We're getting there

I love it when a plan comes together and things have certainly come together this week. Barbara and her mum arrived back late on Sunday 24th after three and half weeks back in the UK. I think she was impressed with all the work that had been completed in her absence. The pointing of the barn was finished and the scaffold has finally been dismantled and given back to T with a very grateful and appreciative merci. It feels like the scaffold has been hanging about for a lifetime and to see it finally loaded on to the back of T's trailer gave me a real lift. I'm just hoping that we'll not need it back any time soon. Now the barn's fully pointed it seems so much bigger and looking at it from across the field it's no wonder my hacking out pick was pleading for retirement. It's not just the scaffold we've finished with, Stephané Regourd has also completed his residency in Lagarrigue. With the mega size radiators in place and the essential outside tap installed we could bid him farewell and look forward, not sure that's the right wording, to receiving his final facture. Life just won't be the same without Stephané popping in creating havoc and doing a little plumbing, heating and electrical work. He's called when we've asked and has always been prepared to fit in with our work schedule so I guess we shouldn't complain about the odd oil spill or damaged plasterboard.

Monday and it was back to it for Babs. Before we could make the barn feel completely like home we needed to get the carpet fitted. So with trailer attached it was off to VDR to collect the carpet and by 5:00 Monday it was fitted and looking good. It's typical but just as we'd finished the company we'd ordered the wood burning stove off called to say it had arrived and they would be out on Thursday to install it. They better not make a mess! As it turned out they were really professional and did a fantastic job, it's just a pity that the temperature has been constantly in the mid twenties during the day and with so much insulation in the barn we haven't needed to fire it up (this didn't stop Barbara lighting it on the first night 'just to check it works'). With the stove in place it was time to decamp from the downstairs and finally make the most of the upstairs. Boxes were opened that have been in store for nearly three years (yes I know we've managed without the contents but there are certain things you just can't throw away) and the sofas were brought out of T's barn and manoeuvred in to place. More importantly I was able to get my 'study' sorted and the Hi-Fi in place and working so I can now sit and write the blog in comfort, music playing and with a beautiful view.

Unfortunately I can't spend too much time admiring the view as there is still a fair bit of work to be done. The majority of it's outside so at last we'll have a nice clean and tidy house and I'll have to take my boots off before I'm allowed in! With the temperature reaching 28ºC (yes I've watched the UK weather forecast and know it's lovely there) what better job to start than tiling the terrace in the full blaze of the sun. These are the first floor tiles I've laid unsupervised and even though I say it myself I'm pleased with the way things are going and it won't be long before we can bask in the sun on our beautifully tiled terrace.