Well, it's warmed up again, thank heavens, we had a good few days of autumnal weather, and I'm not ready for that yet! Although it does seem a bit mean saying that while the weather in the UK seems to be so dismal. Our English neighbours arrived today and said that it was grim right to Clerment Ferrand, so maybe we're just lucky.

The kitchen people came Monday pm to fit the door, which is a swing door in and out of the washing-up area. It is fitted into its' side panels, so is a bit specialist - it also has a window in it so we don't knock anyone out when we use it! But guess what - it is too wide. The nit-wit J-P had ordered the wrong size, and if that was fitted, it would mean that we hit the stairs everytime we go in or out of the kitchen. Oh Grrr, this is already the second one and Dave had made a point of emphasizing the size. Anyway, it has to be perfect, so we have sent it back and yet another one is on order. It won't really hold us back, as they are now on hols and our builder is plodding slowly on at his own pace, but it is frustrating. So now it's just Olivier who is coming. But although he is a bit (!) slow, he is methodical and is doing a good job. He is currently tackling the doorway that we are having made enclosing the lower dining room. He admittted that he wasn't sure how he was going to go about it, but he is doing a really good job - the wall seems really solid. The other side, where the door frame will fix to the wall is tricky as well, as the wall is not straight , naturally,  and comes out at the top by a good chunk. After he has finished the wall, we have asked him if he will do the jointing of the plasterboard-work that he has done so far, so we can get cracking at least on the mezzanine fitting the loo and handbasin, and maybe doing a bit of decorating. The electrics have yet to be finished up there, so we may have to hold back on the decorating until the switches are put in.

Here is the wall so far:

As for the car, a rental car was sorted out for us and a taxi picked us up on Tuesday to take us to Perpignan to pick it up. We have it for 7 days. We then went to see the garage where our car was taken. We heard today that TWO radiators need to be replaced - the a/c one, where the green fluid was coming out, AND the normal radiator. The bumper and light also need to be replaced. It's unbelievable how much damage a stupid little breeze block has caused. Still, the breeze block has met it's maker - Dave has taken it out and rounded the edge of the one next to it to try to avoid doing that again. However, I can't sing the praises of the insurance company more highly. It's MMA Assurance, if anyone is familiar with French insurance companies. And I shall tell them so. The cherry tree also met it's maker, and the ash next to it.....once Dave gets a chain saw in his hand, he's dangerous! But the cherries were too small to eat and the view is now fantastic from the deck in the garden. Of-course, the garden is now full of dead tree as we can't move it until we get the Zafiria back.........

 Today I have ordered the steakstones that we shall use for our pierrade - hot stones. I can't wait until they come! Here's a pic - taken from the website:

I hope you agree, it's a nice set! Our friends in the Dordogne are pleased with them.

The guy who develpos them appeared on Dragons Den, so I have downloaded the episode to see them. Should have watched it before I ordered them, I guess, but I don't think it's much risk.