Better things to do.

The heat has arrived. While it's still in the low teens we head off in the car with the windows down. Breakfast croissants are collected from the modern baker. There is then a chance to explore the childrens playground. Sophie finds a tunnel. She charges through it three times before deciding there are better things for a girl to do.

Monday was,in its own way, hectic :

Loic arrived to blow leaves. The fact that there were no leaves to blow in no way interfered with his enjoyment.

Two gendarmes visit the town hall. The new mayor is late opening up so they sit on the steps and smoke while they wait for him. I presume they are investigating the 'flattening' of Anger Management Mans vegetable patch. The German Billionaires Builder is the obvious suspect but he's away on a weeks vacation. Investigations continue.

Mid-morning a group of a dozen youngsters stand by the war memorial and are lectured by a middle aged man with a beard. All the youngsters are wearing day glo yellow vests. I cannot imagine what they might be doing.

On our pre-dinner tour of the village we see a moorhen in the middle of the pond. It has not been scared off by Monsieur Bozos drainage works for the new yoga centre. The sight of the moorhen makes me ( irrationally ? ) extremely happy. It won't be long before little moorhens are scurrying across the water lily leaves.

Sophie drinks from the stream, glares at dragonflies and tries her hand at minnow fishing. This is as inept as it is unsuccessful. It is however extremely good fun.

The dog roses have come into bloom. We climb back up to The Rickety Old Farmhouse surrounded by their scent. The power of their perfume on this sunny, breeze free morning is really quite remarkable.  Sophie and her companion can report that, despite claims to the contrary, all is well with the world.

 C-A-T-S. The answer to this question is the woodpile in the barn :https://partner.sciencenorway.no/animal-behaviour-animals-cats/home-sweet-home-pet-cats-rarely-stray-far/2017708