Repairs and purposeful moss

We're still in France. We ordered the car part and it's due to arrive with us today. If it arrives, we'll take it to the garage this afternoon and find out how long it'll take them to install it. We really need to be getting back to England. I'm slightly nervous. It took the garage nearly two weeks to even look at the car initially, even though we suggested that it was the water pump that needed replacing. We could have ordered the new one ages ago if they'd just had a quick peek to confirm. It sounds like I'm moaning, but, in actual fact, it's been lovely spending more time than expected in France. We've been able to properly catch up with our friends and neighbours. But... we do have some pressing engagements in England, and I don't want to miss them. 

Our phone line and internet are now repaired and fully functioning. We'd been expecting the Orange engineer two Fridays ago, but they cancelled and said they'd be here last Friday. No-one came, so Kevin used his extra-long ladder to scale each telegraph pole along the lane to see if he could find a loose connection. He found a loose connection at the second pole, clicked it back together, and, hey presto, we were back on line. I know this is good news, but I can't stop feeling a little peeved that we could have done that weeks ago. We'll know next time...

The sewage system seems to be functioning normally (ish).

The heating is still non-existent, as we can't make the hole for the flue without the right tools, but, speaking of holes, we've repaired most of Kevin's holes now:

As you can see, the big hole for the fireplace remains. Kevin's cut a beam to act as a sort of mantelpiece, and it's resting on top of the log-burner for now. We need to buy some stone tiles to go under the log-burner and to back the hole, but, mysteriously, we've been to two different local brico stores to buy these, only to discover that they don't sell tiles any more. What's going on? Do we really have to drive all the way to Brico Depot in Brive? Actually, I'm slightly worried (default position) about the weight of the stone tiles and log-burner on the chestnut floor. It's not that thick and it has an element of bounce when we walk on it. Underneath, looms the damp basement. Perhaps we should build a supporting structure under that piece of flooring? Our plan is to dig down about a foot in the basement to offer decent headroom, then install a flooring that's not uneven mud. The big dream is to have a huge chest freezer down there for storing all of our produce.

The television has been relocated to the corner. It shouldn't have a lead dangling, but, we bought a (surprisingly cheap) scart lead extension at Le Clerc, and it doesn't work. It was so cheap that Kevin says he's not going to bother taking it back: 'I've thrown out the packaging and lost the receipt'. Hmmm. You might be thinking that our sitting room is rather over-crowded, and you'd be right; we've brought in most of the garden furniture to stop it being blown away in the inevitable winter storms, thus forcing the legitimate sitting room furniture to huddle together tastelessly. And you'll also notice that Kevin is maintaining a couple of his work materials 'still lifes'.

Meanwhile, the terrace of a thousand tears is holding up well, with not a breakthrough weed in sight!

 Well, apart from here:

between Kevin's slabs... 

When it's dry (June), we'll brush in a mixture of dry sand and cement, then wait for rain. Does that make sense? No. I hear you. There are no weeds between my stones, but I'm positively encouraging moss. Does that make sense? No. I just love the look of bright green moss on old terraces. I'd bring a halt to it if it spread too far. Perhaps things are already getting a little out of hand in the final moss photo? What do you think?

Anyway, life's too short to be looking at multiple photos of moss. Off you go! Thank you for reading!