A dusting of snow

Field clearing and studwork today.

Works resume

Back to the continuing Indian summer in the Pyrenees (26 in the sun today) but work has now switched to indoors. Next week the central heating, but first all the necessary preparation work. Today I installed the rayburn - knocking through the wall to connect the chimney and positioning it on the plinth I cast before leaving for Totnes.

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!

Update

Another trip to the UK and a break from the building works.

Earlier in the week Jon and I took down a huge eucalyptus tree in the garden of my flat in Bath which was now taller than the three storey terrace, alas I forgot my camera.With Susie, Jasper and Ruby, I made an interesting walk around the coast to Dartmouth for a fish and chips super before walking back to the car park arriving just as the sun set.

Yesterday an excursion in the estuary above Dartmouth on sea kayaks with Dominic. Beautiful calm conditions.

Cladding the dormer before the rain and then some internal studwork...now for a big clear-up!

First roof complete

Tony and John left early this morning leaving just four courses and the ridge to complete. They worked their socks off and their help was a real boost at a time when I was flagging. It was another hot day today (mid-thirties in the sun).

Virtually nowhere to stand on the ridge, quite difficult and frequently frustrating slating, but at last the first roof is finished. Even managed a little work to the front dormer before dark. Rain due tomorrow afternoon so a useful test for the roof.

Work progress

Last night with rope and pulleys we managed to manhandle the cast iron bath upstairs to it's new resting place in the bathroom.

Today was a semi rest day. In the morning we helped the local farmer move the escaped cows into the field in front of the house.Then we went for a stroll up to the airstrip at Joubac. It was another amazing day and when we got there we were surprised to find 4 aircraft parked up. Another 2 came into to land shortly after we arrived and there was soon a grand lunch underway for all the pilots.

When we got back, we moved the rayburn and took down the last of the old chimney.

More roof progress shots and a rare one of me as there's someone else to hold the camera!

The amazing weather continues and Tony and John are here helping me with the roof and gutters. Quicker progress with three of us.

A quick wander in the woods yesterday even and we had enough mushrooms for a risotto.

Been pressing on with the front roof for the last day or so...south-west facing so even hotter and the great summer weather continues. A small contingent of cavalry arrive later in the shape of Susie's uncle Tony and a fellow biker, who've ridden down from West Wales via Le Havre on the back roads. They've promised a couple of days assistance in return for board and lodging.

First roof 95% complete

A return to hot weather which should stay for at least the next week. Finally I have finished the first roof (except for a few finishes touches, the gutter and the cover flashing against the wall of original house).

The slating went better today, I got more organised with the work, bought a slater's hammer which is good for cutting and holing the slates - plus it's lighter which seems to reduce the bounce, and I had some better quality drill bits for piloting the battens.

This morning I finished the insulation, lined out dormers and fitted the newel post. Then time for a break from building...god I needed it.

I took down some of the electric fencing from the fields, repaired other fences and did some strimming. Found some lovely orange birch bolettes for dinner too. The weather is still summer-like and the forest and fields are just beautiful. Tomorrow back to roofing.

More snow

The church at Aleu this morning

Lots of rain yesterday which has brought snow to the mountains once more. I spent the day insulating the timber framed extension, a job I'm finishing today whilst things dry out.

Velux number 2

Last night a lovely meal at Alun and Breezy's. I've barely seen them this summer so it was good to catch up. Their place is really coming on...had to fight past the donkeys to get in though!

Here the second velux is in, and I'm hoping I can finish this rear roof pitch before the rain comes on Friday.

Smoking!

Another day of searing heat. Only smoke from the fires below Mont Valier have interrupted the azure sky.

Slating continues, the main roof is much less frustrating (bouncy) than the dormer.

Slating in death valley

Been so hot here I've had to wear an oven glove to touch the slates...I never thought I'd say it but I wish the hot weather would end now...I'd rather be slating in rain...in fact I've realised I really HATE slating.

My biggest pain in the arse is that there is 'bounce' in the battens which makes driving the slate nails home near impossible. I'm not sure if its the hardness of the baked douglas fir, the warm roof construction or the 3.35mm diameter copper nails. I even bumped up the thickness of the battens from the normal 25mm to 30mm but it doesn't seem to have made any difference.

Ironwood

Indian summer continues with temperatures into the high thirties - great for relaxing before the autumn weather arrives, but not so good for being on a slate roof devoid of shade all day. The battens have been baked hard...most nail holes have to be pilot drilled and even then the douglas fir is snapping drill bits at an alarming rate, such is the hardness of the dense part of each growth ring.

Got 3/4 of one of the dormers slated today...progress seems painfully slow and the roof enormous.

Although most of the swelling in my little finger has receded, I'm still unable to play my guitar as it's too painful when I use my pinky. Seems like ages since I've played.

First velux in!

Cursing not going and buying a roof ladder today, but the first velux is in and some of the dormer leadwork too.

A lovely week in Totnes. Some paid work kitchen fitting, an outing to the theatre to see Slava's Snow Show - excellent clowning, a walk on the moor and Susie got her wedding dress, a 1930's antique.

Back home and on with the roof. Some fiddling with the tilting fillet then on with slating. Slow progress and difficult to find a rhythm. Eventually I emptied and moved one of the crates of slates which was in the way which helped...but the slates are thick, the battens hardened in the sun and the copper nails soft.

The weather is still hot here and has been for several weeks. A little rain is forecast for Wednesday.

Battening over!

Managed to finish all the roof battening today...yay!

The weather clears again to reveal...