It all went swimmingly.

The time of year when Paris based diplomats start to pack up their summer homes in the country and think about heading back North. A time of year when invites to '' we must see you before we go " gatherings abound. Angus who has spent a lifetime making small talk would quite happily avoid them all. He is told that this is 'standoffish'.

At one gathering there's a Fish and Chip van ( a practical way to feed the guests and cut down on the washing up) and Medieval Troubadours as entertainment. Purists might wonder if tricorn hats are medieval but it's the thought that counts.  Half a dozen inflatable pink flamingos add an additional element of sophistication.

The Medieval Troubadours consist of two drummers, a man playing a penny whistle, a juggler and a young lady dressed as Gypsy Rose Lee . The young lady dances round in what might , or might not, be a lascivious manner or she may simply have a sore foot. Through the performance the young lady and the juggler cast what Barbara Cartland would have described as 'longing glances' at each other . They seem keen to get the performance over and done with as quickly as possible. As a finale the juggler produces two crescent shaped blades that he twirls distractedly above his head in a manner very small children might find spell binding. While the guests clap and the two drummers and the penny pipe player take a bow the juggler and the lascivious dancer skip away, hand in hand, into the shrubbery. Very French.

Along the lane the plane trees have shed all their bark on the side that faces the Autan wind.

Loic the gardener has returned , refreshed and relaxed from his trip to Narbonne Plage. He is well. His mother is well. In fact everything has worked out swimmingly. This morning he blows leaves into piles. The PONs follow along behind , unpiling.

Just when you think you've seen it all : http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/08/26/546049293/whats-making-these-dogs-in-mumbai-turn-blue

And a sad note. There aren't a huge number of PONs in the world and even fewer who appear in blogs. One brave fellow, Edward in Atlanta, has run ahead on the next part of his journey. A home without a PON is a strangely quiet place. We know exactly what Edwards family must be feeling. He was a family fellow.  Do pop by if you have the chance : http://fromthehouseofedward.blogspot.fr/