Early Start

Our friend Paul stayed with us for a long weekend following 2 weeks at a french language school in Toulouse. Sue and I therefore had a nice break from 'work', but this morning we had to get him to Gourdon railway station for the 6.30 am train! So we were back to it with a vengence, especially as Thierry, the plumber, was here at 8.30 (along with his uncle) to start fitting the underfloor heating in the kitchen/dining room.

They seem to have got on very well and there's not too much to do tomorrow.

As part of getting ready for Thierry, we had to remove our temporary kitchen. As we won't be able to get back in there till next weekend, Sue's cooking in the passage. Fortunately it's lovely hot weather again, and we can live on salads.

Meanwhile, the vegetable garden continues to produce. At the weekend, Sue staggered back to the kitchen with a virtual wheelbarrow load of goodies.

Monday was the 14th July, Bastille day and a National Holiday. We all went off to Castelfranc, a village on the Lot, where they were staging a day of events and exhibitions. When we arrived, the first thing we found was a small garden which was open to the public. Or at least that's what we thought it was. A very eccentric english gentleman asked us if we wanted to go to the workshop. We thought that it was part of the display, but we then realised that our 'friend' was to hold a workshop discussing how to write a novel! We beat a hasty retreat. We strolled around the village, looking at the market, car boot sale (Vide-grenier or 'empty your loft'), photography exhibition, gardens and resident artists.

However, even though it was the Fete Nationale, Etienne (our electrician) turned out for work as he wanted to get the external lights finished before he goes on holiday.

We are highly delighted with the results. We love it when we can see something finished.

Today I took the tiling on into the bedroom in an attempt to get to the wardrobes. I need to fix the positions of the tiles in them so that I can finish the wardrobes and we can get our clothes in there.

Hopefully we'll have the shower operational by Thursday. The plumber is due to connect the shower unit tomorrow and then we can grout it. Nearly civilised.