We were away for two weeks , about ten days of which were spent in Thezan (the other four getting there).
Our brief when we went there was to firm up times etc with the builder, plumber and electrician, when would they start and when would they finish.

They all came to the house on the Tuesday after we arrived and we did the tour all over again.
M. Fusco, the builder and the man who heads the posse, was a bit displeased because we had changed some of the plans around and said that these changes must be drawn in (fair enough really) otherwise all seemed fairly happy but then , in the attic, M.Fusco started to talk about the roof.
It is fine at the moment he said, but a lot of the tiles are very old and could slip easily.
This is going to be very difficult to fix after all the insulation is put in and really he should have a good look at it now and add the cost of repair to the estimate before we agree.
On balance that seems fair enough but the finances are already starting to squeak slightly from fear.
However Sile and I (using a palette knife as a ruler) did manage to draw the necessary changes into the plans and when presented with them M. declared them “Perfait”

They all seemed happy that they could start in the next three or four weeks and have the job done by the beginning of July.

One nice bit of serendipity happened just before we left.
We had noticed that the rather surly couple next door seemed to be gone, a relief because they had insisted on parking in front of our house.
The new young couple and their little boy in their place were instantly appealing, and we discovered that she was our neighbours’, Louis and Evoline’s, granddaughter.
Then just as we were packing we met the young husband, I explained that we were getting builders in and I hoped it would not disturb them too much.
The young man grinned all over his face; “I work for M. Fusco” he said.
That means we now have a friend in that camp!

A good omen for the works to come.