Mid-June ?

No Rickety Old French Farmhouse is complete without the presence of a sheepdog. This Rickety Old French Farmhouse is graced with a sheepdog that guards from the front door. Today, the nose out, rump in technique is being employed to confuse passing C-A-T-S. This is accompanied by the ' my eyes are closed but I'm really awake ' stratagem . Gentle snoring provides a third layer of subterfuge.

This morning we're out before six. A large orange moon nestling slowly into the valley. At this time of the day the mud around the waterfall still fresh with the scent of the animals that have been there overnight. Sophie snorts with delight. On our way back up the hill we find Madame Bay is out and about collecting Elderflowers from the trees by the churchyard. She will use these to flavour some form of  home brewed alcoholic beverage. Madame Bay informs us that the masks are due to be delivered to the town hall on Friday but that they may be delayed. ' Those fancy folk in Toulouse will get them straight away and we'll be at the end of the queue. You can be sure of it'.

The builder drives by. I wave him down. He promises to come and lay the stone tiles as soon as lockdown is lifted. ' Next week ?' I suggest. " More like mid-June" he replies. Seems the builder works on a different lockdown schedule to the rest of the country. I am tempted to say something but decide against it. ' I'll put it in the diary ' I say affably. He looks at me as if I'm mad.

Barely six thirty and already Sophie's day is turning out to be full of excitement.