Cleaning the Lavoir

We arrived back home after a long drive, in the knowledge that we had a hard afternoons work ahead of us, preparing the gardens for our guests the day after. What we hadn’t bargained on was that our Mairie would be calling on willing villagers to help with cleaning up the lavoir the next morning.

Apparently the inspection team for the village flower ratings is visiting soon, and we need to do our best to keep appearances up. That’s all good, but the last thing we needed was an early start with manual labour, but at least it wasn’t until 9.30am. but then we read the second flyer.

Due to the temperatures we were experiencing they had pushed the time forward…

…to 7am!

It really wasn’t ideal, but Brian said that he would go, whilst I stayed at home to prepare for our guests. It is always important to show that we are willing to support the village.

After a brief pep talk the work began. There was an excessive amount of ivy and other plants growing in, and around, the lavoir (wash house), and it all needed to come out.

there was no mucking about, and they were all soon getting stuck in, with the sound of power tools and clanging gardening equipment filling the morning air.

The Maire got stuck in with his Massey Ferguson, and there was soon a big change happening.

It’s amazing what a group of like-minded people can achieve in a short time.

Brian couldn’t hang around for the whole effort, but he had been present and helped them along, and that’s the main thing.