Granted, through late December and into the New Year, when work got going, every report and photo brought some radical news: "look, no more roof!" then, "look, new roof beams!" and more recently "wow, a new chimney!". And considering that for more than two years, the question everybody always asked: "has worked started?", invariably got them the same answer: "not yet", I think that to speak of "dramatic" new developments in 2011 was not overstating our case. We could see genuine interest on people's faces.
But lately, as we've admittedly settled into a steady narrative of reasonable expectations and progress according to project calendar, I get the sense sometimes that people are happy to hear that everything is going well, but ... it's almost like it's become routine. The last time someone asked me what's new and I told them excitedly, something like "the North roof is almost entirely tiled!", they smiled, with briefly a puzzled - or was it concerned? - look on their faces, and then I could swear their eyes glazed over.
But take my word for it: to us, it's as exciting as ever.
Every week, by Wednesday night, if we haven't received any news, one of us is bound to mutter: "Why haven't we heard from him yet?" The "him" in question is architect and general contractor Monsieur François Coq. Every Tuesday afternoon, he holds a site meeting with the trades currently engaged in the project. And within 24-to-48 hours, he emails us a brief but thorough, numbered report (we are up to #13), and usually a few photos - some of which, like the ones below, end up on this blog.
These reports and photos are the high point of our week.
These reports and photos are the high point of our week.
You see, Gaulejac is on our minds most waking hours, and the subject of most of our conversations. The date of our next trip there is like a beacon in the night. So, if we bore you every time we see you, with our endless descriptions, ideas, photos, and plans, please tell us and we'll gladly change the channel. But, as the conversation moves on and we all agree that Chilean wines never disappoint, and how about Stephen Harper, and yes, this new movie is very good ... know that all along, in a corner of our minds ... we're still in Gaulejac. Where we are looking forward to welcoming you soon.
And if you're still interested, per the now customary format of these postings, here are some of the latest photos from Monsieur Coq:
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| The East wall, with the second chimney almost finished. Below: the same wall, before. |
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| Note the old roof line, which is still visible in the photo above, where new stonework has just been completed. |
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| We now have eavestrough! |
