Back on a Wednesday

The men were back today, so I am also. Before we go into today let's go back to the weekend, however.

Rosie climbing the stairs - I'm only poised, not helping

Now exploring in the garden

Louise watches while asleep

Playing with the neighbour's son

The weekend and beginning of the week was pretty good, to be fair, though I did get quite down missing my dad for a chunk of it but that is to be expected. Rosie has really learned to climb the stairs and has continually begun without either of us near her which is heart stopping. She is so determined, though. She's also really enjoyed being outside and exploring there. Our listening to music during dinner routine started again (and has paused for the past two nights which is a shame) and so Louise, when waiting for the music to stop, actually fell asleep sat up. Bless. The Other Brother and his son came over with a toy helicopter one evening and we had fun while they tried to use it but one of the blades is broken so it doesn't generate lift. His son is so awesome with Rosie, however, it's amazing to watch.

The Sun appears

All the lawns are mowed

Beautiful tiny flowers

Nasty huge hornet

Clouds bubble up from Greece

Threatening behind us

Sunday was warm almost all day and I spent the entire day, pretty much, mowing all the lawns. It took quite a while and I was pretty exhausted when it was done but as it has rained almost continually since I'm pleased I put the effort in to do it all in the day. I really will need a ride-on mower eventually. I spent some lovely time with Rosie in the garden after I finished, looking at flowers and then avoiding the hornets that are once again taking up residence in the Oak Tree. As the evening drew in, however, the weather changed and that is what we have had since pretty much - some awesome rumbles of thunder but nothing close, and periods of rain with an entire week of the same forecast.

Removing shuttering from the wall

Making a new extension cable

Fitting the plates to the column

These are all around the walls as well now

Bekir asked if this was OK. I said "No!"

Rosie can't get to the stairs any more

Gaps filled in

Beautiful double rainbow

And so we get to today. It's been crazy busy for me with looking for work but the men were in as I say and got progress done on the balcony. They cleared off the shuttering and tidied up the cement and then dragged the old welder onto the balcony and started putting the plates on both the wall pillars and around the edge of the other pillars. There were a few issues with power, first Bekir had to make a better extension cable and then the power line on the machine broke but they got the welding done and were starting to plan out the steel work on top when the heavens opened and I encouraged them to come work inside. Bekir has fitted the baby-proofing (which we don't need around the fires any more) around the bottom of the spiral staircase so while Rosie can still try the stairs and practice, we will be with her when she does. Sally and Halil filled in the gaps in the plasterboard in the guest room from where the water pipe was installed. There are a few more inside jobs that, if it does rain like it is threatened to, I'll have them doing over the next few days. There is no point in working outside in torrential rain. The rain did stop, and the sun came out, just as I came upstairs to start this update giving us the beautiful sight of a double rainbow. Stunning.

I'll close the blog with a little bit of sad news; one of the new puppies from the farm got onto our land and I've no idea what happened but while I was strolling on the lawn Rosie saw it and I found that it was dead. This is very sad, it was only a tiny little thing.