Here is the latest picture of the grapes, now turning black. The Vignerons have been busily watering many of the vineyards because we have had such a dry July and August. Further north there have been awful storms which have done a lot of damage but we have been spared.August has been very hot so far with temperatures in the 100's which is just a wee bit too warm. We have the shutters closed and also the windows to keep the hot air out. Barbees have been difficult because it is a toss up as to which is the coolest method of cooking, use the barbee and sweat buckets or use the cooker and leave the house whilst things are cooking, I have preferred the latter much as I love barbees. We use vine wood for the fire which burns at a very high temperature, so it is six of one and half a dozen of the other.We have just engaged a landscaper to start in October at the front of the house so I hope the general impression of a building site will soon disappear! It means lots of planting and trees but anything for a proper garden.

Earlier in the month we went to visit Stuart and Sheila, old pals of ours who have a house near Cahors. They have virtually re-built the house and are also the proud owners of a very nice
pool, makes my blow up job look really sick! Stuart pretended to push Dave in, but caught him off guard and voila, in he went complete with shoes, what a laugh and thank goodness I wasn't the one who pushed him!


No its not a mermaid!