w/c 9 April 2007

Monday 9th – Misty morning when we left Najac but by the time we got to Lagarrigue the sun was out and the temperature was up by 6ºC. First job today was to cut and fit the oak beam for the chimney breast. First attempt didn't look all that good so it was a quick refit and we're happy with the second fitting. We're sat in the sun having a break for lunch when Matthew & Paul arrive to see what we're up to. After a quick review of work so far Paul leaves the three of us to it. I'm re-sanding the plasterboards and Barbara & Matthew set to and do a bit of hacking out. It's a glorious afternoon and by 4:00 it's time to call it a day and head for a cold refreshing beer, after all it is a bank holiday. We're off out tonight for a meal, probably wont bother with a tie and jacket but it'll make a pleasant change to get dressed up.

Tuesday 10th - Big day to day for P & C. Their new house which has become known as 'the ruin' is scheduled for demolition. Paul & I head for the site for 9:00 and wait the arrival of the builder, M. Leduc, and the demolition contractor, M. Lagarrigue. They arrive just after 10:00 and once the 16 tonne digger has been unloaded set to and dig an access road out & create a platform to place all the stone they will salvage from 'the ruin'. At about 11:30 I head over to our house just in time to catch Pierre before he disappears for lunch. He's half way through applying the first layer of plaster and even at this stage I can see that it was definitely the right decision to get him in & have the room creped. M. Regourd has also been & has been working on the plumbing and it looks like most of the waste pipes are now in place. After lunch back at Najac Paul & I set to to try and resolve what has been an ongoing problem with the drainage. As with most older houses in France the waste water from the shower and kitchen sink drain straight in to a soak away and we'd noticed recently that a puddle had been forming outside every time anyone had a shower. Paul had dug out the area and located the waste pipe and we were going to use his drain rods to remove any blockages. After prodding away with the rods for about an hour and not appearing to resolve the problem Paul decided to re-route the drain in to the septic tank. I disappeared up to Gilly's to do a little more painting and by the time I returned Paul had finished the drainage and Barbara & Matthew had returned from Toulouse. They'd gone in first thing this morning on the train and had spent the day looking for light fittings etc. & I'm sure Matthew had had a wonderful time! The train service from Najac is great and there are about 8 trains a day which take approx. 1 hour 30 min's to get to Toulouse & cost €22.50 return.

Wednesday 11th – Spent the day with Paul helping to sort stone out as the demolition of the ruin progressed. The contractor made it look so simple even using his digger to pick up old barrels and place them gently on the ground safely away from the demotion site. I can't wait to get the digger hired and start on the tidying up & landscaping at Lagarrigue. I'm sure it won't be anything like as easy as he made it look but it's going to be a lot easier than using a spade & pick. Barbara & Matthew went in to VDR in the morning for some food & a look round and spent the afternoon at Gilly's painting. Matthew must wonder what happened to his nice relaxing holiday, instead his mum & dad have had him working hard.

Thursday 12th – And as it's Matthew's birthday we let him off work this morning and left him packing as he's off home today for a well earned rest. Paul & I did a morning up at the ruin and Barbara did some more painting up at Gilly's. We're not slow painters by the way it's just that the house is quite a size. At lunch time we head to Rodez for lunch & to drop Matthew off & collect Caroll from the airport. By the time we return to Najac the heavens have opened and P & C head round to what is now a flat site of mud & stone. They return soaked through and I think a little shell shocked at the enormity of their 'project'.

Friday 13th – The chimney sweep was supposed to be calling this afternoon but he'd rang last night to say that with the amount of rain that had fallen it was to dangerous to remove the hornets nest & he would call on Monday at 9:00. We spent the morning at Lagarrigue and Barbara was up to Gilly's in the afternoon. When I returned to the house Pierre was there applying the first of three coats of lime wash, he mentioned that M. Regourd wanted to see us so a quick text to Babs and she came down and picked me up at 5:00 and we headed over to see if Msr. M was in. No sign of him so we head on to Lunac and a kitchen shop we'd passed a couple of times & seen the fridge we want on special offer. It was closed and upon closer investigation it turned out the poster advertising the offer was two years out of date and that the shop was probably closed down for good! Looks like we might have to go back to the shop where we were getting the stove & cooker from & eat humble pie. We used the fact that we'd seen the special offer to try and screw him down on price but he'd only moved a few Euros & we'd told him we would get the fridge somewhere else.

Saturday 14th – A morning painting at Gilly's, back to Najac for lunch & off to VDR in the afternoon. P & C spent the morning successfully trying to clean the chimney. We've been having problems with the stove and had decided that something needed to be done if we weren't all going to smell like smoked kippers. They sort the problem and the stove is roaring away. We needed to pick up some more caulk for Gilly & our own house and also took the opportunity to look at a couple of places for the fridge. Came across one very helpful chap who was prepared to do a deal and deliver. Think he's going to get the order. Had a nice coffee and cake and a wander round the two interior decorating shops in VDR. Called in at Lagarrigue on the way back and the lime wash is looking really great and things are coming together now.

Sunday 15th – And what seams to have become our weekly trip to the market at St. Antonin-Noble-Val. With the sun out and the temperature rising a few points the market was the busiest we've seen it with a number of new stalls. Lots of lovely smells and samples of wild boar sausage to sample, it really is a good morning out and we pick up some fresh salad for lunch. Gilly's this PM to finish off the painting, clean up & continue with the caulking. On our way back we call up at P & C's new site and review the work to date. Quite a bit yet to do!