We decided, by the time we'd reach the landing, that we'd continue finishing the plasterboarding details. So instead of moving on to the next mucky job we started to fill the plasterboard holes, then painted the walls and varnished the beams. The reasoning was partly because we needed to build a scaffold to get above the stairs, and didn't want to keep taking it down when we moved on, and partly because it feels so much better in terms of morale, to finish something. We even have permanent lights...joy of joys.

In spring our neighbour Michel and myself threw a load of wild flower seeds onto the patch of bare earth seperating his garden from the road. It's now turned into a lovely narrow wild flower meadow. The rest of our garden is benefiting from all the evening rain and daytime sunshine. The Fig tree in pic four is doing remarkably well considering it was only planted there last year. It's got six ripening fruits already. It's a White Fig, so I'm curious as to what the fruit'll be like.

Last month we had a village neighbour's party. It's a mellow affair and this time round we had a powerpoint presentation about the history of the place. It was held in the barn of the oldest member of the community, Edmund, cos last year everyone complained the outdoor event was a bit too cold. It was an austere drinking den but congenial nevertheless. As it turned out we were roasting. Anyway it finished at about 1:30 in the morning with sparkling wine and lashings of gooey cakes.

Our neighbour opposite, Léon, had a birthday bash last night few a number of neighbours. We were flattered to be invited but three hours of compulsory French with homegrown hooch on a Saturday night can be a little daunting.

George, our local stray cat has a chick who we call Mimi. That's, kind of, the French equivalent of Puss. Not overly original, but she responds to it. Anyway, although she does have owners down the road, she's taken to hanging out with George chez nous. Being more domesticated than George she has no fear of coming inside and trotting off to bed upstairs. So most days we'll find her at the door first thing and after her morning milk she'll sleep on the couch or the bench outside.