Shaker candlesticks.

Aude and Sylvie continue to work away on stripping and undercoating the old ceiling in the upstairs hallway. While they work, Wilf waits at the bottom of the scaffolding for a full fibre Ryvita. Manna from heaven. They think it will take another two weeks to finish off the doors, beams and rafters.

The builder came to knock down a horrid old concrete barbecue area by the terrace. Instead he knocked down the eighteenth century brick wall next to it.

Mid-morning and the landscape gardeners announce there is no more they can do until the trenches dug by the government cess pit men are filled in. As a parting gesture they cleverly unload an enormously large pile of gravel in the middle of the driveway.

Much moving of furniture for the decorators. 'The font' is delighted to find a pair of antique shaker candlesticks in the basement. Apparently we bought these in San Francisco thirty years ago and they've not seen the light of day since. Where we are going to put a pair of candlesticks five feet high has not been explained to me.

Wilf simply loves the thirty ton gravel mountain. He has clambered to the top and christened the summit no less than twelve, triumphant, times. Where I see a mess he sees fun. Or as a wise old PON might say " Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine ".