Rasps, files and sandpaper

Day 4 and we are knee-deep in rasps and sandpaper except of course for Cosmas who's already there for the second time round, this time working on a little masterpiece. After thunderstorms during the night, our workplace was freshly washed of the stone dust and agreeably fresh in the morning. Our luck or St Clément's microclimapte, held for another day and, apart from a few strong gusts in the afternoon and a quick brush with a shower at the end of our working day, we stayed nice and dry.

More and more the pieces are emerging and I for one have discovered that I can happily sandpaper for two days. It's an almost zen-like experience and to my own suprise I didn't even for a second think, 'let's get this finished and done with!' You just move at your and the stone's pace and the reward may be a sheen and colour you never expected.

The lion, geometric forms, the chicken, the gothic lady and my warrior, let alone Cosy's little face and the freeform are all waiting for their final proof by fire and wax tomorrow.