'Be yourself' is about the worst advice you can give some people.

Six am. There's a cat in the garden. I only discover this when  opening the door to let the little angels out for their early morning constitutional. Sophie hurtles past me, picks up speed, throws her head back and howls. Bob follows suit. They disappear into the darkness. By the light of the torch two furry, fast moving, figures can occasionally be seen charging through the orchard. The unmistakable sound of branches snapping . There go the tree peonies. The cat has long gone by the time they give up the chase and come back inside.

The baker has returned from his holiday. He said he'd be closed for three weeks but actually stayed shut for four , nearly five. That fluid French attitude to work. He looks very tanned. This morning he's been making a local delicacy '' Pave du Quercy ". This it seems is a made out of sugar, butter, dried fruit, cherries, and nuts. It seems to have the consistency of an uncooked Christmas Pudding. The word '' indigestion " flits before my eyes. We buy some macaroons.