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...

Snow!

Rain all day today so have busied myself with laying and varnishing the bathroom floor, fitting the window ironmongery and boarding up the front door.

Through breaks in the clouds I can see that the first snows have arrived on the mountains - just a dusting.

Battening.

Despite the rain this afternoon, three out of four roofs are now battened out, including one of the gables. Still one more roof and a gable to go, but rain is forecast tomorrow, possibly bringing the first dusting of snow to the high mountains. Plenty of works to do inside.

The little finger which I smashed a while back and had finally grown back it's nail - so time to clout it with the hammer again - ow, ow, ow! Here we go again.

Back to roofing today...but of course that means rain :(

Battened out the smaller roof and started the eaves sprockets for the larger roof before the storm arrived.

Mont Valier (6)

I was a bit late getting up this morning and by the time I arrived at the Col de Pause it was already 9.45. I wasn't sure of my fitness, as with the all the building and travelling I haven't had any big mountain days this year. Still, I decided to head off at a good pace and see how far I got.

I made Spain at the Port d'Aula in 1 hour 10 mins and after another 1 hour 30 mins I was back in France beneath Pic de la Pale de la Clauere, I was flying along! After a quick stop for food I made the summit just 3 hours 30 mins after leaving the Col de Pause - a personal record.

Etang Rond and Etang Long from below the summit

The last haul of zig-zags to the top

Glacier Arcouzan far below the summit

The summit

On the descent to the Col de Faustin I passed a young couple, the only people I saw all day outside of the Col de Pause. Vultures, Isard and Marmots were in abundance.

Two baby marmots quite oblivious of me, mum was long gone!

Isards

I decided to return by a different route and descended via the Couloir de Peyre Blanc to the Cabane d'Aula. 1200m (just short of 4000 feet) of knee jarring steep descent after which there's a cruel sting in the tail of another 400m (1300 feet) of ascent and descent to reach the Col de Pause once more.

Mont Valier on the right and Petit Valier to it's left. The final part of my ascent

followed the skyline left to right. My descent dropped steeply from the low

point left of Petit Valier all the way to the Cabane d'Aula visible bottom left.

It was a tough day and strangely a repeat of the first mountain trip I made when I first arrived at Quelebu. Then I thought I was pretty fit and it took 8 hours, this time 6 1/2 hours!! Not bad for over 2000m (6600 feet) of ascent - I'm tired but pleased.

Phew!

90% of the cladding finished! Still some scribing in against the stone walls, the gable ends of the dormers and the barge boards to do. Time for a day off...a day in the mountains at last!!

Cladding

Another hot still day had to find some shade to work in. Larch cladding progressing well - should finish it tomorrow.