Fore!!!!

Global warming is obviously having an effect all over Europe. While the poor inhabitants of Whitehaven struggle to cope with record rainfall and horrendous floods the Averyon has been blessed with temperatures of 20°C plus which is just as well as we've been working hard with the continued renovation of a nearby house. As the problems mount with trees growing out of walls, roofs leaking, walls crumbling and delayed planning permission it makes me think 'never ever renovate a French farmhouse and barn again' and I'm fairly confident that Barbara would not disagree. Back at Lagarrigue the garden makeover has continued with new steps being laid and Barbara loosing her cool with a 600 kilo trespasser.

We called over to the local wood yard to select something for steps and after finding some 'offcuts' of oak headed to the 'office' to pay, a mark II VW Golf complete with radio and sunroof but only three wheels! “If only everything in life was as reliable (or as versatile) as a Volkswagen”. To say Barbara has slaved away preparing the ground in readiness for seeding is a bit of an understatement and when on Saturday morning she noticed 'tiny' holes in her beautifully flat lawn she was less than impressed. One of the cows in our field had escaped and decided to take a stroll across the very new lawn and up our newly laid steps and path. That evening we were attending the local duck festival and when the cows owner arrived at our table full of apologies and two bottles of wine Barbara mellowed a little.

At a recent party, and after a couple of Ricards, I somewhat foolishly accepted an invite to play golf at the local par 3 golf course. It must be nearly fifteen years since I picked up a golf club and I wasn't looking forward to making a bigger ass of myself than I normally do on a golf course (some would say I don't leave it too just the golf course) but as it turned out there was nothing to worry about. The French are relatively new to golf and don't have the same concerns over etiquette as the more established game in the UK does. T shirts are not allowed but it's OK to wear jeans and gentlemen and ladies play in the same competitions. I was teamed up with fellow Brit, Philip, who had not played golf for over 40 years so expectations were not high but as it turned out we didn't let the side down, six pars and 16^th out of 36. Perhaps it was the fact we were playing in the Beaujolais Nouveau cup that made the golf go with a swing and with plenty of free samples available along with cheese, sausage, duck, bread and pâté the day was a great success.

At long last the Land Rover is back on the road. It's been in the garage for over two months being 'prepared' for it's CT (the French equivalent of the MOT). I thought there were a couple of things needed attention to get it through the test, the handbrake didn't work and the speedo cable has snapped. Turned out I needn't have worried about the cable as it passed with flying colours despite not having a speedo that worked which was just as well as fitting the replacement cable is proving to be a bit of a sod. I'll keep you posted but in the meantime if anyone is looking for a low mileage land Rover Lightweight I know where there is one.