Fast hands

Happily, the predicted 40 degree temperatures didn't happen here - with the maximum temperature recorded on our terrace being 37 degrees. Still pretty hot though, and temperatures of 41 degrees were reported in Albi, our nearest proper weather station.

We went into the market this morning, delayed slightly by a very interesting colour of nappy filling by the youngest member of the party (I fear the blue ice cream last night might be to blame*). It was just as busy as ever, and I marvelled at the French folk nonchalently strolling around in warm looking clothing as I, clad as scantily as is appropriate, dripped with sweat. We had good service everywhere, as usual, though this time I fear that they just wanted us to move on as quickly as possible so they didn't get the blame for the sweaty red-faced foreigner having a heart attack at their stall.

A slight failure in our reward system for Conor necessitated a trip to the supermarket which was wonderfully cool, but did mean a longer journey in the roasting hot convertible. I had pictured us cruising around the south of France in our convertible, laughing and jolly and - most of all - cool. But it turns out that in this weather the last thing you want is your windswept forehead exposed to the burning sun, or the seat leather rendered volcano-hot by a short stay in a car park with no shade. No, in this weather what you need is a car with icy and reliable aircon.

Once home, there was lunch and a bit of a sit around. Then the usual round of afternoon naps. Of course I decided to choose the hottest day of the year so far to make bread. Here is C helping with the first kneading. Later, instead of introducing the kids to the joys of a salad for dinner, it was back to the hot stove for duck and chips.

The terrace was cool by the time it was our turn for dinner, and we enjoyed our last night together for some time. I hope I haven't scared them off forever by being so rude about the wine they brought...


*He had been asking for blue ice cream all week - blue being his current favourite colour - and we had been able to hold him off with blue ice pops while I devised a fiendish recipe for making blue ice cream... of course I ended up just mixing vanilla ice cream and blue food colouring which, actually, made turquoise ice cream. Seemed to please him though.