Rent  A  Traditional  Country
Farmhouse  in  South-West  France

Week 64

Monday 27th June to Sunday 3rd July

Our farmer neighbour is ploughing up his winter wheat. With the few drops of rain we've had since March, it was touch and go as to whether it would ripen or not.

My computer virus was finally sorted by Computer Associates and I've got some catching up to do, so perhaps most of the next weeks activities will be complete fiction. We've seen and approved the latest plans for the barn and they will now be submitted for planning permission.

The barn plans have got me enthusiastic about starting work on the barn, but the Boss insists that I have a little work still to do on the house before we start the barn. Spoil sport. I'm trying to get my motivation back by doing bits and pieces, so progress is slow.

The winter wheat being grown in the field that we look out onto, has been harvested, and the remaining stalks have been bundled into giant weetabix.

As it is approaching the start of the holiday season proper, the local festivals of all types are beginning. On Saturday evening we go to the "fete de sardine"; the sardine festival at a nearby village.

Long tables outside, in the churchyard, are laid out with bread and wine, and the meal is typical for the region. Ducks gizzards to start, pate follows, then grilled sardines and potatoes and salad. Finished off with cheese and tart to end it all. The weather was warm and the grilled sardines were great.

Maybe next week I'll get on with building