Time honoured

6:34 am. On the tarmac outside The Rickety Old Farmhouse a large spider attracts Sophie's attention. This has to be studied and glared at before we can get on our way. The large spider is probably unaware it is being glared at. This in so way detracts from Sophie's sense of purpose.

We head off up the hill and through the sunflower fields. A large Kite circles overhead - a full size bigger than the more common place eagles or buzzards . It makes a shrill whistling noise as it goes. A balmy 18 degrees this morning. It is forecast to get into the low 30's this afternoon.  For the next month or so the highlights of Sophie's day will be  long morning and evening walks with extensive heat avoiding naps in between. 

The rain of recent weeks has given way to blue skies interspersed with bubbly clouds. On our way back through the village it's clear that the population of 67 souls has been reduced to barely half a dozen.  Not a person to be seen. Angus notes that the flags remain up on the war memorial. That's 27 days. The previous mayor took them down after 3. The question now is whether they make it to 45 ?

While we're out The Old Farmer has been busy. He has got to that ' putting everything in order' stage of life. Two trailers and the Peugeot Estate are clustered together in front of his house. A piece of old hardboard with AV ( For Sale ) sprayed on it in bright orange letters has been placed in the high sided ex-Army trailer. Traffic through the village is light at the best of times. In high summer it's two cars an hour in the rush hour and a car an hour for the rest of the day. Passing buyers are likely to be few and far between for these time honoured possessions. One chapter end another begins.