Flipped switch.

It's as though a switch has been flipped and the world has gone back to its pre-pandemic routine. As we head out of the gate for our break of day tour of the village we find the sky crisscrossed with contrails. All the overnight flights lumbering in from the US and heading across western France to Milan and Marseilles and Munich. A huge wave of ( presumably ) three quarters empty widebodies that have arrived just as the sun rises. Some of the aircraft seem to be very high so perhaps they're off farther afield to Mumbai or Muscat. The skies haven't been this busy since Christmas 2019. Will it last ?

Sophie shows zero interest in the contrails. She is however greatly taken with two swans and two cygnets who are paddling about on the river.

This idyllic start to the day is ruined by the eleven young horses who are standing by the fence eating their breakfast. They eat rapidly and noisily. Sophie is not at all sure that passing a group of oat eating horses is a good idea. Our pace quickens ...markedly. She maintains a studied head down posture as she passes. What can't be seen , can't threaten.

Some equanimity is restored by a trip in the car to the bakers for the breakfast baguette and the curly ends from a croissant. In light of the trauma she's been through the family diva also gets the 'flap' from the top of the croissant.

 E-mails of the day:

A London hotel restaurant gets a makeover :https://www.roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/browns-hotel/restaurants-and-bars/charlies/

A south coast hotel opening. Looks like fun :https://www.thepighotel.com/in-the-south-downs/