BEASTIE

This should have appeared with my other post but it vanished when I added text so here it is again.

BEASTIE 002

Sorry it is a little out of focus but this was a rare chance to get a picture of the cicada (will check spelling later). This is just one making a racket we have thousands all around us at the moment. There is a mixed chorus daily of grasshoppers BIG ones and these noisy little charmers.

We have been sweltering in 30 plus degrees for quite some time now and no rain apart from the odd six spots now and again. Today though we have strong winds and they are forecast to get stronger. This can be soul destroying when you see all your lovely flowers and trees getting bashed to bits.

It has been very lively around the village this month. On my birthday, which as usual Dave forgot, Penny and Christopher took us to a new restaurant nearby which has a superb swimming pool. they also invited Debs and her sister Nik and the two girls, Indigo and Sage. The food was excellent and the swimming was superb, it is the first real swim I have had since we were last in Africa. We had the 14th July celebrations on Tuesday where we attended a very boozey supper party and then came home to watch the fireworks. Yesterday I went on a shopping trip to Narbonne with friends Debs (the mad Aussie) and Sandra. We had a lovely lunch at a steak restaurant and brought a good lump of leftovers back for Eddie, there is still a good amount left in the fridge so he will have a smile on his face for some time to come!

On Saturday a crowd of us are going to La Caunette for Moules et Frites, muscles and chips to you! and on Sunday there is the Olive Festival in the village where there are loads of stalls selling exciting artifacts and lots more food and wine tasting. It should quieten down a bit after that but who knows. We are expecting Chris and Penny round tonight for a drink, so look out liver here it comes again - ah well c'est la vie -