We've Done it at Last!

We've been talking about it for over a year.

This morning Tod drove to Fumel and bought two almost-new second-hand bikes.

And this evening - a bit wobbly and nervous at first - under a canopy of trees filtering the late sun, we cycled sedately along the canal tow path in the direction of Toulouse, Tod in front, me behind and Vita zigzagging between us.

It felt good.

In the DIY Shop

Both of them, shoulder length glossy black hair. One with a baseball cap, the other a pagan ram sequinned jacket. Baggy Moroccan pants, crutch nearly at the knees - one pair khaki, the other deep maroon over the slimmest of slim hips.

Pencil thin beards and pierced lips and nostrils, they banter with each other in the queue for the till, long dark locks drooping across their chiselled cheekbones.

They're buying curtain rods and summer drapes.

Mum pays.

Morning Walk after Rain

My jeans are wet to the knees as I push through the sodden grass dotted with buttercups and red poppies.

The raindrops on young shoots of horsetail turn a neighbour's field silver against the morning sunlight.

I look back at Serge's field of winter wheat on the valley side and see the bright green marred by pools and ravines of flattened stalks where last week's rain and wind ripped through.

A buzzard circles lazily overhead, wings motionless.

The tall Robinia trees in the hedgerows drip with white, sweet blossom.

Vita lingers over interesting smells, then races to catch up, muzzle strangely pointed as her wet fur clings to her face.

We walk to the sound of blackbird and nightingale song.

Last Tuesday afternoon's French lesson...

... sitting in the shade of the conifers, bare legs, T-shirts, the gentle bubble from the swimming pool in the background.

This Tuesday afternoon drive to Marmande, heater on, rain lashing windscreen.  Thermals, hat and scarf and still I'm cold.

It's snowing in the foothills of the Pyrenees and the forecast here for tonight is just over freezing.  I'll have to cover last year's geranium cuttings that are coming on so well in their pots at the back of the cottage.

The under floor heating is back on again.