And yet we eschewed shorts because, well, we don’t believe it! Out at ten into the sunlit sky and off to behind Beaumes for the walk around Durban and up to St Hilaire. There was a thick low bank of cloud floating over the hills with blue sky above. We passed a shattered pine tree that looked as if it had been hit by lightning, scorched branches strewn along the verge. Half of La Patrouille zoomed overhead and disappeared. Some farmers chugged round their vines in tractors. Apart from that we only saw two young women, a fell runner and, later, a small group of randonneurs complete with poles. In the chapel garden all was quiet and peace - a very tranquil spot from which to survey the landscape.
By 11 as we were leaving we were hot and thought we’d visit John and Louise for refreshment. Not in…so nothing for it but to head home and have a drink at the bar. As we were doing so Adrian cracked - Steak and Chips, he croaked! So we moved to a dining table and ordered the entrecôte. Followed by an experiment - a café serré. Hmm, a leetle strong for my taste but he loved it and knocked back both mouthfuls, for that’s all you get - a shot.
Minouchette’s people are back so we are off duty. But oh dear, little does she realise that tomorrow The Dog arrives🙀
There are thousands of starlings wheeling around in mini murmurations, chattering in the trees. Then they suddenly all fall silent as if someone flicked a switch. Delightful. The sparrows have commandeered the martins’ nests for the winter and are busy tidying them up. Black Redstarts are everywhere flicking their bright tail feathers and ticking at each other. Acorns and chestnuts fall from branches like missiles and you have to do some fancy footwork to avoid a direct hit! Underfoot it is squished figs, olives and quinces. Such a bounty of unused fruits.
