The French Renovation

I previously wrote about the markings on our roof timbers that seemed to abandon the Roman numeral system after 3.  This chart, displayed in one of the turrets of Hautefort, answered the riddle! 

Just a few kilometres behind our farm, a range of mountains looms, desolate and foreboding. We tend to blame it for any rain we have. Adventurers, as ever, we set out to find the summit at Suc Au May, 600 metres above us; our farm is at 400 metres above sea level, but this little peak is at 1000 metres. We were not, as I may have made it sound, intrepid mountaineers- we drove up. There was a short climb up from the car park. 360 degrees' of glorious views! And a busy bee enjoying the mountain freshness!

A David Bowie & Friends photographic exhibition in Brive mediatheque was advertised far and wide, so we thought we'd pop along. It was a small exhibition containing some photos and some albums. I think I could have rustled up a bigger exhibition with my Bowie records, books and photos! It was quite nice to hang around being all British though; I think I detected some low level deference. The mediatheque was very impressive, however, with the most adorable children's section. I was also gladdened by the number of students/young people sitting about reading and taking notes in an atmosphere of quiet contemplation.

Work stopped for us while our family was visiting for a fortnight, but not so for them. There was paint to be removed from window panes and an old kitchen table to be planed. Thanks to their generosity, we now have clean, clear glass in our kitchen windows and a smooth-surfaced kitchen table. It makes eating from it more bearable. The bottoms of the table legs have been eaten away by woodworm, so the benches it came with don't allow much leg room. We'll either have to add blocks to the table legs, or cut off a few inches from the bench legs.

On our journey back from Rocamadour, we stopped off for ice creams in Martel. It was a beautiful town, steeped in random works or art, and rent with the ethereal sounds of nuns singing.  Our artist hearts inspired, we set about painting the landscape chez nous...