A pre-dawn comfort break for the PONs and then they're loaded into the back of the big car and driven to the airport. They can both leap into the little VW but the Volvo is too high for Sophie who has to be helped up. The boot in the Volvo is the size of an ice rink so she can spread herself out without bothering her brother. Sophie is soon on her back and inelegantly asleep. At roundabouts she rolls over and emits a loud huff of displeasure. This morning the airport is very busy with business folk heading off to Paris on the first flight. 'The Font' says farewell to the PONs in the car park rather than at the departure gate. Bob is slightly miffed that he doesn't get a chance to wave his paws in front of the door sensors. He does however get to christen tyres in the short stay parking area.
Back home for a morning spent getting the garden ready for winter. Over the course of the week we shall slowly start to take all the pool furniture into storage. It only seems like yesterday that I got it all out. While I'm working a dark suited man in Beijing calls to ask if its usual for two Supreme Court Justices in a row - Messrs. Gorsuch and Kavanaugh - to come from the same D.C. high school. This is something I'd not noticed but I tell him it's extremely unusual. We discuss why this might be so.
The cooler temperatures mean that the angelic duo can come with me on a 10 am trip to the cafe. We go in the 'Loonj' so that Sophie can clamber in by herself. Getting to the bakers late has the advantage that a full variety of cakes are on display.
Angus settles on two eclairs. One coffee and one chocolate.
This mornings croissant from the cafe an outstanding 9.3/10. The crust crispy, the dough light and buttery. The angelic duo agree that the croissant is exceptional.PONs it must be said are perhaps not the best croissant judges. They think all bakery products merit an 11/10. From the smile on Bobs face today's offering is a 14/10.
The early morning air already heavy with the scent of lilac and rosemary. A hot day in store . The bakers children barge through the queue for baguettes and rush squabbling out of their front door onto the pavement. The little girl turns and runs back to greet Bob and Sophie. Her elder brother tells her to hurry up. She scampers after him pulling on her satchel as she goes.
At the newsagents the young sapeur pompier who plays fly half in the local rugby club stops to greet the two pups. He calls them Wilf and Digby. I don't bother correcting him. Sophie rewards him with a lick. There's time for a quick coffee at the cafe under the arcades. Bob and Sophie get fussed over by the waitress. Both of them have already perfected their '' I'm an orphan dog that's never been fed " routine. They share a half croissant. Bob smacks his lips. Sophie devours her portion in demur silence.
Home to find a black van parked outside the house. From a distance it looks like a hearse. Barely seven o'clock and the builders are unloading shower trays . '' We'll break the back of it this week " says the foreman. So much for them being finished by June 20th. This thought is not voiced.
Later today I'll speak to the company that manufactured the solar powered pool cover about spare parts . I'll also ask the foreman to take a look at the leak that's developed over the weekend in the washing machine. Why is it that machinery always miraculously breaks down after three years ? Bob and Sophie will hunt for windfalls in the cherry orchard . Just another Monday in deepest France profonde.
Saturday morning. A trip in the car to the strawberry farm for Gariguettes. They're €4.50 for a small punnet in the fancy greengrocers but €2.50 for half a kilo from the lady with the polytunnels. The polytunnel lady comes to the back of the car to say hello to Bob and Sophie. Sophie licks her hand. At the cafe under the arcades we park and the waitress brings out two coffees. Bob and Sophie get a tickle. The beer and absinthe crowd wave. Next week we'll take them into the cafe.
Back home to find Loic the bifocaled gardener strimming happily away. We've asked him to make sure all the verges are cut short as we're entering peak deer tick season. Bob doesn't like the sound of the strimmer and rushes into the house. After some hesitation Sophie wanders over and licks Loics hand. So ends our first fun filled week together.
For those of you who asked for some videos of the little angels - watch and wonder at a PON's gardening skills.
