FRANCE - OCTOBER 2006
On this shorter trip I was able to finish off the various new doors started last visit and complete some of the smaller jobs, which will increase comfort for the future.
Gradually more space is becoming available as I use up building materials, paint etc., and store things away in newly created cupboards and storage coffers.
At La Petite Reigniere, Sara and Tony have aquired an old dutch heater / oven, which is now installed in their kitchen. Certainly a talking point, but it also cooked the legs of lamb a treat when they entertained friends and family one lunchtime !
Meanwhile ....
Things get a little rough in play ............... so big brother steps in to sort it out !
Produce from Sara's
garden.
| Back at my place, more finishing off upstairs ready for plastering and painting. |  |
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Outside, the grass was cut and shrubs pruned to tidy up the garden for another year. |
This trip I was hampered first by tennis elbow in my left arm ( a carry over from a July boot sale injury ! ) .... closely followed by bruised ribs and strains in my right side lifting two 2 metre plus concrete posts out of the ground as part of the tidying up. They can be seen on the walls of the steps ( above ).
This was not all ... on the penultimate day I managed to reactivate a problem in my knee and spent some time on the floor before I could straighten my leg sufficiently to get onto a chair. Fortunately being my left knee I was able to drive home ok ..... but walking is still painful.
Fortunately, and in the circumstances, more time was spent this trip entertaining, or being entertained.
One afternoon a thunderstorm brought a torrential downpour. At one stage I could not see the road through the rain. When I could, the sight was unbelievable ...... water was running about two inches deep down the lane at the side of the house .
On the road, also a fairly steep hill, cars were struggling through running water about six to eight inches deep ... avoiding the road sides and where the water was coming up about eighteen inches high, through drain covers .
Sadly, the grapes, which I forgot to pick on the last trip, became bird food.
Because the weather was so mild I still did not fire up the refurbished oil burner, to check all is in order in case I make a winter trip.