Le Palais des Bois est fini

On Monday we had a very productive day, playing mix and match with the recycled timber cladding, and a shopping expedition on Tuesday purchased a few extra screws and bolts of course, because every shed needs a big bolt somewhere to make it more 'solid'. By Wednesday, we declared 'Le Palais des Bois' complete. But seeing a few spare half rotten boards remaining, Roger declared, over lunch, that it would be good to make a kindling box! So that too was 'whipped up' with the last few screws to sit proudly in the wood shed.

The only thing left was to transfer the wood which required some serious chainsawing all morning on Friday, and several barrowloads were neatly stacked ready for next winter. The kindling was moved into the purpose built box, and 'voila', our job was done.

Meanwhile Willie and the A team had put in a few days work connecting up all the underground pipes which run under the lawn from the boiler to the main house. There was alot of preparation for the final concrete slab of the new kitchen/dining room and we witnessed enough steel reinforcing to hold up a 4 story building, go into the slab. Must be the 'Gustave Eiffel' influence. The French do not construct by half. And on a completely separate note, they work incredibly quietly. There are no transistor radios blaring across the building site, no swearing to ease their frustration, in fact, barely a raised voice even to the young apprentice who sometimes doesn't get it quite right! I guess its all about that French attribute called respect.

We had to chase up a few missing essentials for the Aix-en-Provence Chaine International Grand Chapitre that was coming up, so we shopped around town from the cheap shops to those that cater to the sophisticated dresser. Yet another fine French attribute, patience was front and centre when we were queued at NOS - the €2 equivalent shop in Saint Jean D'Angely. The little old lady in front had picked up some earings, but there was no price to be found. The delightful young cashier finally located the reduced price, only to have 'dear grannie' stand in the queue and try and put her new earrings on! She even sought the help of the kind cashier, to no avail, and said cashier, realising that at least 5 minutes had passed, kindly reached past 'grannie' to serve me.

The dismal windy, showery weather continued so we were content to watch through the window, and as Sunday is a 'quiet day' - no chainsaws or lawnmowers, we gave ourselves the 'day off'. We did move some logs and timber from the old woodshed to 'Le Palais des Bois', so that on Monday, the thick metal frame could finally come down. And le chef cooked a fine pot of moules mariniere which we enjoyed with a crusty baguette, to celebrate.Read more