Fully Roofed (Almost!)

After a two-week summer holiday (which they didn't tell their boss about), the builders have been working with a vengeance this month.

Since starting back at work a couple of weeks ago, they have knocked out all the holes (in the old stone walls) for new openings, put up the main structure for the new outside steps, built some interior walls, and finished most of the roofing. Within a couple of days, the roof tiling should be done -- at which point tradition seems to insist that we take the men (they are all men) out for lunch or bring them some wine or port. Since we've been providing a regular supply of beer already, the lunch seems an appropriate way to celebrate.

Here's a view of the house from across our little valley (in which flows the mighty Tabua River, currently dried up).

And this is the structure of the outside staircase (the main way into the house from the street) before laying the stone stairs. The ragged hole is for a new door. (It's been sitting like that for a week; I'll be happier when they get a lintel in there to hold the rest of the house up...)