All the beams are safely in place and the acro's removed. Beam cleaning has been occupying me for the last few days.  They've come up lovely. They've been levelled and all the old floorboards have been removed ready for the new floor. I've been thinking of cleaning up the old floor boards and putting them back and then the new floor on top of that, just because they look so great from down below, but I'd have to find some others to fill the gaps as there's not enough decent ones. I've also been busy making some window frames, I'll post about this later.

Got two of the beams in, one today and one yesterday, no mean feat on my own with a broken finger, I think, quite pleased with my efforts. The third one's going to be a bit more tricky because it's tied into the uprights and integral to the structure of the house and the roof supports.

Before

After

Broke my bloody finger at some point yesterday, digging out the kitchen floor. Didn't really notice until I got home and it swelled up, went to the hospital and got it x-rayed today. It looks like a Bond villains hand.
Anyway got the kitchen floor dug out and levelled and hardcore down and then gravelled and whacked down with a whaker plate ready for the concrete.

Dad having a go with the whaker!

My father admiring our handiwork

Nice Noggin!
Cemented in a noggin yesterday to take the weight of one of the beams. The end had rotted and left it just too short to reach the wall. Removed the arco jack today and it didn't fall down, so good news there. Three of the other beams will need completely replacing.

Back in France after photographing a lovely wedding at Bickleigh castle in Devon, what a fantastic wedding location! Picked up my truck on my return and it all seems to work pretty well, it's proving to be a good buy and certainly paying it's way.

 
 
More ivy removal today, done it pretty much now I think. will start digging the floor out tomorrow ready for concreting. The start of the work proper!

 
   
                                 

Some photos of the the ruin attached to my little maison, the roof fell in only 2 two years ago. When I have the little house done I may get around to doing this one.

As it was two years ago with the roof intact.

My father and I burnt all the vegetation I'd hacked down last week, just before the rains came. You can see the house from the road now.

I also removed all the oak beams that had been stored in the little house. Had some difficulty with the larger ones on my own, (no help today) I had to devise a little rolling rig type thing to get them out the rear window. 

Electricity finally arrived at la Borie on Thursday. I just have to attach an earth and then I can put the kettle on! Had to go back to the UK for a bit of photography work though, I'll be back at la Borie to start work at the beginning of October.

On the Saturday before I left for the UK I bought an old Peugoet 504 pick up truck,  I'll collect it on Tuesday/Wednesday when I get back. It looks like something out of 'Life on Mars', should come in handy for work on the house though.

I also removed the wooden cladding that had been on the stairs. It's starting to look better already. Outside and in. Now the electricity is on I should really be able to get stuck in.