High wire

At last the electric wire drapped across the front of the house, and originally linked into the dependence (now the gite), has been removed. After 3 months of waiting, the job took all of five minutes to do. It was also the first time we've seen 'proper' safety equipment being worn.

La Belle Magnolia

When we meet new people and have the inevitable conversation about where we live, there is generally one of two reactions to our answer. 'Oh, you have the marvellous magnolia', or; 'the place with the crazy concrete vine staircase'.

;

Both of which is true - or rather was true. We have just had 'Tree Man' in and the magnolia is now half the size it was. After a day and a half of careful pruning, with some serious boy's toys equipment, we had a very tall, spindly palm tree and a laurel tree removed as well as the magnolia seriously cut back and which now looks slightly bereft - if a tree can look that way. Apparently this will promote more growth in the middle, provide better shade and not be quite so dominant over the garden - and more importantly not overhang the swimming pool. At least that's what we think he told us ...

Here what it looks like now.

A spot of fencing.

We have successfully put up some new fencing along our back wall. Another new skill!

Eventually this will have vines etc growing along it. We already have two grapevines and two small hibiscus trees (which are in bud) beside the wall. There are another two hibiscus trees which were moved when we dug up the pool but, so far, there is little evidence they've survived the replanting. Will wait a bit longer before deciding they're for the chop.

New fascia

So far this year the completed work on the house has been the removal of old wooden fascia boards and replacement with new ones. We are awaiting the removal of a live wire drapped across the front of the house - just visible in this photo near the top. We're told only EDF can do this so we're on a waiting list ... very frustrating as it is holding up the rest of the facade work to be done and delaying having the gite up and running.

You'll notice the dodgy scaffolding is now down. All ready for the next lot to go up.

She who must be obeyed ...

 ... clearly isn't. The 'boys' taking absolutely no notice of the edict that: THIS CHAIR IS NOT FOR CATS TO SIT ON.
 


 

The consequences of no rain...

Here's what the ground in our garden looks like at the moment. There's been no rain since December. Never thought we'd ever want to say; 'I wish it would rain'!

Cast iron supermarket

We discoverd this incredible place a few months ago, and last Friday went back to buy some cast iron trellising for the garden. En route stopped off for a visit and nice lunch in Lodève which is where one of our cycling trips goes through. Then headed further north towards Millau where, in the middle of nowhere, is a huge field full of cast iron doors, railings, window grills, stairwell railings, seats, plant boxes, a two-headed horse ... everything and more that you could possibly want with recycled cast iron.

We decided against buying the cockerel. Not quite the statement-piece we were looking for!

The new roof-rack on the mini-bus got it's first test with the railings being put on top, so now we're ready to get started on the garden. 

Mobile bottling plant in the street

Periodically our street is closed for bottling wine from the various caves in our street. The mobile bottling plant - a huge truck which takes up the width of the street - arrives first thing in the morning and is there most of the day. The truck has extendable sides and, from the front end, a conveyor belt takes the bottles through washing, wine poured in, labels pasted on, cork inserted, seal over cork, then at the back the packers place bottles into boxes and the forklift takes them to another truck to transport to retailers. Quite an ingenious and efficient set-up. This wine is Clos de la Rivière, which we have tried and can confirm is very good!