Oaks.

Jupiter ( as bright as an engagement ring diamond ) and a crescent moon shimmer away in last nights sky. The village street lights turn off at nine - a new cost saving measure by the young mayor. This leaves the skies untroubled by light . Our part of France is noted for being 'light free' and attracts a lot of star gazers. We stand outside after dinner and watch the Chinese spy satellites glide over the Airbus plant in Toulouse. The locals view this enthusiasm for standing outside, in the cold, in winter, with an element of 'surprise' bordering on alarm.

Sophie starts her day with a 5:50 tour of the garden.  These early starts ensure that we are the first ones down by the river. The overnight gale has brought out exotic and alluring scents so our sniff every blade of grass progress is glacial. Angus has long ago discovered that trying to hurry along a PONette is like trying to herd C-A-T-S.  It doesn't work.

Covid cases have risen again. More than three hundred thousand yesterday. Adjusted for population that's equivalent to 1.5 million in the US . Thankfully, hospitalizations remain low. For the next couple of weeks we shall remain 'cautious' and revert to using click and collect for all our shopping. Just a little more patience before it burns itself out ?

Back in the village we find that in the strong winds one of the old oaks that line either side of the ox track has blown over. The ox track is blocked.

An avenue of oaks were planted at the time of the revolution. They line the ox track linking the ridge with the valley and stream.  A cynic might think there would  have been more pressing things to do in a revolution than planting oaks but why let logic spoil a good story ? Slowly but surely they're now dying off. The Rickety Old Farmhouse once had twenty or so in its grounds but after 250 years only three are left. We've replanted where they once stood but oaks are slow growing. In fifty years time the replacements might start to look the part.

Random e-mail of the day from an auction house. Is it the angels that make this picture so memorable ? : https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/sandro-botticellis-the-man-of-sorrows