wind and rain and rain....

Hey Ho, the wind and the rain, for the rain it raineth every day.....
Old Bill must have lived in Brittany!
OK, thats enough, now, lets have the sun back again please.

We had to go out yesterday evening with a length of rope to tie together the two forks of a our pretty apple tree that grows just behind the house. There used to be three forked branches till one got ripped off in a spring gale two years ago. I was determined that it wasn't going to happen again, hence the rope. A quick walk round the garden this morning showed remarkably little damage, considering the strength of the wind - only one climbing rose looking rather sad. I had disregarded the late Christopher Lloyd's advice to train climbing plants in the direction of the prevailing winds, rather than against them. I need this rose to climb east-to-west until it reaches the top of the old hangar wall.... Too may gales like last night and it won't survive to reach the wall. It is called Velchenblau (not entirely sure of the spelling) and (weather permitting) will soon be smothered in the most amazing bluey-purple flowers that fade to greyey-bue. Photos will appear when this happens. Zepherine Drouhin, the climbing rose that is heading up over the shop door is already flowering its socks off (picture to follow) and the scent is amazing.

No photos, I'm afraid, of the fireworks on tuesday. It was a wash-out.

Bad weather means more work achieved in the Bull Barn, which we are slowly converting to a gîte. I undercoated the two (thus far installed) interior doors today, and earlier in the week we finished the tongue and groove to another two sections of the ceiling, plus a window reveal. Pete has started spraying insecticide on the next couple of sections of roof timbers so that we can start insulating and then tongue-and-grooving these. Funny how I am always doing something vital on the computer when spraying needs doing....

Egg production is a bit disappointing at the moment. The hens apparently hate this weather as much as we do. This is a nusance, as we have now developed a small trade in eggs - enough to pay for their grain as well as the sheep's food - and means we have to make sure there are enough for the regular dozen or so we sell each week. Can't always pig-out on fried eggs for lunch!

There is a busy orienteering weekend coming up. Training tomorrow afternoon and then an inter-regional event on Sunday. This looks likely to be taking place in a torrential downpour, so I'm glad I'm competing and not standing around at the start or finish. Next week is the Fête de morue (salt cod festival) up at Binic. Their fishermen used to travel across to the Grand Banks (with a resulting huge loss of life), to fish cod until all the cod ran out. Now they just have a festival, to celebrate the good old days. We shall be goig up to some Chant de marin sessions, which should be good. I wish I could attach a sound bite, but I dont know how.

When it stops raining I will take some photos, if I can find the garden for grass......