Had some building work done – the floor in the en suite to our bedroom was basically rotten, so we have had it replaced. I now feel much safer when I blearily wander in there in the middle of the night.

May is a month of bank holidays in France : the 1st (Labour Day), 8th (WWII Victory Day, 13th (Ascension Day) and 24th (Pentecost). Also May 30th is Mother's Day! Luckily our relaxed lifestyle means that everything being shut doesn't effect us too much.

We visited a “Flea Market” in the local town of Allassac a week ago. We expected it to be a small affair, but it is an annual event that takes over the whole of the town centre. It was really a car boot sale, and we didn't buy anything, but it was a lot of fun to nose around.

A couple of days ago we went to visit some friends who run a couple of very nice gites about 2 hours South of here in the Tarn et Garonne. I took all my gear and got in some practice by taking some elevated photos and drawing up some floorplans. We had a lovely day, and the photos seemed to come out all right too.

Today I have just returned from the dentist – and have several more visits to make unfortunately. Paying is a bit complex – the health service pays a little bit, our top-up insurance another little bit, and we pay the rest.

We have a new little chum – a squirrel who obviously lives in our attic. We thought he was rather sweet and photogenic, until he started eating our herbs and plants on our little balcony. We tried leaving part of Bertie's dog bed hanging near as the small should deter him, but to be sure we have put netting over the plants he seems to like most.

We have visitors over the next couple of weeks – ash clouds permitting!