• Penny PhillipsWindows on the worldTraveler
    6.30am, Saturday 8th August - the roof is finished and the builders go on holidays
    6.30am, Saturday 8th August - the roof is finished and the builders go on holidaysThree days earlier and the framework is just completedTime to clad the frame ready for the tilesHard at work in the early morningsPatrick the carpenter trimming the rafters. There are no eaves on French maisonsThe roof cladding is all completeChecking the position of the skylight openingLooking towards the bay window in the late afternoonWaterproof membrane on, tile battens onAnd the velux is lifted onto the roof for installationThe velux is installedPeak hour in the garden 'carpark'The whole gang are here to get the roof onLike little bees, they gatherAs usual the site supervisor is never far awayIt's a hive of activity in the final daysBuilders being busyAlmost finishedPizza for dinnerCheers to summer holidaysJazz band at our local market on Saturday morningLooking down to the new extension from the paddocksThe driveway is compacted and just brownThe back lawn is just crisp brown grassLes petite rivieres, after which the commune us named are completely dryThe sunflowers are well and truly finishedBut the blackberries are in abundanceChips and a hamburger for lunch at the guiginetteLocals enjoying activities on the Charente RiverThere's plenty of water here, compared to other major riversLots of boating activity tooThe rear (kitchen) of the guiginetteMore boats moored on the riverThe eclipse in motionEarly sunset

    The roof goes on

    Aug 5–15 in France ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    On Wednesday morning the builders are back - theyre on a mission, to get the roof on before they go on holiday at the end of the week! Patrick, the carpenter is there all day and by the end of the day the framework is done and completely clad with timber planks, ready for the tiles.

    Two days later, after lots of action and long days, the roof tiles are on, apart from the final finishing of the small fiddly bay window roof. Willy is still here at 6.30pm on Friday night, going up and down the ladder with cut tiles to fit, but eventually he concedes defeat and goes home at 7pm. By 6am Saturday morning, he is back on the job and within 30 mins he's nailed the roof, dropped on the ridge line tiles and waved goodbye. The builder's holidays have begun.

    We have a week of relaxation ahead of us and as the temperatures rise again to close to 40 degrees, we feel the lethargy and do lots of 'nothing'. A quick trip to the Saturday marche in St Jean D'Angely for some supplies, and plenty of swimming fills in the days and we do manage to discipline ourselves to get on top of the blackberry vine which is trying to rear its ugly head again in the nice honeysuckle hedge. I manage a few long walks before it heats up and the landscape is just crisp and brown all around. We're lucky we have not been impacted by any fires.

    On Wednesday we decide a change of scenery is in order and head down to Taillebourg on the Charente River. There is a delightful guiginette (the French version of a pop up restaurant that only appears in the summer time and is usually operated out of a container). Suffice to say they are generally remarkably good and this one was no exception. We shared a delicious hamburger and chips, had a couple of refreshing beverages while watching the world of summer holiday makers enjoying themselves in the river. A perfect solution for the 38 degree day.

    That night, we glimpsed the eclipse as the day darkened prematurely, but it was nothing to write home about because it occurred about the time the sun was usually setting anyway.    Read more