Bug’s life
Monday – Tuesday
Two day jobs doesn’t leave anywhere near enough time to do anything of interest. Finally made some time in the evening to update the blog.
[24-25 May 2021]
Wednesday
Ugh, up early today as apparently the plumber is coming. Of course, the plumber is not coming, he’s French but we did wait for him all day.
Since I was up and working so early Matt and I had a quick trip to the postbox before a walk around the grounds. Apparently it’s a new vice as the old one in my potting shed isn’t so hot. Had a browse of what is here and a few things are doing well, plums for example, and a few not so well, quinces., then forgot to check the rest.
New workmate today, unfortunately she was too light to push the keys down so decided to leave. Then more work before starting to clear the edge of the onions. Once final calls were done I finished off the rest of the bay, well one side at least, but it is now ready to start putting in the first of the new borders..
Matt has been working on his new workbench for the basement and now needs my help. He may be an expert at many things, but when it comes to holding, carrying and aligning I am a pro. I may not be able to tell the difference between 1mm or 10mm but I can tell with my fingertips. All in all it’s a pretty good job though and Matt seems happy with it which is what is important.
While I fancied drinks on the porch, Matt has a ‘light’ toothache so while the dentist was closed we went for a walk to see where it was and get their number. I had rather prepared myself (again) to chat away in French while we stopped at the local bar in Cierp Gaud. Buggers were closed. Apparently Matt hadn’t thought of it but I was pretty annoyed, I thought this was a jolly, not being stuck in the drizzle and massively over knackered – I’m sure it is a sign of being over tired rather than unfit, right?! There were however multiple rainbows and a fun sign that you would only see in France, I am surprised however that their bees apparently don’t like white wine, they must all be red drinkers.
Back at the house and Matt asked if I wanted a surprise, I thought it was just a yoghurt so wasn’t so impressed or interested. How wrong I was…
With sweet things done it’s time to try to fix Matt’s tooth. Brushed teeth, cleaned it out etc. but not sure I am the best dentist. I did have some of the temporary filling stuff I used from when mine came out so headtorch on I gave it a first go but he immediately bit into it. FYI, don’t do that, it doesn’t push it in, the whole thing just sticks to the biting teeth. A little bit more in and will see how it fixes while we watch some Gold Rush.
Glass of cold water before bed and it’s still hurting so time to give it another go. Hopefully he will get to sleep soon and give it a chance to dry in place. Even if it does work it won’t last long but it will stop the immediate pain for a while and hopefully keep him asleep through the night if nothing more. We shall wait and see if I deserve my Girl Guides Dentistry badge.
[26 May 2021]
Thursday
Lots of work, found a crazy bug and also had some pretty classy fish tacos!
[27 May 2021]
Friday
Day started early, firstly messages from the delivery guy, then the plumber arrived.
Meetings, work, and workshop apparently. Despite the good weather Matt was keen to be in the coldest part of the house to put together the new racks that he’s bought for the workshop. Of course with just one done, with my help, he had to dash off for a call so I did the other one on my own before my call started. I was very good at it all on my own and I think it looks great.
Had a chat with Tonia and some pupdates. Seems she’s got Dodd over tomorrow and they’re off out for Lee’s birthday in the evening.
Up late playing golf and chatting ceaseless to Rhys, thank heavens he’s used to my rambling and really enjoyed our talk. Definitely however time for bed.
[28 May 2021]
Saturday
Matt is up and out remowing the paths. We’ve decided to create a ‘lawn’ at the front where the pool will go. I actually really like it. The whole space looks bigger and we can use it better. There were however a few hicups with the lawn mower, apparently the battery was flat and Matt flooded it.
I made a start on the blue room but eventually decided that it was too nice out and went to find Matt. Almost lunchtime and Matt says “I wonder if the restaurant by Intermarche is open today? We need to get something for lunch”. I heard “The restaurant by Intermarche might be open, fancy a lunch date? Have to drop by the shop on the way home too”. So I was up the stairs changing into my glad rags quicker than a flash, and even putting make up on. He was impressed and soon realised it was time to go change out of his work shorts.
The terrace was open, my effort was not wasted. Yay – lunch date, and it’s my favourite, steak tartare!!
Shopping done and we are on the way home. Oops, seems we forgot to pick up some more cash in case we go to the pub. So Matt heads off back to the shop while I take the shopping home. Last of the mowing still needs to be finished and the last bits tidied up.
I go back to work on the blue room and it seems’s Matt has done some more research on outdoor heaters and we have to have the one that is at Carfour now, so he’s off to go get one. I on the other hand stay at home, however am quickly bored by cleaning and decided that the new lawn looks nice. Time to test out the lounger as I deserve a lie down.
He was away quite a while but I was very glad when he eventually returned. He’d decided he may as well go to Super U too since he was up that way. I however started to imagine that he was stopped by the Gendarme and in a cell because of the single beer he had a lunch 3 hours ago, had tried to call the French phone (which I had no idea where I had left) and I was going to need to call a taxi and some handy french speaking friends to go get him out. I don’t think I am very good at being left alone.
Matt has come back with a new outdoor heater so time to put it together. Of course the cat finds her way into the box and it starts to drizzle a little but I found a good answer.
While we were distracted, Meow was off hunting again and seems to have found herself another vole.
As evening came it was time to head up to put together the bed in the spare room in case our guest decided to stay the night. It’s not perfect but it is definitely coming together.
Time for dinner and to relax while the washing does its thing but when Matt is on his way to bed seems that things aren’t going to plan. Despite having actually removed all the crap out of one drain the other day Matt has just checked on it on his way to bed and it flooded the basement. Matt has shoved a long hose up it and can’t seem to push out the blockage but we’re going to have to find it as it isn’t draining. Apparently pushing my hand in and trying to push it out didn’t help either. Washing machine is now done so I guess we just put it in the dryer. At least that has its own water collection so it won’t compound the problem.
Back upstairs and just looking to get the blog done but something is off. The cat is ‘hiding’ under Matt’s desk. Very odd. Nope, not hiding, she’s hunting! Good heavens, this whole cat and mouse thing is exhausting. This one however was in the house, and I suspect may have been a ‘house mouse’. Not what Matt wanted when brushing his teeth for bed but seems it’s mouse catching time again.
Eventually, having propped up all the sofas and set a box trap Matt managed to get it from behind the radiator into a box and outside. Time, finally, that Matt can go to bed and I can get this finished to follow him. Night all x
[29 May 2021]
