It takes a long time to grow an old friend. ~John Leonard

The house is up to roof level and Sunday was spent mixing concrete to cap the walls & fill the pillars. We thought if we got an early start (7am) we would be finished by just after lunch - no chance. It was 6.45pm when we came in for a shower. - 14 mixes of concrete, 42 shovels of ballast to a mix and it all had to be wheelbarrowed into the house and lifted up to Bryan on the scaffolding for him to pour. Needless to say Monday was a lazy day.

This week we have been putting the drains in around the house and backfilling the trenches so we can move the scaffolding outside ready for us to fit the roof timbers - which should hopefully arrive early next week. Its an early finish for us today. We have 2 photoshoots booked. Friday in Mazamet and Saturday near Carcassone. We are going in the camper so maybe Sunday will be a day of rest.

The veg garden has been providing us with copious amounts of Strawberries - It has been a very good crop and they are beautifully sweet and juicy.  I need to find a recipe for jam, there are too many for us two to eat.

Sadly, I have to say that this week Charlie dog took a turn for the worse and lost his fight for life.  He will be missed so much by us. He came with us everywhere and the house now seems very quiet without him. He is laid to rest in our garden, where he loved to be.   Goodnight our faithful friend...........