Morning.

We were up and out bright and early this morning to get our ropy old bodies checked out by the doctor. Leaving with a sheaf of prescriptions, we relaxed over a coffee on the promenade before taking a roundabout route home, dropping off a parcel and doing some shopping on the way.

S cooked lunch, and afterwards went on an exploratory route up Alaric to see if it was suitable to take a friend of a friend's not particularly fit mum up there. She has never been to the summit and really wants to go, but he reckons the only way is to drive partway up and then do a tedious 5 km trudge up the track used by the firewatchers to man the lookout point in summer. Even then he has his doubts ... we'll see.

We now have a prime minister! Brits seem to be more excited about it than we are, because they have actually heard of Michel Barnier. He's not as centrist as you might think ... he's also a member of the party that came fourth in the election, behind the left, Macron's party, and the Rassemblement National (who must have pre-approved his appointment). It will be interesting watching him trying to form a government.