Nip and tuck

After letting the dogs out at 07.00, I fancied a lie in, so we all (the nuclear family that is) went back to bed. Min got into bed with Max, which looks cute, and they lay there in the sun, which is streaming through the glass doors. Jan points out that the nuclear family consists of 2.4 kids and very unkindly suggests that I've got more than enough bulk (and are childish enough - Ed.) to make up the extra 0.4. See what I've got to put up with? We have breakfast at about 10.00, which is very civilised, or not, depending on your point of view.

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It's fascinating watching the dogs play. However, it's frightening to watch Max 'mouth' Minnie's head and neck. He is a very powerful dog and one slip from him would snap her spine. At one point he was lying on his back so that she could jump on him and, when she obliged by sinking her teeth in his neck, he sent her flying through the air with one flick of his head. She, on the other hand, seems oblivious to the dangers and has learnt that if she can stand underneath him she can not only avoid having her neck grabbed but that she can also nip his nuts. A dirty fighter and true female if I ever saw one.

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Jan, sitting next to me at her computer, yelps with delight as she has found some rosehip concoction at Neal's Yard. She has previously used and enjoyed their rose facial oil. The new product, she told me, will help reduce wrinkles and scars and is suitable for vegans. "But, my sweet," I replied, "You have no scars and you're not a vegan." She missed the joke completely but showed me the continuing remains of July's leg problems. "Anyway," she said, "it's only 14 pounds a bottle." Given the price of alternative remedies today, the price suggests to me that it is either not very good, or doesn't have much rosehip in it. But hey, what do I know?

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Alain, our village artist and friend, called round at 20.00 to invite us to an exhibition of his work at Domaine du Grand Chemin in nearby Savignargues tomorrow. This place makes really nice wine and it will be a good excuse for a tasting. Anyway, Alain likes a drink, so despite having decided that tonight was alcohol free, we open a bottle of organic rosé from Domaine Costeplane. We haven't drunk rosé since October when the weather started to get cooler so it was nice to savour our favourite rosé again, even if it feels a little strange drinking it in front of the fire.