That is one hot puppy

Today has been a hot day. The puppies got very hot and so did we. It has by no means been as productive a day as yesterday was but that doesn't make it a bad one. I am not, however, sat out on the balcony typing this but am inside with the fan blowing on me and Pink Floyd on the stereo while A drives Thomas to take the men back. Anyway, enough spoilers, here's the detail.

Ants taking fruit back to their nest. Whole fruit.

I slept better last night than the night before, though I got up in the night to to the toilet and just as I got back into bed Sassy started thumping so I had to go and check her out and quieten her down. She was OK and sleep beckoned again quick enough. The alarm went off at the new later time of 6.30 and was snoozed twice. We went together to feed the boys, me with my camera and it was a good choice today as we observed the ants taking a whole crushed plum (and its stone separately) back to their nest. Incredible creatures.

Uprights put in place by Sally this morning

After sitting with the boys and finishing both our brews I got upstairs to find that it was pretty much time to head out already; such is a good snooze - it makes the entire morning better. I left a bit later than yesterday but was still a few minutes early even to go to the shop so I paused, then continued and picked up the four jam jar lids I was short yesterday, and ten eggs. This shopping at their shop is a great idea. The men were quiet in the car today, Bekir was yawning, and I had lots of thoughts spinning through my mind and when we got back I let Rambo out then went up for some breakfast before we headed to Kaufland to get a few more bits and pieces. Breakfast was toast with the Apple Struper and it was amazing; so tasty. Definitely a favourite, that, and one to be repeated and maybe even done later when apples are being sold off cheap. The men were straight to banging away and when I popped up to tell them we were heading out (without camera, so this was taken when we got back) I found they were putting the little uprights from the outriggers to the ribs.

Bekir teaching Orhan, then taking over

Shopping was successful but expensive, with some more shelves bought and also shockingly pricey walnuts; I really hope that mine produce a good harvest if that is how much they cost! I bought more mixing bowls, another sharp knife and a spatula and now I feel really set for doing more preserving of course hoping the water ever comes back on. When we got back I popped onto the roof to find out what was happening. I found Bekir acting as teacher and Orhan as student, getting one of the angles for a beam worked out and then starting to cut it with a handsaw. After a minute or so Bekir got impatient and took over with the chainsaw. Bless.

Out collecting blackberries, and some of my scratches

I worked on my paid job for the morning but with little progress sadly; it was quite a frustrating morning with that to be honest. A was tapping away with much more success on her day job and after lunch (cheese and some of the chili and apple chutney I made a few days ago - divine) I decided to achieve something and head out with a box and collect some blackberries. I clambered around down near the vehicle gate and saw that, on the other side of the fence, there were loads hanging down. After about twenty minutes or so (and with loads more blood spilled) I climbed back over the fence with a nearly full box. Excellent. The other places that we had cleared out yesterday were less productive but there are SO many green fruit I just need to do this every day and I will end up with a really good harvest. I should do it in the morning though before it gets so hot as when I got in I was really battered and went for a lie down.

Bekir is chilled at heights

While I was resting, and actually while I was asleep, the jet planes came back and roared over so low it made me jump awake. Typical. I stayed in bed and managed to doze for a little while longer before giving up. A headed up onto the roof to try and get a picture but they were too far away by then and even when they came back they weren't in sight. She grabbed this brilliant photograph of Bekir casually on the very top of the ladder straddling a beam.

He is cute, but with HUGE teeth!

When I finally dragged myself out of bed (after standing on the balcony to look for an invisible but very noisy jet plane) I once again set to paid work and made a little more progress but none to really be excited about. Ralf today has been very chilled out, just lazing around largely, but he decided that he wanted to have some attention so A spent a few minutes play fighting and getting his energy let off. She sat him on her lap for a bit and he was chasing her hand around and I just had to get a picture; what huge teeth he has!

Root stock ready for planting out

We were sat both back working when suddenly the power dropped off; no internet, no way to have the video call I was just about to have and no way for A to do anything has her battery is broken in her laptop. Clouds had started to blow in a bit while I was resting and when we went down to let Ralf stretch his legs I made the decision to go up to by the Magnolia near the sunbathing area and plant out the hedge root stock that I dug out when preparing the Red Orach bed. These had really done well sat in the water for the last few days and were all looking healthy.

Man at work. See, I do work

I set to with the shovel (the pick axe has gone somewhere else and I couldn't be bothered looking for it) and pretty quickly had dug out a trench one spit deep and the width of the shovel, and the length of one section of the fence. While I was digging the sun kept coming out from behind a cloud, making the perceived temperature shoot up, and I was sweating by the time the digging was done.

Fun is a hot thing

While I was digging A was entertaining the boys with the heavy ball that is actually Rambo's. Ralf doesn't seem to chase the ball when it is thrown but to go after Rambo. It does cause a lot of amusement for us when Rambo skids near the ball and Ralf is tearing after him barking and snarling. They play together well on the whole and only when Ralf gets over excited and actually snaps at Rambo do you have to stop them. It was so hot that they were played out this time. The picture of Rambo with the ball on one side of his mouth and his tongue hanging out the other shows just how hot they were. At one point A took them for a drink and they had almost a whole bowl between them.

New hedge in place

With the trench dug we put them into their enclosure and walked over to the manure pile to get a bucket full. We also collected some fresh horse manure on the way, some of which A took down to put around the one rose that is growing (though being eaten by insects) to encourage it to grow a bit better. I carried on up to the planting location and poured the manure into the bottom of the trench, then planted each root into or on top of this, then covered with the local soil. Finally we watered them in really well. This last was hurried as just as I was finishing shoveling the soil over Lubo arrived with my planning documents. I made him wait until we were finished though.

Lovely wide corridor in the new roof

The power was back on by the time I got to Room 13 with Lubo and he sat and wrote out the receipt for the work he had done, and handed over the carrier bag with all my documents in it. Now I feel a little nervous that I have not had as much oversight of these as I could have done, but he seems to have included my amendments and if there are problems I will make sure he resolves them. He left, promising to ring ViK about the water which remains off but as of typing this I haven't heard back from him yet. When he left I popped onto the roof to check out the progress of the afternoon and was so struck by the shape that the structure is now taking that I called A from her typing to see. It is now obvious just how much space there is going to be up here and my plans for my electric train set are already fulminating.

He is a hot puppy

We were back to working and then I went for another lie down as I was overheating again and I had a little headache going. I was able to arrange for the assistance I need from work tomorrow so that is positive. It was around now that I came up with the title for this blog as Ralf has really struggled today. This is another side effect of no running water as we have been unable to shave him today as was our plan as he would not have been able to be shampooed after. Here he is super relaxed on the floor of Room 13 trying to stay cool.

Most of the frame is in now

Not long after it was time for the men to go however for a change A was going to drive them back; very brave as she has never driven to their village before and certainly never alone. I waved her off and headed inside; what a pleasure to not have that rush in the evening. I was tasked with chopping for dinner and did the potatoes and aubergine but then decided to wait for the rest for her to get back. I had Pink Floyd on and started the blog, then went out for the progress picture. What a lot has once again been done today.

Ralf again taking a weight off

I only had time for one sarcastic tweet, and a few paragraphs of this blog, before I heard her driving back so I got up and got on with the chopping. Ralf had been sleeping for almost the entire time and I got the camera to get a picture; immediately he opened his eyes and watched me. I waited and waited and first one eye closed, then the other, and he was back asleep and I could get the picture I was aiming for.

Dinner cooking in the oven

The chopping completed the potatoes went in to roast first and then after a while the rest was added with honey drizzled and wow the room smells amazing. A did a bit more work (she doesn't stop) and I kept on with this while Ralf kept sleeping. I have since put some Tom Middleton on, and I am really enjoying it and it is reminding of my good friend JB who emailed me the other day.

Amazing sun and cloud shot

As I sit here typing we are both blogging and though she hasn't published for today I know she has one page done so please do click through here. The sunset today was pretty spectacular, but in a different way to normal as the clouds which gathered earlier are still around. It is good because it makes the evening a bit cooler.

Right, time to go sit on the balcony and eat our food and then hit the sack; such is life.

Project and digging

I am tired as I type this; today has been a full day and I have used lots of energy and sweated a couple of buckets at least so we shall see just how much of this blog I get done in my usual gobby style before I get bored and go for the more basic type of style. You have avoided another mainly black video in this blog taken last night as it really didn't come out but this is quite a shame really. I wish I had a really good video camera. There was a distant huge storm which was lighting up the clouds in such a beautiful way; I stood out on the balcony for about ten or fifteen minutes last night before heading to be just to watch and appreciate the beauty. A few times there was simultaneous forked and sheet lightning and this was most stunning of all.

Early morning mist

I headed inside eventually and dropped off to sleep but I was disturbed a bit in the night by quite strong winds which howled through the roof above my head (which is quite in need of renewing) and some desultory flashes which did light the room up a bit. This must have been the outlying dregs of the storm and I am pretty glad it stayed well away. I did sleep pretty well after the wind died but I was woken just before 6am by Rambo going nuts and barking at something above their compound. I ignored him for a bit but then got out of bed to see what was happening and was pleased I did as it both shut him up so I could get back to sleep, and allowed me to get an early photograph of a lovely morning.

Morning has broken

It was a couple of hours later that I woke again and I went out again on the balcony in the early morning sun to get another picture. It was a lovely view and, with the boys being quite quiet yet still welcoming me it was a great start to the day. I woke at the same time as the UK half and had a brief chat with my brew before heading out to feed the boys.

Post breakfast faces

The good start to the day was continued out there as, apart from the standard barking and jumping around from Ralf, and Rambo jumping up a couple of times, they were really obedient and Ralf again sat down in his corner and waited while I placed the bowls and ate only when allowed. Long may this continue. Again after they both finished we sat for a few minutes together, while I emptied the tea, and they were also chilled during this time.

Posh scrambled eggs on toast

For the first time since my Special Guest was here I decided to do posh scrambled eggs for breakfast as my bacon block was too small to slice for normal bacon and I was so pleased I made this choice. I chopping some mushrooms, added a chili and fried that off, then some eggs and a few chopped olives and onto toast with Daddies Brown sauce and I was a very happy man indeed.

Lovely wasp

As I was just finishing eating the same wood wasp that was flying around in here yesterday returned but it was not looking very healthy really. It staggered around a bit, landing and walking more than it was flying, and then after I was able to watch it for quite a while (while chatting to S on facebook which was nice) before it flew off drunkenly and disappeared again. I think it was on its last legs which is a shame as I love these wasps.

Just after she has been fed and watered

Shortly after this I fed and watered Sassy and she was looking really chilled out as well, squatting on the top shelf of her cage, so I grabbed the camera and took a load of pictures. I do spend time with her every day and she always makes me happy as she hops around my feet and sniffs my hand then lets me pet and scratch her head. I love the idea I have for where her home will be, maybe even next year if the living room gets done, so she can be central to our lives. She's a top bunny rabbit.

The melons are growing fast

After this I went out to let Ralf have a wee, and I took one of the old cucumbers and a load of cabbage, and dropped it in for the boys; they have lots of green things growing but it is nice to be able to provide them with extra. I could see Shiva but not Jesus so I will be checking them more often to double check Jesus is still around. When I looked later today Shiva was still in sight and again no Jesus. A little concerning, but not something I'm that surprised by as they have loads of space in there. I checked the free water at this point and found that I had pressure so I quickly did the watering round with the hose, including the Olive trees and Melons which have really grown fast.

Ralf just putting the kong back down

One thing which was new about this visit was me not putting Ralf on his lead; he proved my faith in him by staying pretty close to me and, other than running off with the kong (I again failed to get a picture of him carrying it which is so funny as it is so big compared to his head) and chewing it for a bit he was very obedient and always came when I called him. The super tough training schedule is starting to really pay dividends.

Gorgeous Zinnia

I filled the watering can and then, again taking a little risk, went up onto the top bank without putting Ralf back on his lead. He was excited, running around a lot, but always staying pretty close to me and even when he went up by the fence, near where he had chased that hare, he returned to me immediately I called. The Zinnia which has flowered is looking really beautiful and I spent a fair bit of time up there giving them a really good deep water; allowing each application to soak in before pouring more on.

The clouds sweeping in for the day

As I was on the top bank I could see a raft of cloud heading in my direction and covering the sun and sure enough it kept coming and all day there has been very little sign of the sun and really heavy cloud cover. At this time, however, it was still gorgeous and even the clouds coming in added to the view.

My project

I returned inside for another cup of tea and a chat and then decided to go outside and get started with my task for the day - digging out the small vegetable bed on the left in the fenced garden. I got outside and had just gathered all my tools together and made a start and I heard a car pull up and it was Lubo, early for our meeting about the kitchen wall and project. I greeted him and we went inside where Ralf bothered his heels continually as he could smell Lubo's cat on him. First of all we went to the kitchen and drew all over the wall with where the wall can be knocked down. You will have to wait for tomorrow to see about that as I have not taken a picture of it. The main reason for the visit was for me to review the project and sign each section. Apart from a little concern where Lubo had drawn lots of electrical plans without having discussed any of it with me (he said the inspection will be purely for safety and not checking I have carried out the exact plan) I was happy enough and signed them all.

This was my entire target for the day

Once Lubo headed off, with the huge amount of paperwork in his super strong Lidl bag (not the most professional of images, but then that's Lubo) I made a brew and headed out to get the digging done. It was cooler than it has been for the last couple of days and this was a very good thing as I found the ground, which I had hoped would be a bit easier to dig over, was actually quite compacted and hard to break up. It took just over an hour to go from the first dig to the completed bed though I would need to add some more gravel to fully bed the border beams in place.

I was super sweaty, and pretty tired, after this so I had a lovely shower as soon as I came in, then went upstairs to rest for a bit, try and rustle some paid work up, and have lunch which was cheese, tomato and cucumber sandwiches, and also bounce a few emails around and finally (yes, a lot happened) the cricket started as I came in so I popped that on as well and enjoyed seeing some good English bowling.

Partially dug over the remaining bed

After eating I decided to head back outside and give it a go at the final vegetable bed that I have laid out and I put some serious graft in getting what at the time I thought was about half of the bed dug over but I reckon now as probably only a third. I stopped when I started to get a little light headed and the sweat was running over my forehead and I thought it was raining as it landed on my hands and arms as I was digging. I headed inside and had a brew, a slice of cheese and some chocolate biscuits and pretty quickly felt better.

There was cloud cover all day today

As I said earlier the clouds have been overhead all day and at times it has even felt a little cold when the wind picked up and I also heard some big rumbles of thunder which fortunately never came closer than that. I still got very hot digging but it was less oppressive than it has been and that is a sign of me settling in to living here; being HAPPY that it is overcast on the last few days before August.

Only a little left to do

I went back out and worked really hard again, once more with the sweat pouring off me and dripping down my face and back and arms and all over me actually, smeared in mud and probably a right sight, but enjoying my graft which cheered me up from the slight jaded feeling I had suffered first thing, and finished digging the whole of the large bed and then put in three of the six beams for the border. I quit when I started feeling like it was ready to stop and I will finish this tomorrow morning; I have achieved more than I was expecting to (I had scoped my plans to just the first bed I finished before lunch) so leaving it half done wasn't a terrible feeling.

Dinner in the oven

So I went inside, had another awesome shower and headed upstairs to spend the evening watching the cricket and then starting this blog and finally making my dinner. I was so uninspired I didn't start cooking for a fair while but then I had the idea to make a casserole with the two sausages left from yesterday, three slightly over ripe tomatoes given me by the Little Lady this morning (who was almost in tears, bless her, as she tried to tell me there had been a catastrophe in the village down the hill and someone had died. I don't know who. It really is terrible to not be able to understand her sometimes) some mushrooms and half an onion and then finally a sliced dried chili. I slammed it all together and put it into the oven at about 190 degrees and left it to cook.

I spent time typing this up, checking the food every now and then and after about half an hour popped the heat up, and also gave it a bit of a stir a little after that as well. I waited for it to be bubbling, and my hunger to really get up, and then served it up and wow it was amazing. So flavoursome, tender, varied and also very hot - I sweated, nose ran and even got a little lightheaded as I drank down the sauce left after I had eaten the solid elements. Amazing.

A missing brick; a sunset shot

While I have been inside the clouds have blown away and left me with a lovely clear evening. This is perfect for me as I have been able to pop onto the roof a few times in the evening and enjoy the sight of the sun going down and the clouds blowing away. I did take some of the standard boring shots of the sunset but as I was coming back down one time I saw the red light streaming in through a hole in the wall and got a really arty picture for you.

So that is my day; time for my evening chatter, then bed, and tomorrow my plans have changed so I will be going to Lidl to buy them out of those lovely chili plants to put in the Hugelkultur (if they haven't already sold out again) so we never run out of chilis again.

Roof and windows

I've really put off starting this blog. For some reason I'm sat here at nearly 8.30pm (I've normally published by now, or soon after) and I am only just typing these opening words. I think I am just tired, it has been a busy day, but that is quite silly because the later I start it, the later I finish. Oh well.

Clearer view than the ones yesterday

The blog starts off last night, during me evening chatter, when I noticed the moon rising and in the clear sky it was an excellent opportunity to get a good picture unlike the cloudy hazy ones from before. I took my kit, including the remote control, onto the balcony and played with the settings, snapping loads of pictures. It was great to lay there (the gorilla-tripod I was using is so low I had to lie down to look through it) looking at the moon and snapping pictures. Apart from Rambo noticing me and barking a bit, it was exceptionally peaceful.

Love this moon

I was in bed and asleep relatively early but woke in the night for the toilet and had a really interesting walk out along the corridors and down the stairs and then back the whole length of the building, while my eyes were refusing to open. I think I did it all just on memory of where things are. I certainly forgot that I had lights on the stairs as I did it in darkness. The moon was super bright even then and this gives me an excuse to put another of the photographs I took earlier up here.

Before the sun appeared

The pattern of disturbed sleep continued in the morning as at about 5.30 a dog somewhere started howling and crying and kept it up for ages; it certainly woke me and (again with barely working eyes) I dragged myself onto the balcony to snap this pre-dawn shot as I just lovely the pink in the clouds, then I went back to bed and slept through the terrible noise. It was still going when my alarm went off and I hit snooze for the first time.

Here it comes

When the alarm went a second time I dragged myself out of bed and snapped another morning picture for myself, and you guys. The clouds just make it even better than when it is a purely clear sky. I stood admiring it for a while then went, brewed up, fed the boys (was a bit of a challenge getting them to calm before I went in with the food, and Ralf was snapping at Rambo a bit) and then did the rounds with the lead on Ralf. Half way round I put Rambo in the enclosure as he was ignoring my commands and acting like he ruled the place.

I hope this lavender recovers

I had an additional task to complete today should I get time and I was surprised to see that, despite spending so much time training the boys, I still had half an hour before I had to leave. I spent this time transplanting the lavender which has not been doing well under the trees into two buckets which are now sat where they will get all day sun (when it is shining, unlike today, but more of that later) on the balcony. I hope they take; it will be lovely to have these outside the bedroom window.

Fill the bucket and haul it up

After all that I arrived a couple of minutes after my usual target time of five to but the men were ready and we were heading back over to the house by a minute or two past; perfectly on time. Conversation was slightly quieter this morning, though we did have a laugh as each successive person who got in the car reported being happier and happier: Sally "Gore dolo", Orhan "Dobre" and Bekir "Mnogo dobre". When we got back I had some toast and jam (strawberry with fruit in it) and then decided to do my first "annoy the workers with my camera" foray onto the roof. Sally and Bekir were doing the final bricklaying and when I went up there Orhan was down below filling the bucket and lifting it up.

Clouds in the distance, heading our way

I stayed up on the roof for a little while, enjoying the view and the sun and the slight breeze. There were massed clouds in the direction the bad weather always seems to come from however they were a way off and I was pretty sure we had some time before the forecast bad weather arrived.

Materials for the next task

While I was up there Bekir finished his brickying task and disappeared. He returned shortly afterwards carrying a load of what they call "duskat" over here; thin but wide rough planking that is used for many things and in this case is put across the ribs to form the first part of the waterproofing and insulation of the roof.

Worship my photoshop skillz

And so it was back to chilling by my computer and waiting for my second task of the day; Lubo was coming over to talk through the idea for the kitchen. He was a few minutes early which surprised me but we went straight down and I talked through the ideas. He was immediately negative about it, saying that wall was a "seismic" one and we couldn't really touch it. What a gutter; the image of that openness had really started to bed in over the past few days. Anyway, I talked and talked at him, persuading him in the meantime about putting the stairs in the middle so we can have the door onto the patio in the corner, and eventually we agreed that he would look to see how much of the wall we can take out, if we put arches in. The upshot of this is I took two pictures and created the above masterpiece and sent this to Lubo. Later in the day he replied saying that we would be able to knock down 49% of the wall, so long as more than 50% remained. So maybe this arches idea can work. I will need to take a tape and work out how wide they will be. It'll be nice to make more efficient use of the space though.

Working through a gale

After Lubo left I got quite substantially involved in my paid work and was not really able to resurface from my office til after lunch (cheese salad, to use up one of the EIGHT cucumbers that I currently have in my fridge) and when I did so I found that the weather had changed and that front I had spotted a way off earlier in the day had hit with a vengeance. The wind was howling and the thunder was rumbling and still Bekir and Sally were clambering over the roof hammering the duskat boards into place and then cutting them down to size with the chainsaw. Orhan was providing excellent support as he has done all last week, passing and fetching and preventing them having to keep getting down off the beams to get stuff.

My first fence

I was swiftly back down at the paid work and then, when I next wanted a break, I decided to go and finish the fence for the tortoise house. My uprights are quite as secure as I wanted, however they'll do and I have learned a fair amount for the next fencing job, beside the entrance garden. I hammered my two cross pieces into place and I am actually quite happy with how it looks; it is exactly what I wanted. Next to get a bird netting frame over the top.

Three men hard at work

As I was finishing this off it started to spit with rain and ten minutes or so later it was coming down quite heavily. I went up and sat with Bekir briefly as they had a coffee. I asked about taking Ralf to the vet to have his balls chopped off (he said we can do that tomorrow) and then I asked about the window people, who he said would be coming today. I expressed surprise because of the weather but very shortly after this, as I took Ralf out for some air, I saw their truck come along the track. Without any bother, as always, they set to and started taking the old windows out and putting new in. One of the jobs this time is to put my new back door in and this took a lot of time as the wall was made of solid concrete, after a couple of courses of bricks. They actually broke their drill and borrowed mine in the course of chipping the concrete out the way. One quite amusing thing is they misread their diagram and the window that will go next to the door was massively too large. They have had to go and will come back with the correct size tomorrow.

The birds are going to hate me

As well as fitting the large windows in the flat roof they have also replaced the small ones in the little rooms of the corridor. I'm not sure why they have the little vertical strips but I don't mind it so I didn't say anything. As well as doing this they fixed the double front door so now it shuts again without you having to lock it, put the fly screen on the bedroom door to the balcony (and also fixed that as it was a bit stiff) and apologised that they had forgotten to bring the glass for the bottom of that same door. I look forward to them returning tomorrow to finish it all off.

Duskat in place

I was running around with my camera a bit while they were here and was astounded at the progress that the men on the roof had made; Midway through the afternoon and almost the whole of one side of the roof has been timbered. They work like demons, Bekir and Sally on top hammering away and Orhan passing the chainsaw, then taking it back down again and then passing up the next length of wood.

'Elf n Safety can go swivel

This picture is on here for those who always comment "he's using a chainsaw with sandals!" as in this picture, he is using a chainsaw to cut a length of wood that is trapped between his legs, and resting on another wooden beam. He is like a magician with that machine and still has all his natural appendages that I am aware of.

During the morning I had been hailed by the cousin from the farm about a broken computer in the village and had told him to come back when he could take me there. Around this time he showed up and I got in his car (wondering how far it was) and we drove the 2 minute walk to the kmet's house. It was his daughter who had a broken computer (the son, who is always so friendly, was ill and in bed in the room but he still managed a weak wave and a "HELLO!" as is his habit). I found out quickly that they had a full harddrive nad left them cleaning it, with instructions to call me again if it still wasn't working well. It was nice to be asked and to be involved in another household.

He is giving it some here

Chewing and chasing his ball

Ralf has once again been kept on his lead at all times and he has been OK, apart from forgetting what the command "sit" means a few times. I noticed he was getting a bit restless so I went and got his ball (the last time he touched this he jumped and ran away as soon as it started rolling) and gave it to him. The improvement in him was immediately apparent as he played with it for ages. I couldn't pick which picture to use so you get both. Sorry.

Another shallow grave dug

With the rain, and it being a bit cooler, I decided to go out and dig the pit for the next raised bed. I had hopes that the rain would have loosened the soil but this really had not happened; it was still like concrete. It didn't take long for me to get this done though and now tomorrow I can spend a bit of time finishing it off and then putting the frame in and planting another tree.

Not long after I finished this the window men left and then the workmen started washing up so I put the boys away (Rambo was already in because of the window people) and took the men home. It was an easy journey, made great by Sally saying "Thank you " and "Good bye" in English at the beginning and end of the journey. He is so lovely, and it really made me smile (as it did him). Great stuff.

I have a roof (well, this side anyway)

So I got back, let them out again, and grabbed the camera for the daily status update. It is a big change this time. Next to be done is the other side (I'm not sure how I'll do that one) and also Bekir is going to build reinforced concrete framing for the doors and the gaps either side if I decide I want windows (which I will I am sure). He is also talking about getting guttering ordered but I don't know when that'll be. There was also discussion about whether to put hardboard over the top of the duskat (it improves the insulation and also provides something better for the waterproofing plastic to adhere to) and I have decided to go for it. It really is all go.

Now THAT is security

I walked back round the side and went to the gaping hole the window men have left and pulled some of the metal framework that used to be across the window so Rambo can't get in, and other large animals are discouraged. Tomorrow it will be sealed.

Ralf waiting

As I went back inside to reheat the AMAZING pasta from the other day (and it did not let me down) Ralf was sitting at the top of the stairs waiting expectantly for me. This is a slightly blurry shot as I put it on a long-ish exposure and only braced myself by leaning against the wall, however I just love his serious face and how calm he looks here.

What a sky

So I have managed to drag myself to the end of typing (nearly enough) and it has taken me about an hour including a few distractions on twitter, and a fair while stood on the roof terrace admiring the sunset which was firing and epic in the extreme. This reminds me I was going to say earlier, as the storm was blowing in and the men were scurrying around on the roof, I stood up there in the wind and felt such a freedom. All I could hear was the wind in my ears, and the hammering of the men, and the peace was almost overwhelming. The cleanliness of the air, the wildness of the weather. Wow.

Ralf as a look out

By this point I had let Ralf off his lead and he joined me on the roof, running around, sniffing, and then standing up to look over the edge. I know he was probably just trying to spot that hare again but I like to think he was enjoying the sunset really.

So that is it. Tomorrow is going to be another busy day.