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.