The walls are built on Le Chene to retain the terraces.

Well our house is starting to look like a home with the kitchen being fitted this week. These are the work tops being trimmed to fit.More dust!

I think I have worked out why the French are so protective of their 35 hour working week.we have just bought a car that has been imported from Germany. We have to register it here in the area we live. And so we went to the 'prefecture' in Apt last friday morning at 8-30 am, the office we had been told dealt with such formalities. We were promptly told we were in the wrong place and instead should be at our local Marie which does not open until 1pm. So we went to one of the builders merchants to sort some floor tiles which took almost two hours by the time the chap repeated himself half a dozen times (at least it helps us understand!)and so an early lunch then off to the Marie. We arrive to be told we need an import exemption certificate! where do we get that? Apt at the Impot Office next to the Prefecture!So we head back, they of course are at lunch till 2-30 by which time there is a large queue. We sit and wait, as each new person arrives the entire queue nod and acknowledge each other with Bonjour. I wander off to explore the building only to find a desk with a sign above it 'import certificates'!no queue! so we gt our certificate and sneek out the building to avoid being seen by the 'queue'.And back to the Marie, by this time it is 5pm , and of course we have to wait a month for the documents to arrive. So that is a working day lost to administration - so French - yet we love it.


Meanwhile work slowly continues with the foundations for the terraces in front of the lower house under way with the pool being installed in just 4 weeks time!



In our house we were joined by Martin, who answered our advert for painting holidays in Provence! In exchange for food and wine he spent the entire week with us painting the hall stairs and landing as well as the second bedroom - much appreciated.



As often happens when Martin comes the El Perry effect clicked in with the weather, another dramatic storm deposting 60mm of rain in under two hours, just what we needed! this was Thursday morning

Our 10 week spell of sunshine was well and truly broken last night when at 1am we were a woken by torrential rain,lightening and thunder. 50mm of rain fell in two hours, a thunderbolt hit closeby knocking out our electricity and phone lines.
Our builders were still on site at 7am turning our plot into what looked more like a speedway track!
When our pool was dug out monday & Tuesday some Clay was found so we took the decision to cover the floor area with concrete to prevent water getting into the clay which could cause problems later, luckily we managed to get this laid Wednesday morning and dry before the rain came.






Today the foundations were prepared for the pool house.

Day two, more digging and more dust! we also managed to persuade Thijs to move all the materials, pallets and various other items from one side of the plot to the other so we can start planning and executing some landscaping in readiness for next year.


I am looking forward to photographing the pool,with the stone wall and gites behind.
We also learnt today that the plasterer will not be in the second house, now called Le chene, until November, which means we will be in there in january and february decorating, the pool goes in later this month or early october so lots going on! never a dull moment! And on top of this I have two buyers coming from South africa looking for houses so might have to divert my energies to this1

First cut is the deepest! Work starts on digging out our pool. Construction will start soon although the winter weather will prevent the final finish being applied until Spring,


At the end of day one we have the outline dug with work continuing to complete the wall

On Tuesday we went to Bormes Les Mimosa on the Cote d'azur where we stayed at the now rather faded Grand Hotel,good value though and a stunning view.



It is quite close to St tropez, where we went in the evening to promenade.



There are some serious yachts not quite feeling the credit crunch!


After a day on the beach and some fine dining we headed home via Sanary Sur Mer and Bandol.

Karen on her birthday in St Remy de Provence where we had lunch.

And when we returned home we, that includes Matisse took a walk to the borries, about 15 minutes from the house - that tabby has serious attitude!

Last Sunday was Karens birthday so we went to Les Baux de Provence, a restored village, one of France's most popular tourist attractions. Infact we went to the Cathedaral d'image where a huge quarry is used to show images of artwork, this year Van Gogh, backed by classical music.This is the entrance to the quarry which has a year round temperature of 16 degrees - heavenly in our hot summer and our cold winter!

The last 10 days have flown by, our friends Sue & Tim arrived last Friday to test run the second Gite, when they booked their holiday last year we had expected to be living in the house by now, but this is Provence, and nothing moves fast ! except our wall which is going well

We have had a good week, completing the decorating in the Kitchen, Utility room and also the chambre d'hote room. The weather has been very warm and settled.


Two of our four builders returned from their holidays today to start stone cladding the wall which is in front of the gites and will be the backdrop to the swimming pool.



Today I spent several hours sanding the beams and timbers on our dining room ceiling, this is a traditional provencal style.

It was very dusty and hot work!

Well it was a good party, about 65 friends and family, this is me with my sister, who looks pretty good I think.
Yesterday, Sunday 17th was our 7th wedding anniversary. Here is Karen looking pretty fantastic before we went for dinner in Bonnieux.

This is the view from the restaurant

We were not aware when we booked that Bonnieux was holding it's fete votive that night so when we arrived to find candy floss stalls and roundabouts outside the restaurant we were a little concerned however at 10pm there was a great firework display and we had the best view in the house followed by live music and dancing in the square, we left at 12.30 driving home with the roof down in the mazda lit by a full moon (and headlights too!), it was a lovely balmy evening.


Meanwhile I think my wine consumption might be taking its toll on me, I was walking down to the Boulangerie yesterday morning when I came across a Lama who clearly has a good appreciation for a fine view!


/

We are making in roads on the house with the kitchen and chamre d'hote room now decorated. It seems to take so long though with each room requring sand and rub down beams, ceiling then walls,fill all around door and window frames (long story!),paint doors and windows and then apply 4 coats to ceilings and walls. Then there are the shutters! and about 12 rooms to go , did I mention in roads!
Anyway we have learnt that the 15 August is a turning point in the summer weather pattern here.It has been very settled actually until last weekend but Tuesday we had the most amazing storm with abt 3 inches of rain in under an hour, note our sun terrace is a little wet and muddy!
I am actually writing this in South Wales - my sister Gillian was 50 last Friday and is having a big party tonight so I came over last night to Bristol and surprised her, home tomorrow though.

What is the most important item in a French work mans van? the cool box containing lunch!
Our Gardening team arrived at 8am and duly unloaded the lunch boxes with coffee to start proceedings before getting down to some serious strimming and mowing!





The grass had not been cut for months and our driveway was fast being engulfed by triffids and brambles!



Meanwhile Dominique, a really nice gentle man, with a very difficult Provencal accent but who nows his garden work set about cutting the weeds on his ride on go cart - well actually a 5000€ serious cutting machine.



Job almost completed - 3 men and their machines in just over 3 hours and we have a garden again!



It's like when you come back from the hairdressers and wonder why you put up with it for so long!



Meanwhile Karen continues on windows and window frames ' (honestly I didn't say a thing!)



Patrick, our electrician rather worryingly uses washing up liquid( that well known trick of the trade!) to encourage the ADSL cable through the under house pipes!!



And I precariously balance on the scaffolding painting the ceilings



But its been a good week with the Kitchen and Chambre D'Hote room well on there way to being completed by early next week.

Its Monday morning and we have serious work to do! I have over 30 beams in this house to sand and paint, let alone the ceilings they hold up!



The ceilings take 4 coats of paint, then there are the walls,and the shutters, and the windows and then there is the other house................Anyone want a painting holiday in Provence - good food and wine?




Karen has bravely taken on the roll of windows and doors ( haven't actually told her that yet)! our new paint shop!



And good news my South African buyer exchanged on Monday night, deal done in 14 days completion November - thank you very much! I must admit 3 years ago when we took the decision to come here I had never thought we would be actually able to earn money here from selling houses nor that I would be so up to my eyes in paint!! but I wouldn't change it for anything - we both love it!

Its Sunday afternoon and the village boule courts are full, a wonderful French Pastime - its hard to know what stands out the most - the noise of the boules hitting each other or the chattering of conversation! And no I am not a member yet!



As well as the evening fete there is a harvest festival, lots of straw, donkeys and lavender, plus more chatter and wine consumption! Plus a demonstration of modern farming techniques!