Pont de la Taule and today I was tidying the fields again - mostly pruning, felling and logging trees which were either blocking the sunlight to the fields or had fallen in the storms last winter. A big oak in field 1 proved a complicated affair with three huge horizontal boughs tangled around each other. It eventually came down but it took all afternoon - the sheep enjoyed the fresh oak leaves and ivy.

Le Mercredi pré numero deux a reçu un coif, hier j'ai travaillé à Pont de la Taule et aujourd'hui j'ai nettoyé mes prés encore - coupant et abattant les arbres qui bloquer le soliel ou qui sont tomber dans la tempête hiver derniere. Un grande chêne dans pré numero 1 etait une affaire compliqué avec trois branches enormes qui sont tout embrouillé. Enfin je les abattues mais cela a pris tout l'après-midi. Les brebis aiment manger les feuilles.

Rainbow and lightning at 6.00am

Pic de Soune, Pic de Coulliac

Looking back along the ridge from Pic de Soune to Pic de Couillac (on the skyline extreme right). On the return I crossed the huge snow slope in the middle of the picture. I started from the piste on the extreme left of the picture in the middle distance. (Click for a bigger image)

Didn't sleep too well last night, but as I was up at 6.00 and the weather was perfect, I took a day in the mountains. From Gerac (behind Guzet ski-station) I climbed over into the Turguilla valley then up to the Pointe de la Hillette, but instead of following the ridge towards Pointe de Rabassere I veered right onto a lovely path which traverses high above the Etang de la Hillette to enter the huge coombe above it. A long rising traverse brought me to the Port de Couillac (2416m) and views across the border into Spain. From here I turned right following the crest which marks the frontier over numerous peaks including Pic de Couillac (2601m) and Pic de Soune (marked as 2655m on the map but I'm sure it was slightly lower than Pic de Couillac). I thought of pressing on to Pic des Certescan but after the poor nights sleep decided to take it easy.

Je ne dors pas bien nuit dernière, mais si je me suis reveillé a six heures et il fait beau, je profiterais - un journée aux montagnes. De Gerac (derriere Guzet Neige) je suis monté dans le vallée d'Turguilla, puis avant faire l'ascension de Pointe de Hillette, plutôt que continuer vers Pointe de Rabassere, j'ai suivi un sentier à droite (bien balisagée en rouge) qui contourner l'epaule bien au dessus l'Etang de la Hillette afin entrée la grande combe au dessus. Une grande traverse ascendante m'a deposé sur le Port de Couillac (2416m) avec des bellevues à Espagne. De la j'ai tourné à droite et poursuivre la crête de la frontière traversant des pics (Pic de Couillac 2601m et Pic de Soune 2655m). J'ai reflechi de continuer à Pic de Certescans mais après un mauvais nuit j'ai decidé de rest tranquil.

Looking from Pic de Couillac towards Pic de Soune. The three big peaks on the skyline are Guerossos (left), Flavisella and Pic de Certescans (middle) and Pic de Montabone (right). The lake on the left is Lago de Certascan the biggest natural lake in the Pyrenees and at 100m deep, one of the deepest.

On the return I skirted below the peaks I had just climbed on a huge area of nevé (snow) before crossing back more or less to my route of ascent. Spotted two hikers about a mile away but other than them, I had the mountains to myself.

En retour j'ai contourné en dessous les Pics sur des grandes nevés vers ma route de l'ascension. J'ai vu deux randonneurs à deux kilometres mais sauf qui, je suis seule dans toutes les montagnes.

Etang de Montabone

On the way I found a dead seagull minus it's head - not sure what it was doing this far inland and what bit it's head clean off but left the rest of the bird untouched?

J'ai trouvé une mouette mort sans tête - je ne sais pas pourquoi elle etait plus loin de la mer et qui arraché sa tête mais laisser sas corps?

Field 4

Field 4 (down in the woods) often gets little attention in the summer as there's so much grass for the sheep nearer the house, but today it got a good clean up...I'll put the sheep down there next week.

Prairie numero 4 (dans le forêt) est souvent mal entretenu pendant été parce que il y a beaucoup des herbes plus prôche de chez moi, mais aujourd'hui elle a reçu des entretiens et tout est propre.

Wild Food

After spending the morning almost finishing off the Financial Times cryptic crossword (2 clues still to get), a walk this afternoon provided wild mushrooms and strawberries.

Le matin j'ai fais presque les mots croisés du "Financial Times" (deux définitions à faire), l'après midi un petit tour et j'ai trouvé des champinons et des fraises des bois.

So for dinner tonight...wild mushrooms (cep, girolles and trumpet de la mort) and home grown courgette and onion thingamajig with rice and a little local goats cheese followed by wild strawberries and yoghurt.

Donc le repas ce soir...champignons sauvage (cep, girolles, et trumpette de la mort) avec courgettes et oignons de la maison, riz et un peu de fromage du chèvre. Le dessert - des fraises et yaourt.

Now off to the Fête des Musiques in St Girons.

Maintenant la Fête des Musiques à St Girons

Update

After 5 days of hot humid weather, local walks, entertaining and being entertained, hay making, late nights and late mornings, cheese, wine and much catching-up, Clare has returned to the UAE Hopefully we'll see each other again much sooner than the 20 years since we last saw each other!

Après cinq jours des temps humids et chaudes, randos, recevoir et invitations, faire du foin, soireés tard et matins tard aussi, du fromage et beaucoup de remettre au courant, clare est parti à Dubai. J'espère que nous nous recontrerons plus tôt que les vingt ans depuis le dernière fois!

I have discovered that I have developed an allergy to "chicken of the woods" fungus which now makes me violently sick...shame as I love it. We found the first cep mushroom of the year mid-week though as a consolation prize. Lots of lettuce, courgettes, onions, strawberries and spinach from the garden - first potatoes and tomatoes soon but no sign yet of the carrots and the cabbage/cauliflowers are still teeny-weeny.

J'ai decouvri que j'ai une allergie à le champignon polypores panés...dommage parce que je l'aime. Nous avons trouvé le première cep du printemps/été comme un prix de consolation. Beaucoup des salades, des courgettes, des oignons, des fraises et des epinards de mon potager - premières pommes du terre et tomates tôt mais pas des traces des carrottes encore et les choux/choux fleurs sont petites.

Clare is here

My old school friend Clare Woodcraft is visiting for a few days. Here's her front (which she doesn't want me to publish)...
Ma copine d'ecole Clare Woodcraft me visit depuis quelques jours. Voila sa visage (elle n'aime pas que je l'ai publié)...

...and here is her behind (which she doesn't mind me publishing). On the left Nina.

...et voila sa derrière. À gauche Nina

A rare photo of me (just noticed my shirt is inside out)

Cap de Ruhos

Alun and Breezy on the Col de Crusous

A trip today up Pic de la Montagnoule (2623m) and Cap de Ruhos (2618m) from the Mines d'Anglade with Alun, Breezy and Ian. Marmots and some isard joined us along the way. A strong wind cut through the warm sunshine but the views were spectacular as always. The Lago Mariola was still half frozen.

Aujourd'hui un rando à Pic de la Montagnoule et Cap de Ruhos vers les Mines d'Anglade avec Alun, breezy et Ian. Une marmotte et des isards nous joignent. Un vent fort et froid malgré le soliel, mais les vues dégagés comme toujours de ces Pics. Le Lac d'Mariola etait moitie moitie la glace et l'eau.

Cap de Ruhos summit

On the descent we swung into the 'hidden valley' of Fontaret, positively Dolomitic.

Nous sommes descendu vers la 'vallée caché' de Fontaret, presque Dolomitique.

Remington model seven refurbishment works over

The works to my Remington Model Seven are now complete. The stock looks fantastic (click on the photo for a closer look) and hopefully with the action glass bedded it'll shoot better than ever.

Les travaux sur mon carabine Remington 7 ont fini. La crosse voir superbe et j'espère que la carabine va tirer egalement superbe.

Last few days have been spent making more hay, finishing the flood attenuation works to the barn, planting the carrots and sanding the kitchen floor at Pont de la Taule. The amazing weather continues but things are set to cool off a little and some rain should bring a cep mushroom harvest.

Les derniers jours passent avec faire du foin, faire les travaux l'attenuation d' innondation pour la grange, semencer de carrottes et poncer les planchers dans la cuisine à Pont de la Taule. les beaux temps continuer mais il va faire frais demain et peut-être de la pluie - j'espère de trouver des ceps!

Mont Valier (5)

Riberot Valley

Sandrine arriving at the hut

Spent the last couple of days climbing Mont Valier by the Voie Normale with Ian and Sandrine. We set off yesterday morning and arrived at the Estagnous hut in the early afternoon. Pretty much continuous snow cover above the hut so I taught Sandrine how to self arrest with her ice axe in readiness for climbing Valier today. There were only the three of us and the guardien Stefan at the hut, but we had a great evening, with fantastic food and drink provided by Stefan.

Les dernières jour sur Mont Valier par la voie normale avec Ian et Sandrine. Nous sommes parti hier matin et sommes arrivé à l'Estagnous mi l'après-midi. Encore de la neige continu au dessus la refuge, donc j'ai donné un leçon de utilisation de Piolet à Sandrine avant l'ascension aujourd'hui. Il y a seulement nous trois et le guardien Stefan à la refuge, mais un beau soirée avec repas et dégustation de l'eau du vie!

The climb up Valier was interesting on sometimes steep and rather soft snow. Great glissade on the way down.

L'ascension de Valier etait interessant sur la neige raide mais molle. Grande glissade en la descente.

Ian cramponing to reach the summit

Sandrine on the summit ridge

The Etang Rond and Etang Long are still completely ice/snow covered and the route to the Etang Long impassable.

L'Etang Rond et Long sont totalement gélés et le sentier à l'Etang Long impassable.

The Cascade Nerech is in full spate.

La Cascade Nerech etait pleineOn the way up the footbridge was missing below the cascade, on the way down it had been miraculously replaced (by helicopter?).

À la montée la passerelle en dessous la cascade etait manquer, mais à la descente elle a été remplacer (par hélicoptère?)

Sweet smells

Hot dry weather for the foreseeable future so this morning I started cutting hay. More to cut tomorrow. Cutting it now, rather than late June, means that it is easier to cut, I'm not plagued by flies and I can get another cut in August. The smell of drying hay is lovely. More tung/linseed oil mix is going on the rifle stock and that smells lovely too.

The vegetable garden is also doing well - potatoes, onions, spinach, courgettes, strawberries, tomatoes, cauliflower and cabbage all doing well. Carrots go in tomorrow.

First coat of oil

After a day of sanding and then raising the grain, the stock got it first coat of oil today - 2 weeks of finishing still to do but the grain and colour look very promising.

Après poncant toute la journée, je l'ai donné une première couche de huile - deux semaines de travaux de finition a faire mais le grain et le coleur sont joli déja.

Remington Model Seven

The new shaped stock awaiting finishing

I was never very satisfied with the stock on my Remington Model Seven rifle. It was too long in the forestock for a carbine length barrel, it lacked a heel on the grip, the checkering was poor and the inletting atrocious. The stock creaked because it was stressed against the action. So the plan has always been to build a new stock, I have some very nice local walnut seasoning at the moment but I can't wait until 2012 when it will be ready. So I have ordered a laminated wood blank (the stability of laminate being good for the tough conditions here). Meantime I thought I should practice my gunsmithing techniques on the old stock.

Je n'aime jamais la crosse de mon carabine Remington Model Seven. Trop longue pour le canon et la fabrication mauvaise. Je plan à remplacer avec une faire de moi avec le noyer de Quélébu qui secher en planches, mais il sera prêt d'utiliser en 2012 - je ne veut pas attender. Alors, j'ai commander une piece de bois laminée (bien pour les conditiones de chasse dur et les mauvais temps d'hiver), et quand j'attend pour le livraison j'ai décidé de practiser des techniques sur ma vieille crosse.

So over the past week I've been spending the evenings, reshaping the stock. I've shortened the forestock by 3 inches (which also meant removing the checkering), free floated the barrel, reshaped around the tang, introduced a heel, redone some of the checkering on the grip and last night I glass bedded the action (the plan is to pillar bed the action in the new stock).

Pendant ces derniers jours, j'ai passé les soirs, travailler sur la crosse - Plus court, nouvelle form, canon flotant, la mécanisme coucher sur epoxy.

Epoxy bedding around the recoil lug and tang

Still have the finishing to do on the stock and under the brown stain Remington seem to have sprayed on it (now removed), there is some lovely grain emerging. The project is coming together nicely and I'm very pleased so far. Maybe I don't need a new stock afterall?

To see the completed project click here and for a second remington model 7 project click here

Encore la finition de faire, mais ca me plait. Peut-être je n'ai pas besoin une nouvelle crosse?

Building Works

At last the scaffolding is down at Justin's so here are some pictures of the balcony and roof I've been building.

Enfin l'échafaudages à chez Justin est demonter, donc voila - la galerie et tôit que j'ai fais.

Works at Pont de la Taule are also progressing, the kitchen is taking shape and much of the first fix electrics are in.

Pont de la Taule avance aussi, la cuisine et la distribution electrique.

Tonight a cheese fondue with Justin, Emily, Amanda, Benji, Ian and Nina.

Tuc de Bignau (ski)

After Sunday's trip to Tuc de Bignau, I decided to do it again, on skis. Clear skies last night but the snow wasn't frozen this morning. About 40 mins of carrying before I hit the snow (Refuge Forestiere d'Areau) then continous to the col below the summit (right hand skyline in photo above). Spring snow and a fun easy descent. Arriving at the sign post at 1998m I ascended Cour Vic (on foot) for another descent (on skis) back to the Cabane d'Areau. Back at the col de Pause in time for lunch. 1000m ascent/descent 3hr 30min.

Après ma sortie en raquettes Dimanche dernière à Tuc de Bignau, j'ai decidé de repeter aujourd'hui en ski de rando. Eclaircies dans la nuit, mais pas de regel nocturne. Quarante minutes de portage entre col de Pause et la Refuge Forestière d'Areau, mais puis neige continu jusqu'au col en dessous le sommet. Belle descente facile sur neige printaniere. De point 1998m ascent de Cour Vic (à pied) pour une deuxième belle descente à la Cabane d'Areau. 1000m denivilée, 3hr 30 min Aller/Retour - beau temps.

Tuc de Bignau

Mont Valier and Petit Valier

View from the summit - mostly Spain

It's been far too long since I've been in the mountains so today I set off for a short excusion to find my 'hill-feet'.  I parked at the last hairpin before Col de Pause (1500m), where the road is still blocked by an avalanche, and set off for Tuc de Bignau (2395m). Met some local ski tourers who despite the long carry found some good descents today (from the col below Tuc de Bignau and then Cour Vic). My ascent was straightforward apart from having to descend and then reascend about 200m to retrieve my camera which I dropped (no harm done thanks to the padded case). Plenty of snow and my new walking boots got their first outing - they seem reasonably comfortable.

Il est longtemps depuis j'ai visité les montagnes, donc aujourd'hui j'ai fait une petite sortie. J'ai garé la voiture à la dernière virage avant le Col de Pause (1500m) cause d'avalanche. En route de Tuc de Bignau (2395m) j'ai rencontré des skiers qui malgré la portage ont trouvé des belles descentes. Rando facile sauf en dessous du sommet j'ai laissé tomber mon photo appareil - 200m de denivilée de plus du chercher. Encore beaucoup de neige, et mes nouvelles chaussures de randonnée sont trés comfortable.

Only three hours for the round trip, so time for some scything, mucking out, shed cleaning, weeding and planting back home in the afternoon.

Trois heures aller/retour, donc temps à faucher, défumier, nettoyer l'atelier, désherber et semencer des legumes a chez moi.

Still no sheep

The works at Justin's are pretty much finished for me now - oak balcony and roof structure complete. Today I recommenced the work at Pont de la Taule and am aiming to get the kitchen done in the next week or so.

Still no sign of Una, I search most evenings. There are some rough dogs staying in the woods with Mariesa (who lives in a tent in the woods below my house) one is the biggest dog I have probably ever seen in my life - Pitbull/Great Dane cross? I am noticing it's enormous paw prints everywhere in the woods now.  A farmer in the next valley lost 22 sheep last autumn before the culprit was finally identified (and shot I presume) - it turned out to be a dog from the next village (Soulan) which got a taste for lamb.

This evening I have put up little posters asking for everyone to keep an eye out for her...only as I pinned up the last one I noticed a typing mistake.  Instead of typing "Si vous la voyez, appelez moi" (if you see her, call me) I have typed "Si vous la volez appelez moi" (if you stole her, call me).  I'll have to alter them tomorrow.

Missing Sheep

Since Thursday Una has been missing. When I left in the morning for Justin's I had 7 sheep when I got back in the evening 6. It is very unusual for one sheep to go missing - usually if one sheep escapes they all escape, and if they can't all escape the that did escape will hang around on the other side of the fence. The last two days I have walked miles searching in vain. She has a bell, one horn and was sheared a few days ago but no-one has seen or heard her. No sign of an exit point from the field, no sign of a struggle, no tracks in the mud.

Depuis Jeudi j'ai manqué une brebis (Una). Quand je suis parti à chez Justin j'ai eu sept brebis mais quand j'ai rentré j'ai eu six. C'est bizarre de manquer une brebis parce que normalement elles restent toujours ensemble, si une échappe toutes échappent. Les derniers jours J'ai marché des kilometers, cherchant sans success. Elle a une cloche, une corne, les boucles et je l'ai tendu semaine dernier, mais ne personne a la vu ou entendu. Pas de evidence de sortie, pas des traces.

Sheep shearing over

All the sheep are now sheared - what a job! Wool was very waxy and very dense and fine - couldn't push the electrics shears through it (think I need to get a different comb for next year), so did most of it with hand shears - difficult when engaged in 'hand to hand combat' with a sheep. Two sacks of wool to be washed and carded.

Toutes mes brebis ont été tendues - quel travail! La laine etait très grasse et dense - il etait impossible de pousser la tendeuse dedans (je pense que j'ai besoin une peigne especiale), donc j'ai coupé avec des ciseaux - difficile quand en bataille avec une brebis.  Deux sac de la laine prêt de laver et peigner.

Beautiful weather today and time for some fence rebuilding and scything - a break from building at Justins and Pont de la Taule.

Beau temps aujourd'hui, pour rebattir des clôtures et faucher les prairies - un pause du charpente à chez Justin et Pont de la Taule.

Sheep shearing

Before and after

After working most of the day at Justin and Emily's, I returned home and decided to shear some of the sheep. I started with Mini (the largest) and although it's much, much harder than the professionals make it look, all went well. Next I tried India (difficult to catch) and about a third of the way through a battle commenced and somehow I managed to cut the tip off my finger...ouch! It's hard work trying to restrain the sheep and accurately wield a heavy and razor sharp set of sheep shears. Tired, I decided to wait until I had someone to help me...much easier with two or three people. 

Après travailler la pluspart de la journée à chez Justin et Emily, je rentre et décide de tends les brebis. j'ai commencé avec mini (la plus grande) et malgré c'etait beaucoup plus difficile que apparent, ca va bien. Prochaine essaye India (toujours difficile d'attrapper) et après 30% la battaille a commencé et pendant le chaos j'ai coupé un petit morceau de mon doigt - oi! C'etait difficile de tenir la brebis et tendre a le même temps avec une tendeuse lourd et bien aiguisé. Fatiger, j'ai décidé d'attendre pour un coup de main - ce sera plus facile avec deux ou trois personnes.

Mini looks much smaller but she soon reminded Una that she was top-dog after a fairly ferocious head to head butting session.

Mini a l'air d'être plus petite mais elle a rappelé Una que elle est la patrone après elles ont cassé leurs têtes.

It's a sheepy stand-off

"Come on, if you think you're hard enough." The new lambs are getting bullied.

Flood!

More heavy rain arrived yesterday evening (at the same time as my two new lambs). It continued throughout the night and by morning the barn was flooded (again). The sheep stayed outside in the downpour all day - not surprising as the barn had been turned into a slurry pit and all the straw was sodden.

After removing all the bedding, I set to work digging trenches around the barn to try and relieve the flood waters - hard work with a pickaxe trying to get through stiff clay and assorted rocks. By lunchtime I was soaked to the skin and hadn't made much difference to the flooding situation. I was out of straw and today is the May holiday in France so everywhere was closed. Concerned that the new arrivals who have never been outside before and have little wool to speak of, might get chilled without any straw, especially as they'd been out in the monsoon all day - straw had to be found. Alban the farmer in the next valley saved my bacon (or lamb) and gave me half a round bale. The rain eventually stopped in the early evening and after some more trenching I eventually unearthed two drainage holes in the exterior wall and the much of the water in the barn was released.

Sadly Claude, my dear friend and neighbour, has passed away. He had heart surgery about 3 weeks ago following a heart attack and never regained consciousness. I will miss him greatly.