Full Steam Ahead

Well, the work on the very top floor continued. We discovered that by replacing the opening and removing the staircase, we had created a vacuum, that sent the cold air spiralling downwards onto the middle floor landing, so Craig built a small wall to stop some of the draughts. It was planned to be there, and will eventually be part of the room. It also means that during the winter, if needs be, we can block the doorway up at this point.

Now that the floor was boarded, Craig was able to fit the hot water tank in situ. He need to knock the loose plaster off the gable end wall - which meant carrying the buckets of plaster, dust etc, down the ladder, down the stairs and outside - nothing is easy ! Mind you, compared to getting the tank in the reverse direction - through the house, up the stairs, up the ladder, and onto the top floor...well, you can imagine the language !!!!

Craig was on a roll.....now that the water tank was in place, the pipework could be installed from there downwards, which meant that the back of the bedroom wall could be plaster boarded, and while plaster boarding that, he built me a linen cupboard on the landing. Everything was changing at a great pace.

At short notice, Craig made a journey to Plymouth via Roscoff as a foot passenger on the ferry. It was cheaper for him to do this journey, stay in a hotel overnight, and do some shopping, than to buy what he needed here. He travelled during the day, and then had all the next day free, before catching the overnight ferry back here -with an empty suitcase on one journey, and a very full one on the way back. It wasn't ideal as it was tiring, but he achieved everything he needed to, and also had a short break away from the house. We have said that it is something we would do again if necessary, as it was a quick fix for what we needed.

We discovered one morning that the sheep had 'escaped' - I say that with a little scepticism as they had managed to go through the electric fencing, and were nowhere to be seen. There was evidence of where they had been, but we spent all day wandering the lanes, and asking around the local farms with no joy. How could two sheep just disappear ? It was bizarre - we thought of sheep rustlers etc, but could not prove anything. They had ear tags so just hoped that they would turn up, but worrying all the time about potential damage they could do, or accidents they could cause which could all be traced back to us ! We notified the Mairie, and the Police too. Short of putting up posters, there was little else we felt we could do.

Four days later - they turned up. Well, to be honest, we spotted them, among a neighbouring farmers flock ! They were a little bedraggled, but had apparently been caught three or four miles away. It was all a little suspicious, but we just had to trust and accept what was being said. Anyway, we decided to leave the sheep where they were for the time being, as they could run with the ram (that is the expression, I believe), and we could make the area extra secure for their return.

It was time for the pigs to go too now. We have a friend who 'deals' with this side of the larger animals for us, although Craig is able to do it given the space and the time. So, it was bye bye pigs, and hello to a full freezer....

....so full in fact, that we had to buy another freezer to fit it all in !

We had the surprising news that we had our third grandson (fourth grandchild). Surprising to everyone involved !!! Ryan had became a father to Ronnie. A welcome addition to our ever increasing family. It does mean though that Ryan's visits here will become less regular I'm sure ! Four grandchildren - how old must we be now !!! I'm sure that I'm only 28 really - well in my head anyway !!