High dudgeon.

Friday morning. Sophie stands at the front gate and makes it quite clear that I should get a move on. There is a world to be explored and a village to be checked up on. The mayor is up early planting bulbs in the churchyard. He waves cheerily at us. Although he'll be retiring as mayor after next months elections he's keeping busy.

Brightly coloured syrupy things appear in the bakers for Valentines Day. I consider picking up something for 'The Font' but know that after a spoonful it will be pushed across the table with the words ' Delicious! Why don't you finish it ?'.

Sophie stops on the lane and glares at the two large red squirrels on the lowest branch of the plane tree. They've taken to watching her as she strolls by. Their presence drives the PONette mad. She is of the opinion that they should be cowering in terror in some dark corner not displaying their audacity in broad daylight.

Having glared at the squirrels Sophie strides home at double fast speed. This is her high dudgeon pace. En route I try to explain to her what John Kelly is up to. Then we move on to the subject of sign stealing but she displays zero interest. She does however agree that sacking your Chancellor of the Exchequer is a move that rarely works.

Just another balmy morning in deepest, deepest France profonde.