Boeuf

For the past few days I've been working at the house at Pont de la Taule. The electricity is due to be connected tomorrow and I needed to install a fuse board and earth. This morning field No 2 got its autumn 'short back and sides' then for lunch I went to Massat where there was a steer roast - free for all the inhabitants of the Canton. The boeuf was enormous, enough to feed the 500 or more people who showed up. Most had come with plates, cutlery and copious side dishes. I turned up with two slabs of buttered bread! The cow sandwich was delicious. Met up with Justin and Emily and a few friends.

And for dinner tonight? Boeuf Bourgignon.

Morning Alpenglow

Snow

The clouds stayed low today, but Pic de Lasirouge showed itself briefly...here's the view from the house.

Cold spell

Temperatures have dropped, this morning 6 degrees. There's a decent dump of snow above 2000m and over the next few days snow is forecast down to 900m (I live at 800m). The thatchers are now due in about 3 weeks time so things could turn cold in the house. Today I brought some logs into the house and lit the Rayburn for the first time this autumn.

Books

Yesterday was another big clear up day with a bonfire and trips to the dump plus some farmwork.

Today it's been overcast and drizzly, in fact it never seemed to get light. So I built two sets of matching bookshelves (one in each corner of the bedroom). At last I can get rid of the bookcase at the top of stairs which robbed the bedroom of light and space. Also I can now bring all my books into the house (some were in the workshop). It's great to have space back in the bedroom.

End in sight

A beautiful day today. The sun shone but it was never too hot (perhaps 20) and with the fantastic clearness that occurs as autumn approaches. A big clear up in the morning, stacking wood, loading rubble into the trailer and stacking the old roof sheets - then finishing the roof battens. No jarring power tools just me a saw and a hammer - bliss. Three or four more days of mostly leadwork and the roof is ready.

Snake!!

The weather dawned clear and Meteo France revised it's forecast to thunderstorms in the afternoon and then rain and strong winds tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. The tarpaulins are pretty ropey in strong winds, so I decided to attempt to fit the ply for the lead gutter to the last gable, then strip the roof and insulation and fix the new felt and battens today - hoping that the rain would hold off until the evening.

Halfway through stripping the insulation, as I tore out a big piece of fibreglass (vile, horrible stuff, should be banned), I realised there was a snake in it! A black and yellow Western Whip Snake - Mrs Whippy I think, perhaps 3 feet long. I don't know who was more shocked! She slid onto the ridge beam. Everytime I tried to reach her with a long stick she disappeared into the recesses of the roof between felt and ceiling boarding. Hopefully she found a way out - otherwise I might have company tonight, a duvet being the next best thing to glassfibre.

Just as the roof was ready for felting the black clouds rolled in and the thunder started. In a race against the weather I managed to staple the felt to the roof (rather haphazardly) before the heavens opened, though with strong winds and the felt flapping around, I didn't manage to escape some water ingress. Eventually the rain eased and working in wet weather gear I refixed the felt and every other batten before nightfall.

Chimney flashing

After three weeks of good weather it's going to be showery tomorrow. Today I built the solution to the chimney flashing problem. It was one of those jobs where there was nowhere to stand, no room to swing the hammer, nothing to support the required construction and impossible to measure for the piece of wood or ply you needed to cut. English expletives echoed across the Pyrenees but the job is done. The flashings will require a bit of lead burning - it's been a while since I did any, but Claude says he has an Oxy-Acetylene torch so hopefully I can get it done later this week.

Angle grinder grinds to a halt

My Ryobi angle grinder which has worked it's guts out cutting the Aleu microgranite of the hearth, chopping through the wall for the rayburn chimney and all the work on the barn and house gables cutting slabs, blocks and concrete has died - or at least the bearing has gone, fortunately just as the last slab was cut! Hopefully it can be repaired.

The dell printer also packed up but I've managed to mend it.

The Bosch drill thats been back to Bosch twice already is also knackered but I'm gonna give up on that one - Bosch isn't the same since they started fabricating in Hungary.

Play of light

A tremendous view this evening with light playing on the mountains.

Mont Rouch

A magnificent day on Mont Rouch. It has a reputation for being a tough day out. 2000m of ascent from the nearest access in France, the barest trace of a path (not actually true) and unremittingly steep all the way. Plus it's higher than Mont Valier and Pic Certescan, in fact the highest Peak in the Couserans.

Yes it was a tough day, about 8 hours including lunch - but in fact Mont Rouch is a fantastic mountain and deserves to be better known (it's rarely climbed). The views are immense and interesting as it stands on a southerly kink in the chain, so the views are often of the spanish side of the neighbouring frontier peaks. The walk is scenic and the terrain varied with some lovely ridge scrambling.

I climbed from Salau, following the Ravine de Leziou, before crossing Les Clots de Dessus and gaining the Crete du Laquet which was followed to the French summit (2888m) in about 3 hrs 45 mins. A scramble across the 150 deep notch put me on the Spanish summit (2888m) and lunch before more scrambling took me to the Point Geodesic (2848m). A steep descent to the Col de Servi completed the horseshoe and little before Pic de Moustiry I scrambled down to the scree slopes which descended steeply to Les Clots de Dessus once more. Amazingly I saw one other person, the restauranteur from Col de Latrape with his dog which managed to follow him just - here he is on the French summit viewed from the Spanish summit.

Windows and chimneys

Yesterday I finished the third gable and opened up the last one. It's difficult to do much until I work out how to flash around the chimney. The thatcher is looking at it at the moment (via e-mail).
So today I installed a tiny window for the mezzanine bedroom and to allow some cross ventilation in the main bedroom, now I've lost the dormer.

It took all day to bash through the foot thick concrete filled concrete cellular blocks which make up the wall...and now the house is full of concrete dust (again). When the last gable is finished I'll render this wall - I've always hated the blockwork but knew it would have to wait.
Tomorrow, weather permitting Mont Rouch.

Cows

Another beautiful day. Third gable coming along nicely, some more scything of ferns and the cows have arrived.

Pic des Trois Seigneurs

View along the ridge of descent to Trois Seigneurs (the peak on the right)

Etang d'Arbu

My promised day off arrived and the day dawned clear. So off to Pic des Trois Seigneurs. Though only modest in height it has the reputation for the most spectacular views because it stands north of the main chain. It didn't disappoint. Just under 2 hours and I'd climbed the 1000m to it's summit and with not a cloud in the sky I absorbed the view for an hour whilst taking brunch. Descent was via the long ridge leading to the Port de Lhers.

Looks like the thatchers will be a couple of weeks late starting due to delays on other jobs, so I can take things a bit easier and take advantage of the good weather with a few more walks over the coming weeks.

Voila!

Half the house is ready for thatching.

So much for good weather

Weather was forceast hot and clear until at least Wenesday - fat chance! Today dawned cloudy and rain threatened all day. The battens due for delivery today didn't arrive until 4.30 so I've been playing catch up. With rain now forecast for tomorrow morning I worked until dark to try and get the roof covered with felt (it's currently open to the elements). Finally it's covered with a combination of felt and tarpaulin. My day off tomorrow will have to wait until Wednesday and hopefully better weather. My thatcher seems to be incommunicado, which is starting to become worrying.

Demolition

The dormer window (chien assis) was demolished today. I lose my view of the mountains from the bedroom but the house looks so much better without it, somehow more solid and grounded. Photos on Monday.

Before and after

Before

After

The worst must be behind me now (I hope)! Both of the front gables are restored and on Monday the battens arrive so I can demolish the dormer and felt the roof. Work on the back of the house will start shortly after though I've already raised the chimney by half a metre. The sun shone today.

New pas d'oiseau take shape

The newly constructed steps are nearly finished but strong winds are threatening to tear the tarpaulins off!

Still hot

Claude and I have our l'apero interrupted by paperazzi (Sophie with a camera).

Another very hot day and just another three steps completed.

Guests

Frank and Sophie and the kids (Ollie, Louis, Dylan and Daisy) dropped in for the night on their way to Barcelona from Bordeaux. They'd been camping for a week close to Bordeaux near Europe's biggest sand dune.

It was good to catch up. I took the kids mushroom hunting in the evening and though we only found half a cep and a pied de mouton they seemed pleased enough and delighted in eating what they'd found.

A succession of visitors - Claude then Philippe and Sophie reminded them that remote doesn't necessarily mean isolated. Claude took great pleasure in talking to Sophie in Spanish and Catalan (Sophie grew up in Argentina).

The weather for last few days has been hot (36 in the shade and humid) and it seems summer has finally arrived. Very hot working on the roof and progress is now reduced to early morning and late evening. Three new steps built on the north gable - another eight to go.

Health update

Corbett seems right as rain this morning, obviously his healthy lifestyle and diet have given him a strong immune system.

The chinese kango hammer did it's job impecably and the gable is now removed back to the underlying blockwork. A new oak rafter is cut and tomorrow hopefully I will install it and start on the lead 'secret gutter' and rebuilding the pas d'oiseau.

Sick as a pig

Poor old Corbett is not well today. He was fine this morning but very lethargic at lunchtime, slept most of the day looking sorry for himself and barely touched his food (for a pig that's most unusual). Spoke with some fellow pig keeper's for advice...he's under observation and if he doesn't perk up in the next 24 hrs I'll have to give him some antibiotics.


Yesterday as it was raining I cleaned the Rayburn outside and in, flues and all, and gave it some cosmetic repairs to chipped enamel, etc.



Today I worked a bit on the second gable before the rain started again. Like most most french DIY it was built with masses of concrete (instead of mortar). My vision of it falling apart with one blow from a lump hammer where sadly incorrect - in fact after two hours of pounding I'd managed to dislodge three stones and one slab. It's so badly built I've got to take a lot down, the 'builder' obviously had a vague idea of building and inserted a DPC between the end of the blockwork and the start of the stonework but unfortunately he put it in the wrong place and its directed all moisture and rain ingress onto the rafter against the wall which he'd wrapped in insulation. Of course it's rotted away and in fact there's virtually nothing left except dust. Decided the demolition would need a 'kango' hammer if works are to stay on programme (particularly given the current inclement weather). Hiring one proved v expensive but Mr Bricolage (the local B&Q) had a special offer machine for just £40! Made in China it's very unsofisticated but has a whopping 1500W motor. No brain, lots of muscle sounds perfect for demolition.

Snow

As if to underline the crap summer it snowed on the mountains last night, above is the view from the window this morning.

Netherless it was warm and dry this morning allowing me to make a start on the second gable. The first is nearing completion.

Its raining

This weekend was the Fete d'Aleu. Boules events during the day and a disco in the evenings. The village is full during August as most of the houses are second homes. The fete seems to be mostly for them. I think most of the people who live here all year round (I think about 27 of us) aren't so enthusiastic - but l'apero after Sunday mass is well attended. Apparently the mass was taken by the padrey from St Cernin the Cathedral in Toulouse - as he was on holiday in the neighbouring village of Soulan. I met a few new people and afterwards Dede and Mizou (both about eighty though you'd never guess it) invited me for lunch with their grand daughter and her boyfriend. A veritable feast that lasted 3 hours with plenty of alcohol. Desert was taken in the neighbouring house with their neice Annie and her daughter including some prune schnaps which Annie's husband made in 1945! Very nice indeed.

After some more work on the roof today it's now raining and is set to rain for the next few days. So far it's been a poor summer - perhaps we'll have an indian summer?

Pas d'oiseau

After a few steps back with the 'pas d'oiseau', at last some steps forward. Things are beginning to shape up and details are being solved. The slabs now follow the pitch line of the roof 300mm above the level of the battens.

Several slabs and their supporting blocks had to be replaced. Moving 30kg blocks of granite or a huge flagstones high on the roof was both difficult, exhausting and dangerous - calling for extreme care and concentration! There aren't too many to replace thankfully, I've started on the gable in worst condition.

Hot, hot, hot

Blisteringly hot today and with the house roof facing south-west, by 2.00 it was too hot to work. Most of the concrete is now removed and the rafter repaired - and after some measuring the task seems more manageable now - weather permitting. The roof is now under wraps as a thunderstorm is due tonight and tomorrow.


In the late afternoon I painted the inside of the barn - with no insulation on the roof (the thatch will provide this), polythene covering the window and door openings and the building drying out it's like a sauna.

Saw Mr Whippy again today (the Whip snake) about a meter and a half long and beautiful yellow and black chequered markings.

Open roof

After carrying the scaffolding and ladder up from the barn and re-erecting it against the house I finally started taking the roof off. My nightmare scenario is realised and the job's 'a biggun'. The 'pas d'oiseau' (stepped gables) are in poor condition and like most most french buildings they have been bodged with plenty of concrete and flashband. The rafters (about the size of telegraph poles) are at about 3 foot centres and as one clashed with the old concrete chimney a foot long section had been completely removed leaving the two free ends suspended on skyhooks! I've stripped one line of roof sheets against the front gable wall, removed the mineral wool insulation and removed the old concrete chimney which was exceedingly heavy. Then off to St G to get a tarpaulin to cover the hole (rain forecast for thursday).

Tomorrow I'll get out the measuring tape and take stock of the works necessary over the next 4 weeks.

A full day

This morning I capped the walls of the grange with mortar laid to falls. then finished the internal linings, fixed the eaves fascias and generally tidied up - just painting internally to do but that can wait for a rainy day. then Sophie arrived with her son Pierre and I gave them the tour of the animals and grange (they were last here in February). Next I replaced the oak cill of one of the windows at quelebu which was rotten with wood left over from the grange window, before repairing the scythe (a tear in the blade), sharpening it and heading over to la maison de la miande to help Philippe (sophie's husband). I cleared all the bracken and brambles around the house whilst Philippe was busy with the chainsaw. Back to Quelebu to feed the pigs before heading over to Claudes for l'apero. Then dinner with Sophie and Philippe who are house sitting for John and Sandrine. On the walk home a blood curdling and incessant growling turned out to be huge hedgehog by the side of the road. Amazingly bright glowworms lit the last part of the route home.

Tomorrow I start on the roof!

Last few days

A mixture of farm work and barn work over the last few days (which have been warm and sunny). On the farm fences have moved, fields have been scythed and vegetables tended to. On the barn the oak tilting fillets are in place on the roof, the insulation is fitted in the walls and the floor is varnished. Another day or so of work on the barn then it's time to 'mothball' it until the thatchers arrive and press on with the house roof and gables. Not sure what I'll find when I open up!

Rain, rain, rain

The rain continued all today. So in the dry of the barn I laid a floor. Downstairs things were a bit wetter with ground water rising! But not as bad as before - a land drain and DPM should sort it. In fact this is the first time I've been able to see how much water comes through the walls as I now have a roof to keep the inside face dry. The good news is none.



The maize flowering nicely

What a difference a day makes...

Today, in stark contrast to yesterday, it is falling out of the sky. After shopping in St G, I carried all the floorboards from the shed to the barn...they've been in the shed since the wood arrived about a month ago and have taken up just about all the floor space. 20 trips in all.

Spent the afternoon waxing my boots which I repaired yesterday (re-glueing the rands on) and waxing the waxed jacket - man what a job that is! Took forever and after finishing it with a hair dryer it turned from looking like oilskin to looking just the same as when I started. Still it's probably waterproof now.

Rain again tomorrow according to the forecast, so might fix the floorboards as the barn is dry inside.

40

Temperature hit the magic 40 degrees today and not a breath of wind. Second gable complete photos tomorrow.

L'apero

West gable complete and East underway, but it's too hot to work with clear skies and the temperature in the mid-thirties.

L'apero with the mayor and his neighbour this afternoon. Will probably go into the mountains in the next few days - it's been far too long.

Coeur du Canard 'Quelebu'

Fry some duck hearts, sliced leeks and thickly sliced cep mushrooms, in olive oil and a little butter. Season with salt and pepper. When nearly done add a little creme fraiche, a hint of mustard and some fresh parsley. Serve with boiled potatoes and carrots from the garden.

Ceps at last

The rain continued until lunchtime, but I still managed to finish the bargeboards and fix the customery bouquet to the ridge (traditional 'topping out' here).
The septic tank was emptied at luchtime then off to St G for shopping. As the moon is on the wane the mushrooms are at last pushing and a couple of ceps found in the woods near the barn will go well with my chicken tonight.

Not the barn! (just for a change)

Claude and I put the world to rights

I phone the legal help-line for advice on evicting a squatter from my bath

A rare moment of R and R

24 hours

One day later than planned, but the barn roof is now complete (except for bargeboards and tilting fillets). A few hours later we had a thunderstorm so just as well.

Tomorrow I'll finish the last few bits and probably clad the gables (weather permitting) then its back to the farm work and perhaps some rest!

Pigs and building

Another fantastic hot day. Kevin and Imogen went to the caves at Laboiuche which gave me a chance to progress the barn a little further. About 2/3rds of the roof is now decked, should get the rest finished tomorrow.

Emily and Justin came over for dinner and it was a great evening, though I think Kevin found our main topics of conversation -pigs and building - somewhat amusing.

Barn

All rafters now up and fixed, some tidying up tomorrow then plywood to fix, nearly watertight!

Kevin and Imogen

Imogen and Kevin are having a great time. Imogen has been helping with the animals everyday and with the barn, as well as climbing her first mountain, going swimming in St G and playing in the mountain stream with my friends' children...and there's still caves to visit and a donkey trek to come.

Off to St G market tomorrow as I have friends coming for dinner on Sunday. Hope to make some progress on the barn tomorrow and get some, if not all, the rafters in place.

East gable

East gable now complete. Kevin and his four year old daughter Imogen are here until the end of the month so I will only be part time on the barn from now on, but should still complete more or less on schedule.

Imogen will be helping with the pigs, chickens and vegetable harvest of course!

East gable

East gable and window are now fabricated and partially installed - should finish tomorrow morning. Ran out of nails but John got me some on his trip to St G. Next will be some grouting under the beams then the rafters!

The tanin from the oak mixed with rain, produces an strong acid which is eating through the concrete. Once the roof is on and the oak is kept dry all should be OK.

Lunch at Claude and Susan's today - watched the Tour de France on their TV as it passed through Castet d'Aleu. A couple of riders fell on the descent from the Col du Port.

West gable

The west gable structure is now complete (it will be boarded eventually). Took until 2.00, so decided to call it a day. Weather has been lovely and spent the afternoon tidying the shed and and scything field no 2.

Rain

Yesterday it drizzled all morning. I took advantage of the poor weather to move the 22 rafters down to the barn one by one. In the afternoon the rain stopped (mostly) and I managed to build the remaining panels for the west gable.
Today dawned clear and went St G early to get some maize and soya for the pigs, plus some cement and shopping. By 9.30 a storm was brewing and I just managed to get the goods wrapped in paper bags into the dry of the shed before the heavens opened. I spent the morning playing guitar as the thunder rolled outside.
With no let up in sight I took the chainsaw to some of the remining oak, cutting it to rough length so that I could prepare the door opening in the shed. A let up in the rain let me install the door frame and some of the gable. Hopefully tomorrow I can finish it. Ideally I would like to get both gables up tomorrow but the forecast is not good.

Heavy lifting complete

A twelve hour day in cooler conditions, but both the big roof beams are now in place. The lifting only took half an hour but the logistics of moving temporary staging, the crane and setting it up four times took all day.

Home produce

Just dined on the first home produce - french beans, spring onions, potatoes and some chicken and garlic (no I didn't kill a chicken, that alas came from the supermarket). First time I've ever grown vegetables, should've done it years ago.

Yukka

After shopping in the morning and deciding that the spuds should stay under for a another week, I couldn't resist the temptation to quickly put the floor in. After the efforts of the last few days, it was light enjoyable work even though all the joists had to be carried from the house and it was really humid today, though not so hot as the past few days.

The yukka in my garden is in full bloom, I never knew what the flowers looked like.

Barn

Rupert dropped in after his motocross event in Spain and gave me a hand putting the last two floor beams in and lifting the first gable studwork panels into place. Tomorrow will be a rest day from the barn - potatoes and french beans to harvest and shopping in St G to do. Next the floor and the last big lift of the roof beams, before the gables can be finished and the roofing can be started.

More lifting

Another scortching hot day (35 ish) with a hot gusty wind. Got up early and cleared the inside of the barn in the cool of morning. I worked out I could lift the two huge beams for the roof single-handed if I used the crane I built last winter and could get the pulleys to work. Up to now I 've hardly used it because there's so much friction that it's next to useless. It came pre-equipped with a nasty polyproplene rope which twists the bundle of ropes between the pulleys into a tight helix. Closer inspection also revealed that the rope was too big a diameter for the pulleys - more friction. After some thought I fetched my climbing rope some slings and jumars.

The crane was re-equipped and voila a magnificent crane was born. Moving the beams to the base of the wall was the hardest task but the bits and pieces I used for moving the Rayburn came in handy. By lunchtime I had both the beams resting on the wall. By 4.30 when help returned, one of these was already atop the wall. With John, Patrick and Camille we made quick work of the remaining beam and were able to position them ready for lifting the two beams below. These were carried into the barn and tomorrow I should be able to lift them into place. The roof beams still need to go up another metre or so on to the studwork gable walls (which are already built and awaiting placement). Not altogether sure how to do this yet, but I think once the floor is in it'll be easier.

My hands are black with the tanin from chopping the beam joints yesterday and a bit sore but the end of the heavy lifting is nearly in sight.