30th July 2026.....A trompe d'oeil and moon...

We had to go to Béziers for an opthalmologist RDV. Of course we fitted in an Indian meal at Taj Mahal.

Then walking back to the car, we found a "trompe d'oeil" which we hadn't seen before....

Not a single thing on this wall is real...its a blank wall.

The moon was a strange sight tonight.

Probably smoke?

28th July 2026...our desert.

Words fail me... everything is dying even some well established trees in the forest!

🥺

Veg garden 

Half round garden 

Orange begonia 

Rock rose

All the rainwater we have left 😭

Along the back wall

27th July 2026...Better day

Smoke seems to have thinned out...but can still be seen far away.

26th July 2026....More smoke

Today we are being told the smoke is from the Bordeaux area 350km away!

The fires in France are out of control , thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes and millions of animals, large and small have been burned alive 😭😭😭

We just have the smell and taste of smoke.....

Meanwhile.. Charlie is not bothered one bit...😁

25th July 2025.....Smell of smoke

Strange day today, seems overcast, but we can smell smoke....our mairie sent out email to say it was drifting our way from Mazamet !

Not to worry!

22nd July 2026... The Almuth lamp.

The lampshade that came with "The Almuth lamp" was a bit stark, and as Laeticia had covered the stand in string, I thought I would copy that....

So Before 

and After

Completely finished, and a lovely reminder of Almuth.

For those who I haven't told, Almuth gave this piece of chestnut wood to an electrician friend who turn it into a lamp, which I saw on a visit to a local restaurant and bought it.

19th July 2026....a few spots!

Big news for us a few spots on the car and garden....but very little!

17th July 2026...Horses

Our neighbours have changed...out with the sheep 🐏🐑🐏🐑, in with 2 horses 🐴 🐎....

They look like they are preparing for a joust...but its just fly protection!

16th July 2026.....HEAT..!

Damage to the ivy covering the cherry tree stump.

Our new neigh....bours

The sheep have gone, and been replaced by horses 🐎 🐎 

ATM they are wearing full anti fly protection...which makes them look like they are about to do jousting.

14th July 2026...Fire across the valley!

Not what you want to see on France's National Fete Day!

I noticed the small tower of smoke around 9.45am and rang the Pompiers, asked Dave to fetch Anik so that she could try to explain where the fire was in the forest. 

The pompiers arrived about an hour later and fortunately the fire didn't spread....and they put it out.

We now know that the owner of this land is "away with the fairies" and was not supposed to be there alone.....
This is how whole forests disappear with all its wildlife too...😭

13th July 2026.....Fire damage

We had to go to Clermont Hérault....en route we passed through a badly burnt area.

 Very close to Lac Salagou.

Such a tragedy for flora and forna 😭