The Tour de France

Team UK (pictured above) gave a stunning performance throughout the public ètape (leg) of the Tour de France. This year the leg was staged in the Pyrenees from Morenx to Pau via
a ski resort which gives a slight indication of the 2 mountains that our team had to cycle up. The course was the same as that which the official Tour would complete the following week.

It was a beautiful day, the temperature soared into the high 30’s; at 6.30am, our team (fit, enthusiastic and determined to complete the course) arrived at the front of their starting gate:

and there off… the first gates opened and some 9000 cyclists began to fight for position:

Nervous energy was mounting behind the gates that had not yet been opened, whilst the old hands (the French officials) couldn’t have been more relaxed:

And then it was our teams’ turn:

Having waved them off, we raced to the first place that all had agreed would be a good food and drink stop. As hundreds of cyclists zoomed past, it was near on impossible to spot our team – we saw at least 50 people wearing Nick’s outfit and each time, we jumped up and down, cheered and clapped loudly until the cyclist in question flew past and we all looked at each other ‘that’s….not Nick!’. I though I saw Ed but Pete was nowhere to be seen. Just as we were about to go to the next stopping area, a figure in black skidded to a halt in front of us:

Given that Chris had just cycled up a 10K mountain, got cramp half way up, was in so much pain he had to dismount and lie on the floor (hoping that the 5000 or so cyclists behind him or was it 9000 – I can’t remember – didn’t cycle over him) I think he looks in pretty good shape. But no time to chat…

Chris was off again as he had to be at the top of the next 13k mountain within 5 hours from the start which meant he had just under 1 hour to achieve it.

We rushed off to have lunch by a nice river and then meandered through the lovely countryside and mountains to our next stop – a charming mountain village:

where we did actually see Nick – but we were so excited about seeing him, we forgot to take a photo…so here is another look alike:

3 hours later, we were walking up to the finishing line – this hill, just before the finish was so small (relative to the others) it did not even register on the plan but I thought it was a bit of a nasty one:

And Nick and Ed beat us to the finish line, both finishing in admirable time:

Unfortunately, Chris was swept up near the top of the 2nd mountain, after having cycled a very respectable 120 km and Pete was also swept up at a similar stage. Pete knew where he went wrong though – he gave it his all at the beginning, got way ahead but then all his energy was sapped and the others flew past him – we may be seeing him again next year as I don’t think the word defeated enters his vocabulary. Chris, on the other hand, said it was a silly game, never doing it again and not sure why he did it this time – but he said that last year…. So watch this space.

Nick and Ed, very modest about their success, both pleaded that they were glad they had done it, conquered it and that’s enough… but can the UK Team resist another year of the Tour de France?

The Planning Application

Frustration and impatience got the better of me – I rang the Canton de Domme to see if I could book an appointment with Mr. Architect de Batiments de France. Expecting an appointment in a few weeks time, we were gob smacked when the lady said we could ‘ave a rendezvous dis après-midi. We tootled along and explained our problème, Mr. Batiments de France was stern and firm but very nice with it. A week later, Jackpot, we got the planning for the barn – 2 days before we were due to leave for England for our hols . Unfortunately, there is no sign of the pool permission but hey details, details! Now we can fill in our sign:

The Swimming Pool

As we have dug it, it would be ridiculous not to at least start the construction. Sooooo we started the base:

Then we mixed and we mixed (sorry, actually I mixed and Dan lay and leveled the 1st third of the concrete base of the pool.)

Oh my god, that was hard work and we are nowhere near finished. – Bèrnard never stopped complaining and threatened further industrial action so finally, we had no option, we had to draft in his Grand Oncle Max to come and help. Course, that meant we needed another operator; luckily one of our friends stepped up and came to help mix. Max took it all in his stride, being a professional with many years experience under his fan belt – 2 solid days of mixing and the job was a gooden’ (as they say on Corry! – we got an ITV and Channel 4 card this month – and I’m lovin’it!)

Dan (or should I say Pedro) prepared and laid the base (all 14 cubic metres of it)

Of course, then it rained:

Now for the walls. The bloc a blancher (similar to breeze blocks) arrived:

P

And we started building up the walls:

Higher (Pedro hangs out in the piscine):

And higher:

Next the shape of the stairs goes in:

Lights and other technical things are added:

Worn out from previous mixing and frankly never wanting to see a cement mixer again (sorry Bèrnard), we decided to get ready mixed concrete to be put into the walls:

Started well:

But then disaster struck, the force of the concrete pushed out the breeze blocks, the walls collapsed and if it wasn’t for the quick action of Pedro and Mr. Macon, well all I can say is the worst case scenario was diverted.

Towards the end of the month, we finished off the pool steps and left it all to dry:

So near yet so far!!!!!!!!!

Gite

The stone for the coining around the windows and doors was delivered on the day that we received planning:

And what a stroke of luck Ed was here to help move it – though he didn’t seem to keen, complaining of some ear infection – I don’t know these office workers!

Not wanting to loose any time, we installed the coining for one of the doors:

Garden on Gite side

Not much happened here but the Macon did finish the big wall:

Tomato World

More English visitors to Tomato World (click here for Visitors) – if you look closely, you will see Tomato world in the background – lovely. Lucky for them, they were also able to take part in the annual tasting:

Wildlife

ala piscine
Loads of butterflies:

Dans la Maison
yuk spider eating fly: