And yet another day in the studio and outside.

 The corner piece I found just about does the job.

 This is where I would have liked to have been yesterday in terms of progress...

...but I'm not complaining.

Another shot of the corner...

...and one from the top.

Now it's time to have a haircut, a shower, go visit the Calves family...then we're off to spend the rest of the weekend with Peter & Janice Banks.

Another Day Working Outside

 Bev reminds me that we paid just 10 euros for this log-splitter. There is an electrical problem which
 can be easily fixed, but even if it costs 50 euros to fix it, it'll be a bargain.  Martin said he'll check the electrics for me.

The laurel trees that we took down were at the end of the shed. After discussions with Mickael, it was decided to have the boundary where I've stacked the timber. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish the stack if the rain holds off.

I've been searching for hours for the right piece of stone for the front of the bread oven, and after uncovering this little heap near Martin's place, I'd almost given up. Then, with the last swing of the pick axe I uncovered a piece that will just do the job.  It's already in place ready to be cemented in. Once I've regained some energy the rest will be removed for future use...why look a gift horse in the mouth?

I'm so pleased I didn't have to rob my chimney stack pile.

The top of the wall on the outside is now complete at last.

 The tree looks colourful so I've included it in the picture.

 On our almost daily journey to empty our rubbish, we meet up with the horses...

 ...and the donkey with his little friend. We then continue around the block back home.

Toads, Bread Oven Update and Garden

A really good day today. I painted TWO paintings, strimmed the ditches and perimeter, had a two hour French class, stacked a whole load of timber and worked on the bread oven.

 Just can't get rid of those toads. Any suggestions?

 I started levelling the top the other day as well as filling significant gaps.

It's nice to see a bit of colour.

 Next year I'll be able to make the wall permanent...with luck.

How can you tell that Pierrick brought one of his horses down the lane today? It was real entertainment watching him later trying to coax it into a horse box.

 Getting the inside wall prepared for tomorrow. If I can finish the other side as well as this corner section, I'd be over the moon.

 The inside wall is really haphazard...a lot to do.

I'm looking forward to the challenge.

A Walk On The Wild Side

Today we went to Planete Sauvage with some of the locals of Cruguel. It took a few hours to get there but it was well worth it. Here are just a few of the hundreds of animals we saw.

This wolf photo was a total fluke. It just ran past and I instinctively took the shot without looking through the viewfinder.

At lunch time we enjoyed a superb  4 course meal before resuming our rounds.

It tried to take my hat. 

My favourite photo.

After the show we went underground to view the dolphins...quite an experience.

A really memorable day out.

Merci pour le pierre

I've been struggling to find sufficient good corner pieces of stone for the chimney. Enter Michel from Paris who has an outbuilding with stone in it and he'd like it taken away...and Martin who also has some stone surplus to requirements. It's my lucky day.

Michel...

and Martin outside the outbuilding...it used to be a chapel for the hamlet in times past.

Stacked ready for use, and there's more if I need it.

 Started work on the top of the wall to level it off...more time consuming than I thought.

Update on the wedding of our neighbours.

I found out from Mickael and Sophie that the party finished Sunday morning at 5am, and resumed again at lunch time to carry on through to 6am this morning.

They really know how to party in France.

Mickael and Sophie's wedding

After such a tearful day yesterday it was nice to see a day full of joy for our neighbours.

 Turning the corner and coming down towards the road leading to the main road.

The vintage car was Mickael's transport.

Bev watching everyone arrive at l'eglise Saint Brieuc de Cruguel.

All done and dusted.

On the way to reception.

A bit of fun while waiting for everyone to arrive.

la salle polyvalente de Cruguel...it's where Bev and me mix with the locals every month to play games or step outside to enjoy a game of boules, which is what we did with some of the guests after taking this photo.

One of the Dishes...the food was exceptional.

It didn't end here...we left early at 1:30 am when the party was really rocking. As strange as it may seem, it's a family affair and the children aren't taken home to go to bed...they stay with everyone else. The celebrations will go on to the early hours of Monday.