Difficult to beat.

And so another week ends. The world outside the village maybe in turmoil - shootings, inflation, military reverses in Ukraine, lockdowns in China, unrest in Iran - but here life continues its untroubled routine. The moorhen chicks scoot across the water lily leaves. The piebald horse at the the crossroads tries to make friends with the family diva. In the evening Lapis Lazuli dragon flies flit around the terrace dinner table. At daybreak black and white C-A-T sits on top of the wood pile and peers down, haughtily, at Sophie who howls in impotent fury. The frogs in the village pond give ceaseless praise. Village routines have been like this for a thousand years and will be for another thousand. 

Panic! Panic!! Panic!!! Angus is up and about while the family diva is still snoring away in her 'secret' spot behind the sofa  in the snug. She hears me moving about and hurtles downstairs at a speed the camera on the i-Phone just can't capture. Who knows what excitement she might be missing ? Are there sausages ?

The PONette may be becoming a lady of advancing years but where there's mischief or adventure to be found she is determined to be in the centre of it. Her enthusiasm is indomitable.

Angus opens up the shutters and windows to let the cool morning air in. He is  followed around the house by a canine presence who lives in the hope that he's about to open the refrigerator and throw all its contents onto the floor. The remains of last nights chicken might be a good place to start. She does her best to hide the rising sense of disappointment. I tell her there will be curly croissant ends later.

Yesterday was hot. Today, supposedly, will be hotter still.

I'm not a great fan of British or French politicians but I'd have to say this is real class .In fact in its tone and nuance and timbre it's difficult to beat. In an charmingly archaic and formal way the V in 'vous' is capitalized. Neither of us has ever seen this in a modern setting before : https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1532259346398298118

Seeing the Queen doing this was surprising :https://twitter.com/mrmikecowan/status/1533164454057332736

This morning Sophie and her companion head off to the bakers for the morning croissants while listening to this. I'm guessing you'd never hear this on a British station : https://youtu.be/sLfqapBIqME?t=4