Lost track of the different groups we have welcomed to Bouchet in year one - so that's a sign that it's doing a good job. Two days of Ashley clan passing through this month and consuming pain et fromage avec relishe.
Charley - Thalia's mate came too and broke the record for security personnel interest at the airports, getting pulled out each time for no apparent reason. She didn't seem bothered:
Neither thirteen year old girl were seen without phone in hand throughout the five day trip-
Futuroscope again and had another, very French, day out. Some new 'experiences' and some old favourites, I suspect we will go back.
"Phase 2" has begun: - Plan is, without spending much money turn the previously ignored piggery into our workshop. Jim and I tackled the leaks and replaced some roof timbers in September. We had to take significant risks walking on the rotten, worm eaten boards and just about got away with it.. give or take the odd scary foot through the floor.
In the photo below you can see how far the rot in the joist has penetrated. - That's the worst one but none were good. The damage seems to originate with leaks in the roof dripping down over months or years, which is odd, when replacing the tiles only took a couple of hours.
New Acrow props got a work out - they're rubbish but cheap and did the job.
Plan is to leave this end of the building open to the roof and put a staircase up to the remaining section of floor. Its a much lighter space back here without the floor in place - there are only the three windows and door to bring light in until we run power back from the house.
Two thirds of the floor out, leaving the remainder to drop next trip and some, maybe all the dividing walls between the pens are due to come out.
Space being created looks promising so far but we're going to be burning wormy floor boards for a few more days. Sorry neighbours.