Weather in the Languedoc


I'm not short of requests, begging letters even, asking me if I can send some beautiful hot sunshine over the Channel. I can't always oblige of course, it would be a misrepresentation to paint of picture of glorious undiluted heat. I can today though and I've even got enough left over to share it with you.

Today in France is a bank holiday. I haven't managed to find out why though, even our French friends seem rather vague but everyone is making the most of it. I'm rather pleased to report that I have a new man in my life, goes under the same name His Lordship but a much younger version. I could hardly keep up with him as he strode out into the vines. We have the most beautiful footpaths right here on the doorstep of Le Chateau where the banks are now laden with blackberries. The sky was a clear blue with a welcoming breeze coming in from the Mediterranean to take the edge off the 36 centigrade, apparently we are the hottest place in France today. Armed with my mini rucksack containing water and my beloved Leica lensed Lumix TZ3 camera we did 3 kilometers in 40 mins which is a whole lot more than we have been able to stride out together for many years. As we gently made our way up the hot dusty track we looked back at Montreal, it's majestic late medieval church shimmering in the heat haze on it's hilltop. We paused every so often so pick blackberries and wild flowers. The heavy heads of the sunflowers are bowed down to the cracked dry earth.

We were completely alone on our walk except for the slithering lizards and the buzzards soaring and wheeling over our heads. There were wild scabious and bright deep yellow corn marigolds in profusion. Everlasting sweet peas tangled their late flowers amongst the wild clemetis and we picked some seeds for the garden.

On our final stretch we came along the quiet shady lane with neighbours allotments running alongside. One particularly fine patch held healthy French beans and the marvellous tomatoes pictured above. Tucked away in the far corner was a crop of aubergines together with some fine specimens of Charentais melons. Spikey purple artichoke heads were beginning to appear. Although this is all completely open no-one would dream of helping themselves to this bonanza.

Which, alongside the favourable weather is one of the very many reasons why this enchanted corner of France holds such appeal.

Comments

arnold said…
Ascension day some one told me I dont even know if I have spelt it right and I only new of it as an Island somewhere Faklands perhaps!.
Any-hoo's good blog and delicious picture...
Elizabethd said…
Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Sally!
Needless to say it's raining in Brittany. I wonder why we left the Gironde?
ChrisH said…
For once I hate the photo - I am tomatophobic!! Thaks for the sunny blog though.
Grouse said…
I must post a picture of my tomatoes.........after that long walk all you need now is a long cold drink and a good laugh......

Oh, maybe not...we know what sipping and laughing does to you...........
muddyboots said…
you'll have them flocking down there now sally!
countrymousie said…
Another sunny blog - thank goodness - more overcast weather here and dreadful storm yesterday.
My tomatoes are a non event this year it would seem - veg garden a real disaster actually with slugs etc.
Hope HL continues to recover well. love mousie
Suffolkmum said…
Me and Mousie both re. the tomatoes. What a gorgeous blog, you do conjure it up so beautifully. Glad you have a 'new' man!
Pondside said…
Lovely to read about your walk with your 'new' man. I'd be very happy to have some of that sunshine - after 5 nice days we are back to cold and rain. I notice that the in-floor heating as switched itself on this morning - in August! We've had rain for two days now - no one has tomatoes as there is some awful kind of blight. Your walk in the hot dry air was a treat to read!
Grouse said…
Oop!Should have said: What sipping and laughing does to ONE.......oh! alright then..does to MOI!
Glad to hear His Lordship well on the way to full recovery so quickly. Lovely walk.
@themill said…
Fab - and we have the same camera! Brilliant little things aren't they?
Lady Latte said…
I just found your blogg. We spent this summer in France, two weeks in Le Cap and one week in Provence. I love your pictures and will come back to read when I have more time.
Heck, I will even put you on my blog roll!!

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