Catching Up

I know, my blog writing has become very, very tardy of late. It's not that I'm not interested any more - in fact, far from it - but a number of things have changed over the course of this year that have made it more difficult to find the time or the subject matter.

My weeks have been filled with guest activity, such that some weeks I am either doing dinner or canapes and cocktails for guests most evenings. I have made the odd reference to guests in this blog but only in passing and never in any detail because I'm not sure it would be right - but if that is what has happened during the day and evening then there is not much else left to write about.

In addition, Debrah and I have been trying to spend as much time together as possible to reduce the impact of our separate London and Carcassonne working lives - and, as I started this blog as a way of communicating and, hopefully, amusing my wife when we were apart, it's 'raison d'etre' has been somewhat diminished.

So it is that the last week has gone by without so much as a peep from me. Well, here in summary is what has been happening.

We hosted dinner for our honeymoon couple last Wednesday evening and then I drove both sets of guests, somewhat squashed in the car, down to VinEcole and Domaine Gayda for a wine tasting and lunch, whilst at the same time Debrah boarded a first class French railway carriage on a train to Bordeaux that took 3 hours and cost her only €32 - remarkable - "like travelling in a Mercedes train" is how she described it. She was met by Anna and they proceeded to 'go shopping' in Bordeaux because it was Anna's 40th birthday.

I went to a meeting of gite and chambre d'hote owners which was organised by a chap who sends out a fortnightly newsletter called the Aude Flyer. The newsletter serves a good purpose and I applaud it but after an hour of the meeting I knew I wasn't going to get anything out of it and made a client excuse and left. A chap with a newish big silver Mitsubishi 4x4 had to move his car to let me get my battered 16 year old Audi out of it's parking spot. "Somebody must be doing all right", he said, looking at my roof down 'flashy' car as he got into his 'tank' that must have cost him at least 8 times what I paid for the Audi and, no doubt, consumes considerably more fuel. It's amazing that people with with no taste or ability judge people with flair and style entirely by appearances - and judge them incorrectly - he confirmed my need to distance myself very quickly from a bunch of run-of-the-mill gite owners. We are way out of their league.

At the weekend, for the very first time, I was going to leave guests in the suites whilst I went up to Bordeaux for two nights to join Debrah at Anna's birthday celebrations. Guests left Friday and Saturday and I turned both the suites round and greeted the first of my weekend guests on Saturday lunchtime before I left but I couldn't hang around for the second set and so roped in a friend to check them in during the afternoon and out again on Monday lunchtime. I'm very glad to say that the whole thing went very smoothly - guests were very happy - David, who helped me out was also happy and I think glad to be involved and keen to help again whenever needed. So that adds an extra dimension and possibility for Debrah and I to plan time away from the business next year, which is a good thing.

The weekend was a laugh, the weather was fantastic and the company was very entertaining. The chateau guests did rather split into two camps though - those without small children, either because they have none or they have grown up and aren't hanging about any more, and those with a crying, moaning little monster or two. The look-alike Stepford wife blondes bonded to talk about childcare and needing a bigger home whilst the happy-go-lucky brunettes on the other table got on with behaving badly. Obviously we were in the behaving badly group - top weekend.

Before I left, Anna kindly let me gather some flowers and herbs from her vegetable garden which prompted a couple of comments about French lifestyle advertising as I drove off with the roof down and the smell of dahlias and basil filling the air - everyone loves and is jealous of that Audi.

So that brings us up to date. I picked up new Irish guests today who are very lovely and ever so happy to be here. They have already bought me a box of chocolates and offered to buy some wine for dinner tomorrow night - stop it - you've already paid to come here!

Aren't some people lovely.

Emotional Blackmail

Having said that he was going to come in all weekend and finish off the outstanding work in Denis' apartment, Chris didn't show at all and the date of his departure for the USA to shoot innocent animals draws ever closer.

After weeks of asking, Debrah finally sent Chris an emotionally charged email and, as expected by me, he responded immediately and is now finally getting to grips with the last few outstanding bits of work. It's a shame that it always has to come down to the wire and needs unnecessary coercion, but there it is - this job should and could have been finished two months ago.

Otherwise it was a normal working day for us both - Debrah was on her computer and on the skype to the London office and I spent a good three hours getting all the ironing cleared as well as the usual breakfast and shopping and business admin.

This evening Debrah experimented with endive - the notoriously difficult to cook with French/Belgian vegetable - and with some success. She put together a lovely endive, pear and roquefort salad and a baked endive and anchovy vegetable dish that we ate with some steak haché and a tomato salad - get us being all continental!

Next steps

Both sets of guests wanted late breakfasts, which is both a good thing and a bad thing at the same time - good because I don't need to set an alarm after a dinner and subsequent late night/early morning clearing up but bad because with a late breakfast the morning is virtually over by the time it is all done and I always feel as if half the day has been wasted by the time I get round to anything else.

It made a nice change not having to take Debrah to the airport today - instead she was beavering away on her computer all day doing work for London from here - it would be fabulous if she could arrange to do that more often.

Having said that, I'm not sure that Debrah agrees - she adores our French home but she's not thrilled about it containing clients and frequently declines to meet them, she hates any sort of noise from outside to the point where it makes her so angry that it impacts on us and she is not yet ready to give up London - we have a problem that we need to resolve and I'm not sure what the answer is.

It's all about the next steps really - the business here has gone better than we could have imagined and we have both been caught out by that in different ways - do we move it on to the next stage by capitalising on the first year's success or is it not what we expected, or indeed, wanted - the truth, probably, lies somewhere in the middle of all that and I have no doubt that we are not unique in having to face up to this sort of success issue.

We did have a very entertaining dinner last night. We both agreed that we very much enjoyed Steve's witty and entertaining company - he's a true Aussie it must be said, but a top bloke nonetheless! He was 50 years old on Saturday and we took a call from his mother-in-law trying to wish him happy birthday. There was initial confusion when Debrah answered the phone and they were asking for Debbie, Steve's wife, but eventually all became clear and the 'death adder', as she is affectionately known, left a message to be passed on.

Steve and Debbie left late morning and Daniel and Katy (who got married last Saturday - aahh!) arrived on the afternoon flight from Stansted, and, like all arrivals from England or Ireland this year, they were thrilled to see the sun and drive home from the airport with the roof down on the Audi.

Everybody loves the Audi - it's as much a part of 42rvh as I am.

A bit sad

Debrah arrived yesterday and the good news is that she is staying all week, having bought some work with her. She seems to be in a very melancholy mood though, which concerns me quite a lot - I think the constant travelling and the days spent apart are starting to take their toll. It's obvious that we need to find a solution but it's not obvious what the solution is - there seem to be too many reasons for maintaining both our London and French lives and that means continuing the current arrangements of me spending most of my time here looking after clients and Debrah working in London and commuting here every weekend.

So we planned to have a quiet afternoon and then take advantage of the empty studio suite and watch movies on the big screen telly.

We managed to do both those things but in-between I drove my Aussie clients to Castelnaudary. They asked me mid-afternoon if I could arrange a cab to take them - some friends of theirs had just finished a canal boat week on the Canal du Midi and they were meeting up for a bit of dinner. Cabs here need a bit more notice than one hour to undertake 35km journeys - so I volunteered to take them myself and to be honest I really enjoyed the drive - roof down, sun out, French A road motoring - fabulous.

We didn't get down to the market this morning until after 10am, which must be the latest for some months - but nonetheless we managed to bring back 4 heavy bags worth of goodies for ourselves and our clients.

Talking of clients, I collected new arrivals from the airport at lunchtime whilst Debrah put together the first 'Daube de Boeuf' of the new post summer period, which we ate this evening with some savoy cabbage - followed by a bit of Saturday evening business analysis where we worked out which dates over the year had attracted the most enquiries - very interesting findings too, all of which will help us plan for next year.

A bit of weekend business analysis proved too much for Debrah - so she has put herself to bed - actually I think I should do the same - I know I'm going to be dreaming about statistics, which doesn't fill me with joy - better get it over and done with.

Early arrival

It was supposed to be a straightforward day - client breakfast, market shopping, finish the ironing, clean out the apartment and fit the toilet roll holder and, if I had time, clean the kitchen and move some stuff out of the office down to the basement, before a client dinner this evening.

It started well enough - breakfast as normal, then a trip to the shops for chicken and vegetables - resist a coffee in the square, get the ironing out of the way - and then the phone rang ..

My Australian guests, who were due to arrive tomorrow, had decided to head to Carcassonne a day early and wondered if I had a free room - well I did but it wasn't ready and it had a half fitted toilet roll holder - but I couldn't turn them away could I?

"Be there in two hours", he said - "No lunch for me", I thought

Welcoming guests a day early when the room is free is not a problem, but combining that with my DIY skills is always an issue and so it proved. The fixings were too close together and the plasterboard between them broke which left me with a hole and a problem that I didn't need - so there is a temporary fix and the extra time taken meant that I only just finished the room just before they arrived.

I tried to grab a half hour rest before getting stuck into dinner preparation but the guests wouldn't leave me alone for five minutes and the phone kept ringing and text messages too - so I gave up and prepared the chocolate puddings instead.

Dinner turned out to be a bit of a laugh and my Sheffield guests were so happy with life here that they are going to come back for Bastille Day next year, which means that we are already sold out for the big event - fabulous.

Lovely Day

It was the most glorious morning. I opened the kitchen windows and looked to the left and saw the golden sun breaking the horizon over the Place Carnot - I looked to the right and saw the full face of the ivory coloured moon against the pale blue sky to the east - the same moon that had been over the Place Carnot the evening before. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect demonstration of the movement of the planets.

And I couldn't have asked for a more uplifting start to the day. I merrily trotted down to the boulangerie for the viennoisserie and whistled and sang my way through breakfast preparation and delivery.

What might have been a bit of a chore - driving my guests out to Domaine Gayda for a wine tasting that I couldn't attend - became a pleasure with the roof down on the car and the mist in the valley and the Pyrenean peaks poking up through the haze in the distance. I knew my guests would have a great day and so it proved.

Back home was back to the mundane reality of ironing and checking out my other guests and cleaning out their room - but none of that mattered because it was just work and I was in a good mood.

If only every day would be like that, but then you wouldn't appreciate them if they were.

The Moon

We got our sunshine back yesterday, but with a bit of a chilly breeze accompaniment - but today we had the sunshine and no wind and all was well with the Languedoc once more and people were smiling and children were laughing and dogs were running about chasing balls - amazing the power of the sun.

Or is that the power of the moon - I noticed last night that we had a very large full moon - so maybe it's the changing of the moon that has brought back the good weather.

Yesterday morning I advised my guests that it would feel a bit chilly in the breeze on the exposed ramparts of the Cité - did they listen? - No, they went off in t-shirts and said last night that it was a bit cold in the wind, as if I didn't know that. Today they went out with jackets and cardigans and I said that they might be a bit overdressed as it was going to be much warmer today and there was no wind - did they listen? - No, they came back early complaining that it was a bit warm for them and that they had caught the sun a bit. There is just no helping some people.

The American newly-weds on their honeymoon ('lune de miel') departed this morning, still looking at each other with doe-eyes - bless. At the same time my new guests arrived - and I mean literally at the same time because as they opened the front door to leave, the new guests came in through it. Er sorry, your room isn't ready yet - give me a chance.

My new guests, from Sheffield, had wanted to come for 4 days but I couldn't do Monday - so they came anyway and stayed one night at a hotel up near the Cité and then came to me today, which is why they arrived so early. I was a bit worried that they might be especially demanding because I have had more email correspondence from them in the run up to their stay than I have from any other client - but they seem alright and are genuinely happy to be here.

In between the ins and outs and breakfasts and cleaning and washing, I managed to get a bit of ironing done and dash to Tridome for the MDF needed to make the cupboard doors in Denis' apartment and to replace the broken wall light fitting in the apartment suite.

I have been getting increasingly concerned by the lack of action on the list of outstanding items still to finish in Denis' apartment. He has paid us in full and Chris has been paid, but for four of the last five weekends he hasn't done anything up there and it should by rights have been finished long before now. He assured me yesterday that he would be on site this coming weekend and asked if I had managed to get the MDF yet, as if that was stopping him doing all the other jobs that still need finishing - well, I've got it now and have told him so there can be no more excuses. We will see.

On Sunday, the wall lights in the apartment suite suddenly stopped working - all three of them at the same time. I had no time to look at it between the Sunday guests departure (which is when I found out) and the new guest arrival that same day - but went in to investigate on Monday whilst they were out. It had to be a loose connection somewhere or a blown fuse because all three wouldn't have stopped working at the same time otherwise.

I checked the fuse and the bulbs and the fitting on the wall lights and all seemed OK - except that one of the wall lights (plaster uplighters) came apart in my hands, with the lower bit crashing to the floor in an almighty mess, as I was putting it back in place. Great! - I made the problem worse not better.

The only thing I hadn't checked was the switch on the wall, and sure enough I found the loose connection - now, at least the lights were working again - and then the moon really moved into my star sign in a positive way because I found the box in the basement with the two spare wall light fittings and found the unfinished tin of invisible green paint (it's green but not so you'd know it was) and have today painted and fitted the uplighter and all is well again.

Funny about the moon changing things, isn't it. A lot of old hippy types down here swear by the sowing and harvesting of plants in time with the moons phases and it has caught on in a big way with a lot of vignerons too - 'bio-dynamique' - organic and hippy and cutting-edge all at the same time. Will it make better wine? - we will find out in due course I guess.

May the lunar force be with you.

End of Summer

All of a sudden Autumn is upon us - the mornings suddenly seem darker longer and the evenings a lot shorter. I know these things don't just change suddenly but it does feel like that.

Maybe it's the change in the weather - from French summer to English summer apparently, i.e 18 degrees not 28 and constant showers rather than blue sky - or maybe it's because the schools are back and the daily street noise now revolves around drop-off and pick-up times at the school next door - or maybe it's because the first mushrooms and pumpkins have appeared at the market alongside the plums and pears that popped up a couple of weeks ago - or maybe its because the grape harvest (vendange) has started (apparently the harvest will be small but the quality should be high - due to the drought and sunshine since the beginning of June)

Actually I am quite looking forward to poached pears instead of roast peaches and pumpkin soup instead of melon salad and a good casserole instead of chicken breast - but I don't wish them upon us too quickly - I am hoping we might still get an Indian Summer as we have had for the past two years that I've been here.

When I ventured down to the market at 7.30am this morning the difference was palpable - the stalls on the corner were piled with ceps and girolles for the first time this year - most of the market stalls were still in the process of setting up, when a couple of weeks ago they would all have been in place at 7.00am and I was wearing a long sleeved shirt and jeans instead of a t-shirt and shorts.

I like the changeover points between fruits and vegetables - do you stick with the outgoing which is now very cheap but just past it's best or do you plunge in for the new exciting stuff that you haven't eaten for 10 months even though it is still a bit pricey?

As we wandered the market on our second visit of the day, we came across 'the smelly tomato man', as Debrah sometimes refers to him, out of affection it must be said. He clearly lives for his vegetables and personal appearance and hygiene are definitely not as important to the welfare of his 'children' - today we watched as he caressed and then presented to a client a pumpkin, with all the care of a mother holding a new born babe. You have to admire such dedication and love.

It was an unusual Saturday because I had a client changeover and so missed my usual Saturday lunchtime gathering at Cafe Saillan and was cleaning and ironing instead. As is always the way my new clients didn't arrive until gone 4.00pm and so I would have had ample time for a quick swing by the bar and a bit of handshaking and cheek kissing.

My new guests are on honeymoon - aahh - and are also my first genuine bona fide American visitors because they have flown all the way from America to be here, rather than just channel hopping from the UK - and they are so young too to be all married.

I hope they have a long life together in peace and harmony - the last bit won't happen but if they work at it and are determined then the first bit will. You have my best wishes.

Meanwhile we have started closing the windows in the evening and have a put a heavier duvet on the bed and had cassoulet for supper - looks like the summers over.

Man's Work

About ten days ago, Brigitte, Madame le Presidente, delivered a high powered water jet type washer thing to me, courtesy of her father. Clearly the implication was that such work was for me, a man, to undertake.

Today I finally got around to letting the water rip and the steps up to our front door in the courtyard look a million times better as a result. It wasn't without the odd hiccup though - the connection to the tap inside was proving to be a bit troublesome and was leaking a bit in the basement entrance area where the water meters are located alongside the communal tap.

When Brigitte appeared she pointed out the small leak, attempted to adjust the connection and promptly got 'douched' (soaked from head to foot in the manner of a shower) - that will teach her to interfere with man's work.

It all took longer than I expected but I think I have got the hang of it now so there should be less set up time when I get around to the archway walls, which are filthy. I shall make a start on them on Sunday when the beauty salon and the music school are closed and also because I need to get the scaffold back out and into use and ran out of time today. By the way, that scaffold must be the best €100 ever spent in my entire life - used every month for the past three years - what a trooper.

This evening I made dinner for my Aussie guests and a lot of fun it was too - seems like they have enjoyed their stay here, which is, of course, superb. They took lots of photos of the rooms and me bringing out dinner - to prove that men can cook, apparently (If I had her husband's email address I would warn him of the impending nag!)

Whilst I was occupied with the antipodeans it seemed that England's footballers turned in one of those performances that makes you think they might go on to do something great - until you remember all the previous one-off fabulous performances that didn't lead to glory of any sort. Forgive me for being sceptical, but we have been here before.

Not much better if you are a French football fan - they lost to Austria at the weekend and the manager has just escaped the 'guillotine' this evening after a narrow home win against Serbia.

Frankly who cares - c,mon England - David Beckham is dead - long live Theo Walcott.

Epilation?

My new Australian guests continued to test me this morning, with a barrage of questions about the internet connection, the post office, a lighter duvet, borrowing the iron and ironing board and a physiotherapist at short notice because the daughter had injured her shoulder getting their bags out of the car.

All of which I solved for them - even the physio, appointment tomorrow at 2pm - but they did rather put me behind schedule for the day such that it was almost lunchtime when I had finished at the market and I hadn't even had breakfast - poor me!

After the fabulous sunshine of yesterday, I awoke to a very dull and grey sky - I say awoke but awakened would be a better description - nobody was allowed to sleep in as the starling frightener was launching his rockets all over town from about 7.00am onwards - he should charge extra for the by-product of getting all the kids to school on time and everyone to work.

We had the briefest of showers this morning, which seemed to deposit more sand than it did water! Afterwards, my lovely shiny Audi, which I washed just last week, couldn't have looked more grubby if I had driven it through a mud swamp, which just proves that car washing is a pointless exercise in preening.

Later in the day I spent some painful time trying to translate the tariff and list of services available from the beauty salon on the ground floor of the building. We want to include, on our website, the option of booking beauty treatments - all well and good. However, being a down to earth man, I don't understand what goes on in beauty salons even when it is described in English so I had no chance of translating it from the French into any meaningful list of treatments - it's all double dutch to me in either language.

I shall send my strange list to Debrah who will no doubt tell me what is what and I will be none the wiser - although the list of 'epilation' (hair removal) techniques and body parts is a bit scary.

Long Weekend

I am back in Carcassonne after my weekend of family fun! Everybody just about held it all together but I am thinking only just - I did call one of my sisters-in-law a 'bitch' at one point, but I was leaving the room and maybe it was out of her earshot (although Debrah assures me it probably wasn't - oh well) - I really don't think she's a very nice person so I am not that bothered about it.

I feel a bit sorry for my other sister-in-law because she recognises how hard it is to please my mother and what a strong 'matriarchal' influence she imposes and because she really has tried very hard to fit into our difficult family. On the first afternoon she was very jolly and chatty and out to enjoy the weekend, but she gradually seemed to retreat into her shell, as I guess we all did under the withering glare, which was a shame.

Debrah wasn't exempt and was extremely upset by some of my mothers unnecessary comments about clothes or hair or behaviour. Debrah was brilliant this weekend and I couldn't have done it myself without her and without the girls. We stuck together as a little support team for each other. It would have been ideal to have have been just the four of us away - or five, if we could have got Christian involved too.

It was so good to see my daughters again - it has been too long - and I am so proud of them and the lovely young ladies that they have grown up to be. Amy is just about to start her final year at Lancaster and Isabel is just going off to find herself at Leicester - good luck to you both and hopefully we will see each other again sooner rather than later.

The part played by Anna and Aib, our hosts for the weekend, should not be under-estimated in the slightest. I would go as far as to say that without them the weekend would have been a disaster - I can't wait to see you both again in more relaxed circumstances, which we will do soon as it is Anna's birthday in a few weeks time.

A highlight of the weekend was the wine tasting given by Alex Hall on Saturday evening before dinner. We tasted six wines in total, with mixed results on my part when it came to recognising what I was tasting - the more I learn, and I learned a lot on Saturday, the less I seem to know! It was, though, a great privilege to be afforded the chance to taste a young 2005 St Emilion, which will age wonderfully and comes from one of the best vintages ever, apparently, and an 18 year old St Estephe, from another great vintage in 1990, that would set you back £300 in a restaurant today. Both were fabulous.

It is wine harvest time and that means that the Autumn is on it's way. We awoke this morning in the Dordogne to a heavy dew and mist in the valley but the prospect of a gloriously hot clear blue sky day - mellow fruitfulness indeed. Also, perfect conditions for the development of noble rot on grapes and the wonderful transformation into a golden nectar late harvest dessert wine - I told you I had learned a thing or two recently.

Back here in Carcassonne, the mobile 'fauconnier' introduced last year is already patrolling the streets - another sign that Autumn is upon us - the poor starlings are being scared away before we have any chance to see a display from them - what a shame.

My new guests have arrived - a mother and daughter from Australia. They dropped a couple of surprises on me - not forwarded on by the travel agent in Australia that made the booking. Luckily I am not phased by the late arriving information of no wheat or seafood or peppers in their diet, and not just because of dislike but because they are allergic. I will cope thanks to the wonderful array of produce available here in the fantastically fertile Aude valley and because at 42rvh we can cope with anything.

Even family.

Water of Life

Have just finished the washing up and tidying after another client dinner and was wondering why I feel so tired - it wasn't a particularly lengthy affair and nor was an excessive amount of alcohol consumed - and then I realised that it was the fifth night in a row of client entertaining. It has been a busy week - a really quiet weekend with no stress or demands would be perfect.

Instead of which I have to leave tomorrow for a family get-together and am feeling mildly stressed already about the prospect.

On the surface it should be an enjoyable weekend of celebration (my father's 80th birthday) and catching up ( I haven't seen Amy and Isabel, my daughters, for 8 months and 13 months respectively) and friends (we are holding the event at Anna and Aib's lovely chateau in the Dordogne).

But somehow, my family's occasional gatherings always seem very strained and very hard work. My mother has already told me what to wear on Saturday evening, as if I was 9 years old, not 49. I have very little in common with my two brothers and even less with their respective wives. Debrah is already dreading everything and might go over the edge at some point during the weekend and I think that my youngest daughter has an issue with me but won't admit it and everyone knows and pretends that it's not the case.

My family is very good at pretending things haven't happened.

Which probably means a weekend of politeness and banal chat with everyone avoiding what they really think or want to say - I guess I am as bad as they are because I am one of them too.

Meanwhile I had another mad encounter with M Sire and his scary mother, who own the wreck of a space on the ground floor where I had stored a load of rubble from our renovation. He ranted at me about a water pipe that runs through his space - the water pipe that feeds my apartments, and was demanding that I move it and then in the same breath was asking me to buy the space from him - for €20,000 !! I'd have to think seriously about paying €2,000 because it certainly isn't usable as a residential space.

He worries me though, and the fact that my water feed runs through that space concerns me too. It was there when I bought the apartments and that space looked like an unused and uninhabitable room and for two years the door was unlocked and nobody had ventured into it - suddenly he is throwing accusations about and my poor French puts me on the back foot. I need to take control of the situation to protect my own interests and that is what I intend to do.

Not venturing out today

It's been one of those days when I haven't actually been outside, which always leaves me feeling a bit stir crazy - pacing about the apartment and, as the day goes on, looking for an excuse to venture out. In fact I can always think of reasons to venture out but always decide that there is something else I should be doing here that is more important - which is very annoying - where did this responsibility towards business and clients come from?

I didn't venture out to the boulangerie this morning because my Aussie guests hadn't touched the viennoiserie the day before and I thought I would just give them some toast alongside the fruit. They were very happy with my choice and ate the lot.

They departed fairly early - I hadn't even had time to have a cup of coffee and a bit of breakfast myself before they rang the doorbell and handed back the key - which left me in a dilemma about finishing breakfast or getting in their room and starting to change it over - I left my breakfast and got to it.

I needed to get on with it because new guests were arriving later in the day but their arrival time was a bit vague - so room ready asap was the order of the day. It was all done by midday and a bit and so I had time to check my emails and send some answers and think about the ironing pile.

I didn't venture out for lunch to the square, despite an offer from Chris and Patrick, because I thought I should hang around for new guests and use up food that I had at home. So I put some spaghetti on to boil and cut up some tomatoes and got some oil and basil and parmesan and anchovies and salt and pepper and tossed it all together and put it in a a bowl, with the weekend's FT ready for some catching up on articles that Debrah said I should read. I was just about to sit myself down when the doorbell went.

My new guests had arrived by car from Nimes - they are London types working in local government and marketing - and my lunch was cold by the time I had showed them around and had a chat and answered their immediate questions - c'est la vie.

I ate my lunch anyway and then set about the ironing mountain, which took me through to the end of the afternoon - back aching - still more to do - but a job well done nonetheless. The guests told me they were going out for a drive and asked if it would be OK to have canapes and drinks at 7.30 - of course.

I thought about venturing out before client duties but it suddenly looked very stormy and I talked myself out of it. So I made some lists - shopping list for dinner tomorrow night and shopping list for my dad's 80th birthday weekend coming up and seeing my girls for the first time in far too long.

My client said that his parents owned a house in Condom and then, that I was the first person that hadn't laughed out loud when told or made a smutty remark. Is everybody really that childish? Yes they are - but I stifled my stupid snigger, thank god.

They eventually went to eat. at my restaurant recommendation, and left me to my evening. I thought about venturing out - but to be honest, by now, I couldn't be arsed.

So here I am, still at home - everything is sorted and under control - life is good.

Is it rubbish or not?

Frustratingly, I seem to find less and less time to sit here in front of my computer and relate my experiences to all and sundry. On the one hand it means that I am busier with clients and the business and on the other it means that I am getting less time to reflect and take it all in - as ever in life, a balance between conflicting pressures is the best course for sanity and peace of mind - so finding the balance is key.

After our fairly relaxed last week, we were a full house again for the weekend - a lovely couple from the north-east of England celebrating their 10th anniversary and a lovely couple of boys from London celebrating nothing at all - or just perhaps that these days they are now free to tour Europe without issue - good for them. Small world that it is, one of the London boys came originally from a small town in the north east just down the road from where the other couple lived - don't you just love co-incidences?

Debrah had her head down all weekend re-designing our website - and also had a loose tooth - which I can assure you isn't a good thing. The last time Debrah had a tooth problem was 15 years ago on our first ever holiday abroad together - a very large painkilling injection in her arse got her home and a general anaesthetic finally sorted out the tooth - much trauma - lots of stress - not looking forward to dealing with that again but sort it we must because it won't go away unless we do - there is, after all, only so much head in the sand you can do.

On Sunday morning we managed to get a little bit of relaxation - well, of a sort - we went to a brocante (car boot sale) at a local village called Cavanac. I actually find these things quite stressful, whereas Debrah finds them quite fun and relaxing. I think I find it a bit embarrassing looking interested at somebody's complete and utter shit, that they are trying to pass onto you for some ridiculous price - with a straight face - no I'm not joking - it's a 1980's original. I'm thinking - it's a video! - no-one in the new century owns a video player.

Despite all that we came home with an armful of somebody else's shit - a music stand and two portfolios of music sheets, a old and rather faded and broken military map of the Languedoc Roussillon region, a table lamp and a box of old curtain fittings and rings.

The table lamp is actually in use on the office desk right now and is casting a fabulous light on my workspace, so I am very grateful for it. I had to buy a new plug for it but having wired it up and plugged it in, I was totally surprised to find that the bulb, that was in the lamp when we bought it, actually worked. He missed a trick there - could have charged us extra for a working light bulb.

It was all change yesterday with both sets of clients leaving and Debrah going back to London and new clients from Australia via the UK - I, and my faithful Audi, made four separate trips to the airport, which I believe is a record for one day.

The Aussies had dinner this evening - just the two of them and me - and a very stimulating and interesting conversation it was - I am very happy when clients are clearly having a lovely time, not just here, but in Carcassonne as a whole because it is a great place to visit.

So to tomorrow - Aussies out and new clients in - the cycle continues.