Thief

After a long day laying blocks, rubbing down and filling ready for painting, I headed to Bricomarche (the local B&Q type DIY store) for supplies for the next days work

Now, I have been here before on previous visits; you drive into the yard, say ‘Bonjour’ to the guy on the forklift, load your van, pull up at the office, the guy checks your stuff and writes a ticket and you go into the store and pay…or so I thought!

On this visit I acknowledged the yard guy and was happily loading my van with blocks for my tree raised beds when all of a sudden a lady in a Bricomache uniform appeared and started talking to me in French (well that’s no surprise, but this was my first encounter with a French person on this visit and she literally appeared from the blind side of the van so I had no time to prepare).

 

Mulberries now in place

After garbling some sort of apology about not speaking good French, I was sternly told I needed a ticket and to pay now. I smiled and  got in the van to move it out of the way as I had done on occasion before only for a barrier I had never seen lowered, dropped into place.

I then followed the lady to the till  only to hear her tell her colleague on the phone ‘That is OK, he is English!

Speaking to Sam the next day, it seems I had it completely the wrong way around. Apparently you are supposed to go to the office first, tell the guy what you want you want, he writes a ticket, you pay at the till and then you load up!

I though my way worked just as well!

Anyway just a few images of the progress so far!!!

Elephant’s Breath

Living on a building site again!

 

Deaumontei pink is no more

Should we paint the beams?

Progress

After a a six hour sleep, I got up to face the mess.

After a good tidy and sweep down I had time to admire my new lights. who would have though switching on a light could give so much pleasure!

Anyway to bed at 8.30 ready for the arrival of Sam and the plumber on Monday morning. Both arrived on time and the serious work began!

By the end of the day, the toilet was plumbed (no more flushing with a bucket!), the shower room plastered, half the salon plastered, shower fitting in place and the foundations for the raised beds cast.

Great progress for the first day.

Sorry for the short post, but I am racing against closing time at Cafe de Colonnes……no I am not having big night out! Winter closing is 7.00pm!

New toilet, plaster and oak sill

Salon Plastered

 

Tree pit foundations

Shower tray in

Wind

Last night was very windy. If you believe the BBC it was the end of the world.

My alarm went off at 5.00am. The house was still intact and looking out into the garden it would appear the wind’s bark was worse than its bite.

Yesterday I had loaded up a rental transit with building materials, trees, beds and mattresses too big for my Nemo. As we got on so well with the garden last time I thought as I had to hire a van to take the beds down at some time prior to summer, I would take it early and also take some trees so that we can get them in early and reduce the need for watering in the summer.

Loaded up I set off for Dover, leaving at 5.45am, a two hour journey, arriving an hour before the ferry at 8.45am or so I thought…….12 hours later I was still in Dover waiting to board!

About five miles from Dover on the M20, I encountered ‘Operation Stack’.

 

Operation Stack in action

Operation Stack is what the Kent Police call using the M20 as a holding area for trucks when Dover port is too busy. This holds trucks yes, but also any anyone else who wants to get to Dover.

After crawling a few metres at a time, I finally got into Dover, not the port but the dual carriageway along the sea front. Yes the sea was rough, but I think the ferry companies had believed the hype and brought about a crisis when there really wasn’t need for one.

Once boarded, the crossing was not the worst I have had. Ok, a few children were being sick, but not as many a crossing we once had on the way back from Holiday.

Faced with the fact I would arrive at the house In the early hours, armed with numerous pod casts,  I resolutely set off for SW France.

One thing about French motorways, or at least the ones I use to get to the cottage, is very few people seem to use them. At night no one uses them…..except the English! The only cars I encountered were GB plated ones rammed full with cases bags and sleepings bags.

At 4.45 in torrential rain I finally arrived at Frelon Cottage.

 

Electrician Mess

 

Plumber Mess