Travellers return

No sooner were we back from Wales and we headed off out to France - just long enough to do the wash and catch up with the little ones.

This last two weeks has been another round on the gite for the men, Dave was back, and the old bendy floor joists were removed and new ones fitted along with a wooden floor in the lounge area.  On top of that during week 2 the fosse (septic tank) for the gite was fitted, a parking area and slightly widened driveway achieved - all in torrential rain.  There was mud everywhere.  Stress levels were high with 8 guests this last weekend.  If I tell you they were still rolling the base layer to the drive in the dark on Friday evening you can imagine what it was like.  Fortunately all the guests took it in good part and came prepared. Hopefully some dry weather and the top dressing will make everything look a whole lot smarter for this coming weekends guests.

Whilst all this outside work was going on, Rebecca and I were working in the garden during week 1 - lifting the dahlias and clearing the veg garden and borders, raking leaves, stacking wood. We also moved some of the smaller items from the Little Brocante inside as we didn't want them spoiling in the damp.  There is now a cute little shop under the stairs in what will eventually be a cloakroom.  The candles and hot water bottles are proving to be very popular which is good to know.

Week 2 we readied the house for Christmas - stair garland, door wreaths and shopped and decorated a 2.5m tree in the salon. Filled pots with hellebore and hyacinths

We managed to get out for  a good walk the first Sunday though it was a foggy day but it was good to stretch out some of the aching limbs.  As I said they have had so much rain recently and the river levels are running very high, over the bank in places.  So different from the placid river where people were walking along the top of the weir in the height of the heat wave.

We ended our visit with lunch out and a visit to the fun fair in Beaumont.  I can tell you its years since I last went in a dodgem car and possibly one I'll not repeat; what with the son in law and husband in cars with the boys and with my daughter driving.  Its scary bumpy stuff.