C'est trop chaud!!!!

Yes - it is way too hot here at the minute and has been for what seems like weeks! Luckily a while back Paul had a little brain wave that perhaps we should look at getting a jacuzzi instead of having a pool a lot further down the renovation. So I did my job and went searching and found what seemed like a great deal with some English people returning to the UK who wanted to sell theirs. And what a great idea it was too - we have been spending a lot of time in there - particularly since the weather has been just so hot and dry. This time last year we were trying to get our hands on lawnmowers so we could sort out all the grass - not a problem now - the horses have eaten anything remotely green and are having to be fed hay. Anyway here's some pics of getting the jacuzzi and the great job Paul has done of landscaping for it.

Paul has been doing his good impression of a stone mason at the minute although most days it just gets too hot to do too much outside. He has built some new walls for the outdoor eating area and joined them in to the old existing ones. Someone asked him if he was building a fortress the other day. I am sure it will look a little less imposing once the reducing pile of stones has finally gone and we can do some more paving and gardening.

I have been having a lot of fun with Tolsan. I even did a fantastic four day trek to Rocamadour on him with the equestrian centre. I was a bit worried it was going to be really hot but thankfully most of the route we were following forest paths so apart from a few hours it was shaded and lovely. Tolsan started right at the back and the first couple of days really dawdled along and we had to keep trotting to keep up, but by the third day his fitness kicked in and he started to annoy the horse in front of him so was moved up the line a bit. He was very well behaved - even when we had to cross the big freeway and we went on a fly over - the look on his face as huge trucks went flying along underneath us was priceless! It was great fun as there was three other Dutchies and a young French girl and me. We stayed in Gites along the route and had lovely meals and loads of laughs. And even better - no accidents! Since then he has even been for a swim in the lake that is only about a kilometre from us which is huge since he wouldn't even put his foot into muddy holes before! Peer pressure works well with horses - I think seeing the others do it made him wonder what all the fun was about..

Paul has also added something to his barn collection. He has bought a very little tractor for the princely sum of two hundred euros - it needs some work as it has been sitting in a barn for about forty years. Something else to tinker with in his down time.

Last week it was our village's turn to have its annual three day fete. Basically a party that goes on a bit long ha. We went to the meal on the final night and had a nice time with all the local expats. We would like to associate with more of the French locals - but it just ends up being too awkward with our awful (in my case) and non existent (in Pauls) French. Maybe in a few years - here's hoping! Here's hoping for some rain soon too!