L’année de vie dangereuse

Thursday to Monday 4-8 June 2026 There were about 20 planks left from the old woodshed, so we made a kindling box. There was one screw left and a few split and broken half planks. A complete recycling of all the old corrugated iron, zinc-aluminum roofing and timber planking. Sunday and we are still putting final touches to the project but it is nice and hot again. After our wonderful feed of Ill d’Oleron oysters last week, we decided to get some moules from the marche. They were small compared with NZ or Tasy mussels, but they were clean and fresh. Will a kg do? Give it a try. Well, sweated leek, lots of garlic, some vermouth, a little Chardonnay, some parsley and chives from our kitchen garden, oh and butter of course. A squeeze of fresh lemon and steam the little beauties. Consumed with the remaining Chardonnay and a fresh, buttered baguette to mop up the sauce. Happy campers! Some in the party suggested that mayonnaise and frites would be good. They sure would have but we’re d...

  Saturday 30 May – Wed 3 June 2026 Saturday was a full on work on the project day and Sunday a day of rest. A grocery shop in the morning and a bit of measuring up in the afternoon, before the mandatory G nT under the cherry tree. Monday, and Willie turns up at 0600 as promised. The sun was just coming up. He and the boy worked without hats, water, food or breaks until 2 pm, laying the concrete block foundations, on top of the 500 mm deep reinforced concrete foundations. Bloody hell, they build like the Romans! Well… they were conquered by good old Julius and there are a lot of very long, straight roads. Anyway, very interesting to watch. We, on the other hand, continued with the timber planking of the woodshed. A long day. Roast chicken on the BBQ for dinner. And so it continues, creeping slowly to a complete woodshed. At 10.00 AM Wednesday the last bolt went into the beam and the woodshed is complete! New shed Old shed Still doing it tough.