Agreement

Jan and I agree on most things. I suppose that's all part of the attraction, living together and harmony process, but we struggle when it comes to shoes. She likes quite a lot of what I suggest but I really struggle with her suggestions. She likes shoes like these, but to wear them successfully you have to have a beard and vote LibDem. Me I like much more macho stuff, more like the ones above. Anyway, we were in a shoe shop in Nimes the other day and for the first time ever she suggested a pair of shoes that I liked. Bingo! I've got them on.

Still, there's one thing that we always agree on and that's where to eat. Aux Plaisirs des Halles is tucked away, in a side street, close to the indoor market. In fine weather you eat outside in a small but attractive courtyard and we have never been disappointed with the lunch menu. Aux Plaisirs des Halles, 4 rue Littre, Nimes, 0466 360102. Recommended.

Brain teaser

Kevin poses the question, "is innuendo the Italian for a suppository?"

Call a doctor

There was an interesting item about first aid this morning on television and I said to Jan "what would you do if I stopped breathing?"
Quick as a flash she said, "loosen the grip around your neck!"

Benson

For all you dog lovers, I recommend this touching tribute, written by Bob, in memory of Benson, a dog that I am proud to say I knew.

The quote of the year

Judge to prostitute: "So when did you realise that you were raped?"

Prostitute, wiping away tears: "When the cheque bounced."

No thanks

If this is an advert for sex, drugs and rock and roll, I'll stick to cocoa.

Eat your heart out

Out with Bryan today doing boys things and, despite this article about French restaurants, we had lunch again at Brasserie Le Farigoule in Sommieres. This restaurant is trying very hard to improve the quality of the traditional lunchtime menu and I really hope they succeed.

Take for example the lunch that's offered at our local relais. The food is cheap, tasty and enjoyable but the menu hasn't really changed in the six years that we've been here. We would go more often if we didn't have a very good idea of what was likely to be on the menu. That doesn't say we don't go, we might just go more often. Despite the fact that it's much further away I prefer to eat at Le Farigoule.

The above article hints at French arrogance (no surprise there then) with customers being castigated because they decide what they want to eat in defiance of the restauranteur. Amazing!

Birthday girl

It's Minnies birthday today. She's three years old.

Jumping a red light in Italy

This could only happen in Italy!

Ready, smile!

Ouch

Recently returned from the front line, where she was embedded with other intrepid correspondents, Carolina filed the above story.

Blow your house down

One of the biggest mistakes you can make regarding the weather around here is to ignore the strength of the wind. Last summer we covered the poolside fence with bamboo to dress it up a bit. We don't get that much wind but the bamboo created a sufficient wind barrier that with one strong gust it ripped the steel fence from its moorings and brought the fence down.

Anyway, last Friday, whilst fixing the fence using heavy duty electrical equipment, Abderrahman blew a fuse (or something) in the pool house. Bum, even though we are not likely to use the pool again this summer it still needs to turn over until I cover it for the winter. A few days without disinfecting and the algae will come back and I've got a much bigger job on.

I made a call to electrician A late Friday afternoon and, needless to say, he hadn't called back by Monday afternoon. Another call to electrician B, Pierrot, late Monday, got him here first thing this morning, Tuesday, and he had it fixed within minutes.

Back to winning ways

After a very long layoff, a Frenchman, a Czech, a German and an Englishman, William, Peter, Milton and I got back to playing some tennis again.

Doubles is hardly strenuous exercise, so that fact that I got a bit of a sweat up is an indications of how unfit I've become (were you ever fit? - Ed).

Still, after an early scare, William and I got back into our winning ways with a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win.

Being adoring grandparents

Paula, Ben and the delightful Kate have been here for the last few days.

Yesterday we popped to the market in Sommieres and, despite B&P eating a dozen humongous oysters, enjoyed a great picnic lunch at Elies's bar. I thought that there's supposed to be a shortage of oysters in France. These were the biggest that I've ever seen at the market and still so cheap. Each to his own I say.

After a long lazy lunch today they set off for the trip back to Barcelona. We will miss them all and are already planning to see them again soon.