What’s trying to scratch its way into our garden storage box?

This is the second hole now. Darn thing it making the box no longer waterproof.

Mr Fogg filled the other hole.

Cat? Fox? Rat? Rabbit? They look like scratch marks not teeth I reckon.

We have a resident rabbit moved in to the top field. Thank goodness he cannot get to the veg patch…..yet

And our cat is oblivious. The thing ran past her today, she was busy looking down at the grass. Doh!

And here is my wildflower garden created from chucking a bunch of seeds down. Full of bees and butterflies.

Happy days! Do I really have to go back to work??

So what do you do while on garden leave? Garden of course….

In April I had a go at my very first veg patch. Ably assisted (well instructed really) by The Folks who have been doing “The Good Life” since I was a babe. I can still remember stealing peas off their pods in the late 1970’s and digging radishes and scoffing them before they even got to the house.

So, my turn to try. I planted beetroot, carrots, peas, potatoes, garlic and runner beans.

Success All growing nicely thanks, even if Mr Fogg kept referring to the potatoes being chitted as “dead” or “need watering” for most of the winter and spring.

Now they look pretty with lovely purple flowers on them. Not bad for B&Q seed potatoes.

Last night we tasted our first peas straight out of the pod. Yummy!

Next I think we will try a carrot as my expert gardeners advise some are ready. What would we do without them? This weekend they weeded and tidied our garden, making it look even more beautiful. And I’m the one with the supposed free time!

The Folks weeded the veg patch and it simply looks superb! Certainly better than my efforts.

I think I’ll garden this afternoon although it is supposed to hit 30 degrees today!

Grand plans for next year….asparagus, cauliflowers and brussels I reckon.

After 34 degrees heat today, time for an evening meal of prawns (avec heads) followed by cassoulet. Obviously we both ended up covered in prawn bits

And then a chance for yet another glass of bubbly before heading up to pack for the trip back tomorrow

Bye bye Hotel de la Cite

A nice slow womble out of the citadel and around the city today with some “interesting” art installations

And after walking out of the city and down by the river we found a wonderful watering hole where they speak no English, so Mrs Fogg’s pigeon-French came in handy for our carafe vin du rose and coustellous avec pomme de terre (BBQ Pork ribs and baked tatties). All cooked on the open air barby, dripping and sensational!

Now it’s just a 3 mile hike back along the river

So Mrs Fogg’s Birthday meal in La Barbacane at Hotel de la Cite in Carcassonne, the preude, chilling and reading

And our terrace (on the second floor to the right)

Followed by a 6 course tasting menu accompanied by 6 wines and then dessert with a birthday candle

A midnight meander around Carcassonne And the Hotel de La Cite, looking rather quiet and serene

With the cathedral next door

That’s what the French weather warning says for today. Interesting description.

We awoke to a wet humid Carcassonne and dramatic skies.

Not that this will stop us wombling around today. It’s still hot and a pleasant temperature. Breakfast completed it’s off to wander the cobbled lanes.

And if it does rain…..well we will just have to duck for cover in a nearby watering hole.🤗

And here we are in beautiful Carcassonne on a balmy 35 degree heat. After an hours delay we have arrived in the birthday suite in the Hotel de Cite, it’s huge with awesome views

There are balloons in the room and a nice bottle of champers to celebrate (even after a 5 course champagne menu with the folks last night).

Food, drink and chillin with a beautiful woman

And we got cassoulet (yum)

And a shepherds delight

and the tiddlys