The burden which is well bourne becomes light.

Bob joins me on an early morning trip to the market. Sophie stays behind in the warmth of the kitchen. One dog at the market a delight. Two dogs at the market a nightmare of tangled leads and inquisitive noses going where they shouldn't. 

The wine seller has Mouton Rothschild at a price that tells you one of three things. 1) It's an outstanding bargain. 2) It's fallen off the back of a lorry or 3) It's been grown and bottled in China. 

The lady at the bakers tries to interest me in a her 'medieval pilgrims cake '. Orange sponge coated in orange flavoured icing. She's made twenty of them. €8.50 each. Angus wonders how many medieval pilgrims had a craving for orange flavoured icing. There again why let historical accuracy stand in the way of a good story ?

Back in the village it's the handing out of the annual garden competition prizes. 18 entrants. 18 prizes.Each entrant makes a thank you speech. Garrulity a French national trait. Madame Bay makes a half curtsy as she receives her certificate from the mayor. Daughters Nadine and Sandrine, her husband and the grandchildren all thanked for helping make her victory possible. Good for nothing son-in-law Hugo is not mentioned.

After the award ceremony the wide screen television is brought out. England are playing France in the Six Nations Rugby. The national anthem sung with a vigour that causes the pigeons on the church belfry to take flight. The Old Farmer dispenses red wine from a tea urn into plastic beakers. Jack Russell's leap in and out of the windows. Toddlers clamber on tables. Mothers tell them to get down. Crates of beer are hauled in from the back of tractors. Village life is reawakening after the winter.