August now, so progress over (for the time being)

M. Torelli and Jimmy have worked their last day for a while, as the whole of the country goes into "screensaver" mode for the month of August. We were pretty astonished that they even intended to come, but weren't going to say 'non'.

They've managed to connect up the bath, as promised, which I really appreciate; soaking away the kinks after a long day's gardening works so much better than taking a shower, especially when I can barely stand up straight!

The loo is also fitted and working, but the shower screens will have to wait, so M. Torelli has tried the taps to check they work, but then cut off the water [sensible man]. Sadly, another thing installed to the exact specification of the project manager is the totally-unsuitable-for-us water filtration system...

The immersion heater is full of limescale, apparently, and the pipes to it choked enough that it's making an alarming noise when it fills. M. Torelli is going to run through better options when he returns [hopefully the last two days of August]. More expense, and given that I've been here about eight months out of the last 24, and David has been here less than two months that seems a pretty bad example of matching what is needed by your clients!

As an aside, an interesting snippet we've picked up regarding progress on the Salle Polyvalente (the equivalent of a Village Hall): there was a note from the Mairie in our letter box when we arrived saying that the meal to celebrate Bastille Day had been cancelled as work on the Salle had progressed more slowly that expected.

Half of me is sad [not that we would have made this year's festivities] that the commune is being let down by Jean-Marie and his team, but the other (much meaner) half is glad that even a government body is being given the same delayed treatment that we experienced from T+B!

Another thing to be glad about that we didn't recommend them.

From M. Waeber we've learned that none of the companies that have done work here are working for the Mairie, and he also reckons that none of those companies will work for Jean-Marie again. I don't know if that's the case [I certainly know of at least one that turned him down flat for a major job] or hyperbole, but it wouldn't surprise me; even the 'devoted followers' (as I think of them) among the artisans seemed pretty disgruntled at his behaviour by the time they'd left our house.

We're just heartily glad he's gone, and that progress has been made.

Just wish perhaps a bit more of it had been achieved before the country shuts down for a month!