Quite possibly theatrical.

Sophie wakes and discovers that a member of her flock has 'wandered'.

Polish Lowland Sheepdogs are not happy when one of their charges goes 'AWOL'.

She settles down by the front door and does her Miss Glum impression. 

Later today there will be a trip to the airport for a Starbucks croissant and a reunion ( quite possibly theatrical ) with her errant charge. The automatic sliding door into the terminal may be carefully examined.

In the meantime those of us left behind must contend with the guilt inducing ' What are you doing about it ?' look. 

It should be noted that glumness in no way interferes with the family divas appetite.

A private universe.

Yesterday, the family diva finished the last of her medications. A not so small victory. Her eyes are once again white, her gums rosy and her fur soft. Although she gets tired a little more easily she seems to have made a complete recovery. 

Summer is rushing in with all barrels blazing. High 20's yesterday. More of the same today. Sophie's routine has changed with the heat. Her daily walks taken first thing in the morning and after sundown.  In between times she dozes or does her 'I'm an orphan dog that's never been fed' routine in the kitchen.

In the valley, by the cool of the waterfall Sophie is in her own private universe. Sunbeams, dragon flies, minnows and the scents of the civets, badgers and foxes that inhabit the banks of the stream. Although it's barely light the countryside is full with the sound of happy bees. Thousands and thousands of them. 

The wet winter followed by a long , dry spring, has had one unexpected benefit. The roses are starting to bloom as if they're going out of fashion. We've never seen them like this. Sitting on the terrace for breakfast is like living in a perfume factory.  The lavender they're underplanted with should soon add to the mix.

Angus heads back to London later today to talk to serious Bostonians about events in Europe. At the last minute British Airways cancelled the post lunch flight. Instead I'm rebooked on the late afternoon departure which gets in an hour before dinner. This is, as they say, cutting it fine.

Did you know the drought in the US South West is the worst in 1,200 years ? :https://gizmodo.com/more-human-bones-emerge-from-lake-mead-as-drought-conti-1848899288

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

Daybreak crime.

 

The mechanical excavator of Monsieur Bozo, the septic tank installer,  is parked in the middle of a field by the village pond. It has been cordoned off and is being checked over by two bored looking gendarmes. Overnight someone has driven it over Anger Management Mans courgette beds. This is a village 'event' we opt to stay well clear of. The last thing I want to face this early on a Monday morning is a 'volcanic' Anger Management Man who has had his marrows squashed.

Angus and Sophie pick up their pace, head home and set off for a restorative morning croissant.

It's getting hot now. The bakers patio busy with office workers enjoying the sunshine and fresh air with their breakfast. Sophie is kept harnessed up although she only has eyes for her croissant ends.

Before our day moves into top gear there's time for a tour of the shopping centre car park. We're back to using the big car full time. The small Volvo continues to display bipolar tendencies so will be kept in the barn until the dealership in Toulouse can deal with it.

Back at home the family diva displays the quiet happiness of a dog who's been through a hedge backwards. As, indeed, she has.

Last night we dined ( virtually ) in Brooklyn. We have never been to Brooklyn but it looks rather hip. Angus thinks all the cocktails are rather 'flowery' :https://www.mamafoxbk.com/

Is this the most surprising/exciting horse race ever ? :https://twitter.com/KentuckyDerby/status/1523132266595368960

A May Sunday.

Sophie has her new anti-tick collar put on. She does everything she can to get it off.

The little Volvo is once again being temperamental. The dashboard has taken to lighting up like Coney island on the fourth of July with the dire warning 'engine malfunction - go to dealer immediately'.  Stopping the car, turning off the engine and then restarting it seems to settle things down for a couple of days. The garage can get it seen to next week. This morning we take the big car down to the bakers. Sophie looks rather lost in the vastness of the back. 

The Old Farmer is up at five thirty to cut the lawn. He has settled into a fixed routine that revolves around a four day cycle. Day 1 work on the engine of the Mercedes, Day 2 work on the engine of the venerable Ford Transit motorhome, Day 3 make sure the ancient Peugeot is still working, Day 4 get out the tractor and cut the lawn to within an inch of its life.

This mornings croissant gets an 8.1/10

Back in the village work on the yoga centre has stopped. A new roadway has been opened up through the old village walls. The 1950's era 'plate glass door houses'   that were to be demolished have been given a reprieve. The German billionaires didn't think to tell the new mayor what they planned to do. Seems that he has made it clear that 'permission' is required. For the time being further progress is in limbo.

 

Odours.

Last night there was a little grilled tuna with Sophie's dinner time kibbles. This morning the family diva leads me into the kitchen and stares at the stove. Why can I not understand that grilled tuna should be a 24/7 option ? 

Sophie heads off with me through the village, down the ox track and along the valley to the stream. She has a long drink, fishes ineptly for minnows ( what is it with water and refraction ?), savours the civet cat odours and glares at a pair of large dragonflies.

The farmer has ploughed and seeded the field by the crossroads. This year he has installed a scarecrow. The scarecrow consists of two large white plastic bags and a smaller green one. From certain angles the improvised bird scarer can look like a knight on horseback. From others it looks like two white plastic bags and a smaller green one. Presumably the birds will be fooled.

After our walk we're off into the small market town to the bakers for a curly croissant end. The bakers wife has made a Fraisier ( which we buy ) ...

.... and a selection of mundane smaller cakes which we ignore. Sophie is given some choux pastry. This is gratefully received. 

Oops: https://www.cedars-sinai.org/newsroom/new-study-reveals-how-the-brain-says-oops/

Problematic.

Blogger remains 'problematic'. The comment function is randomly selective and access to the blog can be 'haphazard'. Usually these gremlins sort themselves out within a few days. This time it seems to be taking a little longer. Thank you to those who continue to visit.

Sophie pretends that she can't hear Angus curse as this mornings photos refuse to download for the third time. A fibre optic line is being installed to bring the wonders of high speed access into the village. I'd like to think this has something to do with our blog issues.

Sophie climbs up onto the wooden garden table. Her preferred spot for C-A-T watching. There's a chance for PONette and master to have a chat and an ear scrunch before the day starts. While I go to get the car keys  Sophie hurtles through the alliums in pursuit of something only she can see. It might well have been an audacious blackbird. By the time she's made it down from her vantage point whatever caught her attention has long gone. The alliums  have transmitted a raw garlic smell to the divas fur.

Another couple of weeks and  we'll have to stop our morning trips in the car. It's warming up. 13 degrees when we set off but 17 when we make it back. Soon the morning sun will be beating down and the back of the car too hot - even in the mornings. The summer 'trim' and bath beckon.

Today we pick up some purple asparagus and artichokes at the greengrocers. En route home a kilo of freshly picked strawberries is waiting for us at the local farm. There is something wonderful about French seasons. Soon there will be melons and peaches.

Article of the day :https://theconversation.com/sleep-heres-how-much-you-really-need-for-optimal-cognition-and-wellbeing-new-research-181879

Spring cleaning.

Work on the German billionaires new yoga centre continues. Holes for a series of plunge pools have  been excavated and this morning a team arrive to do the preparatory work for concrete pouring. Sophie can't see them but she can hear them shouting in the distance.

The Old Farmer owns a two door Peugeot estate car. This used to belong to his wife. He can no longer afford the insurance to keep it, the pride and joy Mercedes and the venerable Ford Transit motor home on the road. Instead of selling it he waits until the field behind his house is firm and dry. He then drives the Peugeot round and round until he gets bored. This morning he's already got twenty three minutes of 'circling' under his belt.

Spring cleaning time. Two eighteen inch high enamelled metal sheep bought many years ago in  Kyrgyzstan have been moved from a high shelf to the middle of the dining room table.  They must be at least  a hundred years old.

 'The Font' is in the process of washing them. Why anyone should produce enameled sheep is a mystery. We've always assumed they were decorative but perhaps they serve some other purpose ?

 The future of food :https://www.bonappetit.com/story/plates-of-the-future

A judicious balance

Cloudy and borderline humid . Thunder can be heard growling in the far distance.

After our morning walk Sophie does what any sensible girl does when there's a storm about.

She guards the house from behind the linen 'bug' curtain. Nose out, rump in. A judicious balance between prudence and risk.

May Day sunrise. Time for Scottish students to plunge into the frigid North Sea at dawn in an ancient tradition. A wee nip of Gods amber nectar helps beat the cold : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaIbdbzB42o

 

Getting there.

Sophie is harnessed up early for her visit to the vets.

Before we set off she has a quick tour of the village. This is uneventful apart from the bounding arrival of the farmers sheepdog and his colleague , the white mutt. They go into paroxysms of delight when they see Sophie. She feigns complete indifference. Spurned, the sheepdog and mutt rush after their master who is heading off on his tractor to the Holy Oak. The farm dogs linger just long enough for me to give each of them an ear chook.

The vets prognosis. A full twenty minutes on the surgery table. Some intestinal soreness. New medication is prescribed.  We're to come back again in two weeks to see whether a scan is necessary. The vet says he's not too worried. Time will be the best cure. She's made remarkable progress. Sophie was due to have her annual shots but it's decided these can wait.

A head teacher celebrating retirement after 30 years of dealing with sixth graders.  A service of thanksgiving . Follow the bishop ( the woman in red with the staff ) as she heads down the nave.  It made me smile. Courtesy is timeless :https://youtu.be/kiZh9GTV4xQ?t=6104

Crumbs.

Later on this morning Sophie will head off to the vets for her final blood tests and what we hope is the 'all clear'. What a difference a week makes !

While we wait for 'The Font' to surface Sophie and her companion head off down the motorway to the shopping centre for a coffee and a shared croissant. Eagle eyed readers will spot croissant crumbs spread across the divas blanket. Sophie is an 'enthusiastic' croissant eater.

There's time for a tour of the tarmac outside the mobile phone store and the 'Maisons du Monde' furniture outlet. 

The mallards who usually parade in front of the store that sells electrical goods are nowhere to be seen. This is the second week in a row that Sophie's been unable to chase them. You can be 100% sure that the Mallards absence has nothing to do with Sophie's head back, full on, herding/chasing technique. Whilst noisy and full of vigour it lacks directional accuracy.

 Would you stand and film this ? : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp45U99bxz0

Conjunction.

 

A conjunction of Venus and Jupiter glowing brightly low on the horizon this morning. As a summer cost saving measure by the new mayor ( electricity charges have jumped 40%) the village street lights come on briefly at six and switch off at six fifteen. Those of us up and about before six are untroubled by light pollution and can enjoy the stars to the full.

Sophie has no interest in conjunctions - she spends the first part of her day following the scent of the black and white C-A-T . This peers down at her from the top of the wood pile. It never seems to enter Sophie's head that a C-A-T could be above her.

A further twenty minutes are spent checking the orchard.

Through it all black and white C-A-T remains supremely untroubled by Sophie's hunting technique.

A start of day chat with the super smart Los Angelenos. Much concern in financial markets that Russia will declare out and out war against Ukraine on May 9th. Sophie wanders into the office to display her impatience. She is not at all happy that we aren't heading off to the bakers for our morning croissant but knows that silence is her only option. The family diva settles by my desk and stares at me in a way which makes it 100% clear that I should get a move on.

So starts a new month in a small village in deepest, deepest France profonde.

There is so much in modern culture that is unexpected  : https://jahwobbletheukrainians.bandcamp.com/

Angus can relate to this :https://knowablemagazine.org/article/society/2022/why-people-sleep-less-than-primate-relatives

Quite possibly the most interesting thing I've read this year :https://theconversation.com/the-hidden-world-of-octopus-cities-and-culture-shows-why-its-wrong-to-farm-them-180536

And a new , favourite, Twitter link :https://twitter.com/WeirdMedieval/status/1520093081504305153