Friday, September 30, 2005

A bilingual, gourmet dog

Mr Scuderi arrived to fix the fridge this morning. The fridge is an American monster and it had developed a deep throbbing noise that could be heard all over the house. In fact, one visitor complained that it kept her awake. With a new fan fitted, it positively purrs. Ah, bliss.

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The vendage has nearly finished and tradition has it that you can pick the grapes that are left after the harvest. Well, that will be my defence, m'lud. It's amazing how many grapes get left behind, and delicious they are too. I had either read or been told that you couldn't eat wine grapes. What a lot of rubbish! Obviously a rumour put about by some less than philanthropic domaine owner. They are delicious, sweet and juicy and Max eats them straight off the vine. A French dog, that speaks English and likes grapes. Mnnn. Just before bed, I noticed that he had been chewing something brown and disgusting looking in his bed. Not being too good at either brown or disgusting, I called Jan who, with equal trepidation, picks up said offending object. It turned out to be a small clay model that Jan had made earlier in the year and that she had discarded. Maybe he's not such a gourmet after all.

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On cue, Floyd arrives with Liza. She loves dogs, so what with Alison, who also likes dogs, Max is in seventh heaven. Without question, the most dog friendly visitors this year.

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Doreen and Peter leave today, with Doreen having given her statement to the gendarmes yesterday. As long as there is no arrest warrant out for Peter in the next couple of days, they will arrive home safe and sound and out of the clutches of les flics. They are a lovely couple and we wish them both bon voyage.

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I take Alison, Liza, Neil and Toby into Nîmes for a look see and they give it the thumbs up. Jan and I both like Nîmes, marginally preferring it to Montpellier, so it's nice if others share that pleasure. Dinner tonight consisted of a hot seafood gratin (new), Jan's famous barbecued ribs (old but still delicious - a bit like Jan really) and a lemon pudding (soft and spongy on top but with a sharp tangy sauce underneath - a bit like Jan really).

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