Gravel rush

Aching back so it must have been a productive day; a bit more log loading, a bit of nettle collecting, and then it was gravel shifting and trench digging to round the day out. Nicolas and Bernard did four runs to the quarry down at les Olliers to collect sand for the walls and gravel for the courtyard. It took a whole day, which seemed to suit Nicolas; but Bernard kindly peeled off after a few loads to sand down the beam in the guesthouse and give me directions for the pipe in the courtyard.

We are going to sort out the overflow of the trough by laying a pipe so it can run off to the vegetable garden where it will be useful instead of into the courtyard where it is dank and unproductive. But as the gravel is coming in a rush, I had to get on and dig the trench before it would get buried.

M. Pongerard is going to delivery more of my magic weed suppressing textile. But not for a fortnight, so it was get on with what I had and lay the carpet before the truck arrived with the little stones. They are larger than the current ones, which is a shame. But they will do well. And if that means there is a bit more exercise in crossing the courtyard (bouncing over the stones), then so be it.