This week

Monday started upsetting this week, Farmer J found one of Sandy's piglet dead after being stood on, something you expect to happen when they are newly born but not this far down the track. So now there are six left who have so much energy with an eagerness to explore they were seen  further afield than the black sows pen, up the top of the hill with the other  pigs which is not good as although the black sow tolerates them other  pigs probably will not. More electric fencing installed at a lower level has kept them in so far.

Construction of the young black sows enclosure started upright posts in followed by a hard core base. Oh the joy of mixing cement enthrilled me again enough for one day. It is a bit therapeutic with the sound of the mixer going round bit like making a giant cake but after the fifteenth load it gets a bit boring. Her cabin is now awaiting a roof which Farmer J will bring back on his return from a trip to the UK, yes has been given authority to leave the farm with Master C coming to stay to help out.

The last of the meat chickens went off to the chicken abattoir with a new batch of week old chicks replacing them. The outside pens will of had a rest for a few months and recovered enough for new grass to grow.

Tuesday I was back to my hourly French lesson after our prof needed the month of October to get over her summer of fetes, parties and dinners. Such a hard life living in France. After living here for nine years I have come to the conclusion I am not a languages person, it goes in one ear and out the other with the disadvantage of not learning grammar at school or Latin and only half heartidly learning French till choosing options I think I am fighting a loosing battle. I will persevere in the hope that one day It (French) may just all click into place, until then I will sound like a three year old (or worse) when in conversation (sentences always sound better in your head than when speaking them down a phone)

The van which was purchases when we first started building work to fetch and carry endless bags of cement, piping and building materials, as well as a few sheep was eventually sold. It had been sitting around for quiet a few years redundant once the land rover and trailer came along.

Mushrooms have been growing, all over the lanes parked cars and vans are seen as locals hunt out the highly regarded cep, While dog walking I found trumpette des morts in our woods, the locals had already found the ceps and chanterelle for not one was seen by me.

Weeding the veggie patch was rained off so once farmer J left I put my handy hands into re puttying the window frames, I think by the time I finish the last one I may have the hang of it, best not look to closely at today's efforts.
Tomorrow a trip into town is planned as the saying goes while the cat is away the mice will play.