Music, music, music.

It's taken a long time to come but this week we've at long last experienced some of the weather we moved to the South of France for. It's really been glorious and made working on the barn more bearable when you're not having to wade through centimetres of mud. Work has progressed at a good pace despite us having a trip to Limogues on Thursday. Philip who'd helped me out with the Lightweight was heading back to the UK to pick a car up. He'd bought a 2002 Range Rover which had been converted to LPG and he was hoping to get it back without breaking the bank. Like everywhere, the cost of fuel here has spiralled but 'GPL' is still considerably cheaper than either diesel or petrol. With the 4.0 litre engine only doing a maximum of 20 MPG Philip will be hoping it stays that way. On Friday it was back to work and with no other tradesmen due we took the opportunity to lay the screed in two bedrooms & the hall. It was great to see some of the hundreds of pipes disappear under a covering of sand & cement & taking us another step towards yet another new home.

It's been a busy week socialising with J & J our next door neighbours here from the UK with our supplies of Branston pickle & Gilly arriving back on Thursday. Saturday night we headed off to VDR to enjoy the various musical events which being held throughout the town. There was something for everyone with jazz, blues, dance, reggae & African music and watching the thousands of people wander around the town on a beautiful summers evening eating at an outdoor café made me think this is the life. Sunday we had our normal morning coffee in the bar in Najac & then headed up to Gilly's to show J & J her house. What a lovely relaxing weekend & it was just a pity that I'd be back mixing concrete on Monday morning at 6:45 am.

In front of the barn is a large tree that needs a little pruning & we'd arranged for a local artisan to call & give us a devis. After carefully surveying the tree he announced that it wouldn't be a problem and as he wouldn't want to damage it he would only be able to work on it during the winter when it had dropped it's leaves. Consequently an appointment was made for him to visit in January! Bets now being taken for whether he turns up at the allotted time.