Wish you were here ...

It's time for some home truths round here and I'm going to come clean with you all.

Here I am spinning all these fantastic fantasies and stories for the whole wide world to dip into and the fact of the matter is I may have been misleading you all, just ever so slightly. You see for the last few days it's been, well, cool down here in the South of France. But now no more illusions, no more teasing, the day has dawned and its going to be a scorcher. And that is an absolutely true fact.

There is still plenty of snow on the Pyrenees in the distance, it will never look more beautiful as when viewed through a riot of climbing deep red roses on the terrace.

I had a hint of what was in store yesterday when I took a quick two hour hike from the house. The walking here is stunning. Straight out of the front door and onto many of the well signposted paths. Along the way we see one solitary farmer spraying his vines. We walk past fields of corn, a luxurious spread of green velvet rippling in the slight breeze. Sandy paths made dusty in the hot sun laden with wild flowers of every description including wild orchids. Through ancient unspoilt woodland we pause in the welcome shade to survey the beauty. Vast expanses of fields show tiny rows of sunflowers beginning to peek out from the crumbly soil. Suddenly a large hare bounds across our path and as quickly as he appears he is off over the horizon.

Picking our way through a narrow path laden with bright yellow broom we detect a slight movement. There on the branch right in front of us taking a rest in the sunshine is the largest lizard I have ever seen out in the wild. His magnificent coat of bright green glistens and he casts his beady eye upon us. He very obligingly keeps still whilst I take his portrait.

Today though the pool and garden beckon to me through the open window. The delicate shades of rose bushes add a perfect contrast to the lavender below. The garden is a riot of bright red poppies under the fig trees. Not a breath of wind stirs, a bright blue sky looks down on the occupants of Le Chateau and the sunbeds lie unoccupied arranged enticingly round the pool.

The guests have departed for the day and I've got the entire place to myself !!