The first fortnight.

I arrived in France on Monday Sept 5^th, met as usual at the airport by my kind neighbours, full of talk of the terrific storm of Saturday night/ Sunday. It rained so hard that the street drains couldn't cope and the water poured off our courtyard and down the steps into the cellar. There was 10 cms of water in the basement suite and garage. They had mopped up but everywhere was still very wet. Fortunately, the weather since has been hot and dry so everywhere is now aired. These are a couple of pictures from the local paper.

Several of you have inquired after Tom, whose briefcase was stolen from our car the night before we left in June. I spoke to him recently and he feels he got off lightly because he was in time to stop his cards and cheques. What he mourns most is the briefcase itself, which was his constant companion for more than 30 years.

I've had two lots of visitors from the U3A French group. One couple only spent a day with me

but the others have just gone on their way today after spending a week at the camp-site in the next village. We've done lots together and it seems quiet without them now.

One victory and one “work in progress” to report. I have finally got the van on French plates. Actually remembered to take not only the whole of the English log book (only brought the export slip last time) but also the mandatory ID and proof of domicile. Easy really – I don't know what all the fuss was about! And the total cost was €60 MOT, €250 registration charge and €32 for the plates.

But the other task is the carpet-fitting saga. And that is proving as difficult as ever. When we left in June, we had paid for the carpet and the suppliers had agreed to keep it for us till we got back. We had signed and put a deposit against the quote for fitting the carpet, and all we need now is a definite date for the fitting. But it's the usual story of the receptionist saying she's asked the fitter to ring us - “Oh, hasn't he rung you yet?” but no follow-up call. We've already lost 2 weeks so I'm going to bang on the desk on Monday morning. I could do with a whole new French vocabulary – how to get what you want in French.

I've been doing quite a lot of cycling, comme d'hab, as usual. Had to laugh at myself on one occasion. Last time he was out here, Jon managed to fall off his bike while stationary. He was astride it, turning round to go back and caught his foot somehow. He fell heavily and banged his head on the road. Hearing the story later, it was only the large bloody lump on his head that kept my sense of humour under control. So here's my own version. I had been shopping and had the panniers well stuffed when I needed to dismount to get over some rough ground. The bike has a cross-bar and I forgot I'd bought a broom handle which was sticking up out of the pannier behind me like an antenna. I only just managed not to fall off when my leg encountered the handle, and then nearly completed it by falling about laughing.

Other notable events have been two wonderful concerts near Quillan, part of the traditional music festival which takes place there every year. It's a long way though for an evening concert on my own. Because they always start late and insist on encores, I don't get back till half past midnight.

And I went out with Marie and Michel on a walk up on the Col de Sallettes on Wednesday. I was a little concerned as they said it would be 13km and I hardly ever go walking any distance, and they are younger and fitter than me. We drove up to the start, watching the temperature dropping as we went, from 25 to 16, so I was glad of my jacket to begin with. But the sun came out after an hour or so and it was a beautiful day. The countryside was very open, with patches of heather rather then trees, and the views simply magnificent. Michel is a great cook so the picnic was superb too.

And on top of that, we talked all day in both French and English, each of us learning a lot.