After two days of torrential rain, the sun finally tried to break through today, so after a spot of gardening (a bit of tree surgery and striming) it was inside to dig my trench.
View under my newly pruned Lime
This trench was to take waste water from the sink and future washing machine across to the new septic tank on the easterly side of the house. Currently, this water goes into a separate soak-away; a situation that functions adequately but contravenes new French laws on waste water.
I have twelve months from when the authorities (the wonderfully named SPANC!) realise we have the old system, to install a new Fosse Septique. I am banking on the rural location of Le Port delaying this moment for months if not years, so funds can be targeted on getting the house habitable.
Armed with an industrial breaker loaned from a contractor, I set to work on the trench. Unfortunately, beneath the concrete screed rather than compacted soil, there was solid chalk! Not a problem for the breaker but a bit more time consuming than I would have liked.
My new best friend, the Breaker!
Trenching complete…oh wait!….the plumber now wants another in the bathroom!
Now I know a bit about specifying concrete mixes, but C30 mix has nothing on the new concrete floor in the bathroom. This is the hardest concrete I have ever encountered! The best method I found, in the words of my old woodwork teacher Mr Childs, was ‘nibble, nibble, nibble!’.
With the afternoon taken up and arms of jelly, Café des Colonnes seems very appealing!
Cafe Des Colonnes Riberac
