The big arrival

The big day finally arrived, and at half past five I was up and cleaning the kitchen because we weren't leaving until half ast seven and I'd already got everything ready the day before!  Father-in-law and horse box arrived and we were off!  Until halfway there the car decided that it had had enough and stopped.  And could not be persuaded to continue.  We were brought home, minus the horsebox, which had been hired for the day and was now in a garage an hour and a half away.  So change of car and off again.  Luckily this time we made it there and even more relief when the animals decided that maybe the horsebox was not to be feared too much.  The way home was also quite eventful with near zero visibilty through thunder storms in the mountains.  Father-in-law remained stoic and at half past seven, a mere twelve hours after we first set off,  Caramel and Sophie were welcomed into their new house by pyjama-ed children and a relieved husband.  Here are a few little pictures of them.  Enjoy.

Caramel

And Sophie

In her field

Introductions

Brocanting

The weather had been glorious, until Sunday.  And that's a big problem for us.  Because Sundays are brocante days, car boots, yard sales, call it what you will.  But brocante days they are to us and we all get excited.  So after slaving away in beautiful sunshine in the donkpon shed for the past four days we were all for giving ourselves a day off bargin hunting.  So imagine the disappointment when we awoke to RAIN.  Glum faces all around.  Not only that but we couldn't get on with anything else either and the prospect of a Sunday cooped up inside with dampness seeping into our souls was not a merry prospect.  Hence why as soon as there was the slightest break in the downpour the children were wellied and raincoated and we attempted the brocante anyway.  Not huge this year  - and the few brave souls who had ventured stalls were tentatively unwrapping their wares when we arrived.  We did enjoy ourselves, mooched around, persuaded the children that a go on the slide made up for us not buying another toy car, ate our customary croissant and coffee and haggled over the price of a jug.  Another one.  Look

So Sunday aftrnoon was okay afterall. Cooped up inside I was at least cheered up by the sight of my new blue jug shining at me from the shelf. And it only cost a euro.

A breakthrough!

Yay, we've found a floor!  We had a lovely surprise when we dug under where the oil barrels were and discovered a stone floor.  On the down side it meant that there was actually alot more rubble and earth to move than we had first thought because the floor is substantially lower inside than out.  There were two options either hire a mini digger and scrape it all out or dig it out by hand.  We had to go for the second option, at least I could get on with it during W's naps.

So finally, barrow after barrow, we have cleared it.  By hand.  Have a look now.

And this was some of the stuff we pulled out;

It looks like my donkpon will have a shelter after all.  And thanks to the children collecting hay they shouldn't get too hungry on the journey either;

10 days to go.....................

The next adventure.

So after seeing a cute looking donkey on a "please rescue me" site despite not actually planning to own an equine in the near future I bundled the family into the car and headed off two and a half hours down the road, on a bank hoilday, ignoring that fact that there were several donkeys for sale in our area. I was promptly smitten.  Obviously.  Now, I have two children and a large field, donkeys like friends, the only option was buying a second hoofed companion, great, the man was also selling a pony.

So we have a month before I, sorry, father-in-law, has to drive back to collect them and nothing was remotely planned let alone started.
Here is where their shelter will be

 please note lack of roof, infestation of ivy and crumbling walls.  We have started to clear fifty years of rubble, and earth, a complete roof (broken) and father-in-law (again!) has done two trips to the recycling tip with two trailer fulls of rusty oil barrels! - Why were there oil barrels?

On a more positive note under the barrels we did discover an old drinking bowl and I suspect that there is a stone manger under that broken beam there.

Finally though they will have a lovely view from their bedroom door once they arrive