Le Couvent Diary

I'm just waiting for guests to come to breakfast on this, the first day of autumn. The skies are rather grey and there's a brisk breeze blowing. It's not particularly cold; I went to buy the bread at 6.40 in the usual single-layer summer garb.

After breakfast I have to clean the pool. To be frank the water's decidedly nippy and I guess only the hardiest of guests will venture into the pool, but I'll clean it because it looks so inviting when it's glassy. In any case the sun is due back out for the rest of this week, with temperatures forecast at 27 degrees.

Ali's been in England since Friday and is due back this afternoon. She's currently driving my late step-father's ancient VW Golf laden with a Sainsbury's order. My mother wanted the car to go and it's worth nothing in the UK, so we'll have it here in Roujan where we can share it around. Finally, a car with no dog hairs. Curiously, it's probably worth thousands here if this example is anything to go by. It's a year older - 1992 - and a mere 2000 euros.

Well, one hopes this isn't too much, but no-one's made an acceptable offer for nearly a year now, so we have to assume it's either expensive or no-one wants it - surely not.

And this girl looks none too happy at having to hold the essential long thing.

 At just 25o euros this is hard to resist don't you think?

We're in the middle of preparing our new cave for the next wine harvest. Ali bought me a solid pair of steps so that I can reach to see into the new tanks. In the course of making it up (Ikea's best) I came across this sticker which I'm supposed to fix on said steps.  As I see it, the only thing you're really allowed to do is to hold a magnifying glass near them. I see you can't wear them as shoes, and it's not advised to head butt walls from them. But why am I not allowed to paint them for heaven's sake? At least they'd look pretty whilst languishing unused in a corner.

In preparation for the new season I've been making jam.  We get through lots during the summer - just delicious on hot croissants at breakfast. This week I've been making strawberry and mint. I thought I'd invented the recipe until my pal Alex dismissed my imagined imagination with the phrase "Oh, you've copied L'Entrepots in Pezenas - they serve it there"  Actually, I didn't, but I'm relieved to know such a fab restaurant also thought it worth experimenting a bit.

 Always on the lookout for smart gizmos, my eyes fell upon this little beauty. 

In case you are on the lookout for one of these 'what on God's good earth can it be' they are on sale at Lidl later this week.

Captions please.

I am deeply disappointed in my ten hens. One is currently broody, which is bad enough, but not one of them can dance like this little fellah. Ali and I have been laughing our socks off over this video - he saves some of his best moves towards the end.