The Roof (the whole roof.....)

Yes we have a roof upstairs now... which is a major step forward and means that we can do everything else a bit at a time. At the moment it just seems that everything is coated in concrete but next weekend we will get rid of the wood and be able to clear out the rooms and start working out our next steps.

Mohamed's priority today is to get some more water, all the water in our well was used in the concreting and at the moment the water in the aqueduct does not come all the way to the river. He needs to go down and clear where it passes under the road just opposite the house. This morning he has been setting up the electric cables and water pipes so that the pump will be ready when the water arrives.

I have been really tired this week, not sure why but felt totally wiped out. Cooked a mega lunch for all the builders on Thursday and I had a few late nights doing some research for Mohamed's homework - he has been trying to keep up to date with his course while making sure the building work continued on schedule and next week his exams start.

I found this beautiful lizard while out walking the other day. He was staying stock still in the hope that I wouldn't see him - which would have worked if he had been standing on a blue tile... but where he was I really couldn't miss him. He is an Agama impalearus, but that is all I know about him.

Other news that I have just heard is that one of my Dad's dogs has died. Kessie lived to a good age - I seem to remember going to pick her out on my Dad's 70th birthday and he is almost 84 (though I think my Dad says she was 15 so maybe I have got that wrong). I remember it was really difficult finding puppies, because I said was getting one for my Dad, Munlochy Animal Aid would not give me one. Anyhow we ended up going to look at a litter in Carnarc Crescent and Dad ending up taking two pups: Kessy and Bridie named after the Kessock Bridge. Poor Bridie will be lost without her sister and I know my Dad is also feeling the loss. The house will be a lot quieter as Kessie always had a lot to say for herself.

Work in Progess

Well we are almost there with the roof, tomorrow should be the big day of the concrete pouring... but this morning Mohamed got a phone call summoning him to the Caid. I am just waiting to see what the story is.

In the meantime here is a picture

I thought this was Ruby, but on closer inspection it is in fact Trot, sneaking in to eat leftover couscous. For some reason the neighbours decided to give everyone lunch yesterday. I will be doing lunch on Thursday (fingers crossed) when the concreting is being done..... and I do prepare a massive breakfast twice a day but have drawn the line at providing lunch everyday.

Well that is my life at the moment, working eating sleeping and walking the dog....

Will let you know what happens.

Quick News

Yes they have started work on the roof. There has been hammering upstairs since yesterday morning and they are about halfway round the roof putting up the framework of wood for the iron to sit in. Next stage is the iron frame and then the concrete is poured in.

Yesterday we (me, Ruby, Trot and Marmela) saw two snakes while out on our walk... the first was a large but mostly harmless Montpellier's snake. The second was (I think) a beautiful but deadly silver Moorish Viper. It was hunting in the thorn hedge. You can read more of our dog walking adventures on walkingthedogs.tumblr.com where I keep a daily journal of the walks.

I will get some photos of the construction online soon.

This week we have had weather

Yes, thunder and lightening, wind and rain and sunshine and heat as well. I am sitting listening to the weather now. It certainly makes a change from "Scorchio" every day.

I am slowly getting back to normal. I have a little exercise routine which I do most days. I have to say I was very disappointed when I went back to the doctor and he said carry on with the Lyrica and come back in 2 months... but then I also expected it as I did still have some pain in my right ankle and hip. However I am now feeling much better, much more normal though I feel as if I have lost a lot of fitness.

Ruby and I are getting out for proper walks - usually with Trot and we are slowly building up the distance that we cover.... though a lot does depend on when I get out and what the weather is doing. Yesterday was so heavy, humid and hot that I really struggled to get one foot in front of the other.

I am hoping that we will start building again sometime this week (or next) it should have been today but the guy with the wood (to make the shuttering for the roof) let us down. Wood from a different source is supposed to arrive today or tomorrow. We have decided not to wait till the license comes through as there is a "window of opportunity" that will close in a few weeks when the new constitution is announced. At the moment there seems to be a bit of laissez faire going on. In the village there are at least 2 new houses being built from the ground and lots of additions being made. All this means that the price of wood and labour has gone up. We are getting wood from Taroudant which is cheaper - even considering the transport costs (our own anyway).

It will be strange not being able to go up to the roof. It will be a while before the stairs to the new roof will be built. Once the roof is on we will start with the wiring and plumbing and then doors and windows, plasterwork, tiling etc etc as and when we get the cash. If we manage to get Ouled Said sold that will mean we can just get it all done... but bit by bit it will be finished.

Well time I put some clothes on (remind me to tell you the story of buying trousers) and get out with the dogs. For once I am not exactly sure what I should wear... will I need a jacket or not?