The little stream in the valley still flowing but now reduced to a mere trickle. With the temperature rising again it may dry out completely by the weekend.
The village hall has been cordoned off. Someone left a window open and the wasps have built an enormous nest inside. Madame Bay informs us that 'wasp men' have been called to deal with the infestation. The wasp men can't come to deal with our problem for three or four days. Monsieur Bay has tried his contacts in the retired gendarmes association to see if things can be speeded up but to no avail.
It seems our new mayor put up the tape to cordon off the village hall during the wee hours of the morning. There is something ever so slightly eerie about his penchant for doing things in the dark.
The excitement at The Rickety Old Farmhouse reaches fever pitch. The builder shows up - unannounced - at 6:25 am. He's come to lay the tiles that have been sitting in the courtyard for the last six months. There is a bout of feverish activity. By 9:15 he's gone after laying a concrete foundation. A group of morose lads stand in the peony border and smoke. Sophie glares at them. Given half a chance she'd try to nip their ankles but is told to behave.
I don't see the builder and his entourage go. If I had there would have been a conversation about 1) why the concrete slab isn't central to the French doors 2) why it's so high off the ground when it was supposed to be flush 3) why he's decided not to continue the concrete to the corner and cover the downpipe and 4) when he plans to return to lay the stone tiles.
It's also not as wide as it should be .... or straight.
There again , in this heat, who cares ?
Whoever knew pineapples were so interesting ? : https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-53432877
Auld Lang Syne - Beirut style : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VegYsyCnTLo
7 comments:
The builder. Oh dear. A salutary reminder that patience and vigilance is required in dealing with building works. I had planned to head over to Torridon tomorrow to meet with the builder I've engaged to do a major renovation of the Torridon cottage, but now find myself locked down in the city of Aberdeen again.....
Cheers! Gail.
The railings of Edinburgh's New Town fairly bristle with pineapples. Do I spy a tiny shoot of vegetation to the right of the patio doors? Might be a weed ;) but could that be why the builders have veered to the left? "Respectez la nature"...
Hari OM
... perhaps they wish to add their own bit of 'character' to the ROFs history..? Lovely links again, ta Angus. YAM xx
Over the years, and through several house renovations, we have learned that it is best not to take our eyes off work in progress! Even if this has meant that we have to sit and watch!
Are all French builders so deaf when it comes to their client's instructions? The off-centre patio will at some time, I'm sure, annoy you both and you will end up having the job re-done. Make him do it again Angus! The weather is not an excuse for sloppy workmanship.
Personally I would be tempted to let Sophie nip a few ankles in retaliation, but I know what trouble that could cause with French Law!
It will be interesting to see whether their version of the patio grows on you over time (assuming it may be some time before the builder reappears). I enjoyed the link regarding pineapples, as I have actually always wondered why pineapples are such a popular theme. I am very fond of them myself, but only to eat, not to decorate.
Gosh that builder. I think your instincts sound like the tiles are not going to be right. It all sounds a bit slap dash.
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