It's hard to figure how many times I'll start my blog in disbelief but yet again I'm staggered that it has been nearly 2 weeks since my last entry. To be honest the fantastic weather and light evenings mean that I'm often not in from poolside until 7-30 or even later. Add to that the trips out, and then there's the socialising, then there's Wimbledon. It's even been difficult finding the time to shop.

Today was not very sunny, but very warm nonetheless, so I've made some attempt to catch up on the backlog of articles that I owe Trevor. Today I wrote up our trip to the Isle de Re, it was a great day, but so long ago that I had difficulty in remembering some things. We've been to St Giles Croix de Vie and the Marais Poitevin since then, and we've got a day at the coast planned for Wednesday. I need a week of cloud just to catch up. (I should be careful what I wish for)

Last Wednesday I went shopping with Christian, it was a normal shopping trip but when we got back to his place Gisele came out to the van and started talking to me in a code that I didn't understand. It wasn't Patois,or Argo I knew what she was saying was French, I even understood most of the words, but none of it made any sense. There was something about Guy and that he had visited my place in the morning but that I'd been out and that he was going to pick me up. I left in total bewilderment and decided that I would ring Christian when I got home, then thank goodness a little voice somewhere in my head said don't ring Christian go and see Guy. On arriving at Guy's his wife Marie-Therese explained that as it was Christian's birthday on Thursday and as he was tied up with council business they had to deliver Gisele's surprise birthday present to him on Wednesday evening. In addition they had planned a small surprise birthday party for him and that Guy was going to pick me up as I was included in the celebrations. It really was a good job I didn't ring Christian.

Marie-Therese told me to get out of the van and join them for lunch, I tried to resist, but to no avail and ended up having a three course lunch of smoked salmon, followed by a pork chop with shreded cooked lettuce and salsify, followed by a cooked mirabelle and pear tartin. All of this was kicked off with a Pastis aperetif and washed down with with Guy's own wine. I went home afterwards and had a nap followed by a swim and Guy and Marie-Therese picked me up at 9pm. They had eaten an evening meal, I had eaten nothing. Christian was sitting on his rear terrace and was very surprised when Guy drove his van around the side of the property and onto his back lawn and we all got out including Marie-Therese who emerged from the back of the van with a cold bag containing Isle Flotant a cake a bottle of champagne that Guy had boiught and a bottle of pink champagne provided by yours truly.

We had a couple of hours sat around the table talking and laughing, the Isle Flotant and Cake were brilliant, the bottles of Champagne were cold and went down a treat in the evening heat and we left at about 11.30pm.

It's days like this that make the summers here so enjoyable, the day started with a normal shopping trip, which led to an unexpected lunch and ended up with a surprise birthday celebration.

I love France.