Isn’t it strange, how things happen all at the same time? Last week, on the same day, and after numerous delays, we completed the purchase of the flat in Harrogate and got the planning permission through for the house here in Caupenne. So now we can start on the serious work of building our new house!

The first job was a trip to Pau to buy windows for Nick’s and my workshops, plumbing stuff for the new bathroom and to collect the bath we’d ordered. Nick wasn’t overly impressed to discover that, having paid a small ransome for the bath of my choice, the legs were an extra 90euros. I wasn’t exactly flavour of the month! I hope anyone who visits will make sure to comment to Nick on the lovely bath, please!!

Last week, at Adrian’s, he commented that no-one could make lemon meringue pie like his mum’s friend; too much of a challenge to let pass, I’m afraid. So today, while work started on plumbing the bathroom, I made a lemon meringue pie; it’s passed muster here, so next visit to Brassempouy will see us arriving with a lemon meringue pie to see if it matches up to Ade’s high standards. I got a bit carried away, actually, and also made 2 quiches, a lemon cake and 15 jars of lemon marmalade.  Good to tell it was raining!