A week off

You would have thought that being away from 42rvh for the week, having no guests to look after, no breakfasts to make, no airport runs to do, would have given me a lot more time to write and that there would have been daily updates on my blog. But actually it appears to have been the exact opposite.

Partly I think it's because this blog, in my head, is so very closely associated with everything that goes on, has gone on and will happen in Carcassonne and the running of the business that is 42rvh that because I am taking a week away from all that I have also taken a break from this too.

Partly it's because I keep getting distracted - at this moment I am being distracted by the sun just rising above the horizon, the first bell of the day ringing seven o'clock way across the valley somewhere, the beautiful cloud formations and the birds twittering away in their morning happiness. I am wondering whether to have an early swim or a bike ride or make another pot of coffee and continue writing this. Debrah, Christian and Amy are still in their beds and I don't blame them at all for that.

They all flew out to Carcassonne at the end of last week. On Saturday, after a guest departure, a quick room clean and a visit to the market for provisions, we packed up the car (quite literally packed to the gills) and headed north-west, past Toulouse and into the Tarn-et-Garonne department.

Here in the Quercy, as it is known, Debrah's friend and work colleague, David Rose, has created a little oasis of charm in a remote farmhouse perched on top of a hill with glorious views in all directions. It is beautifully designed as you would expect from a London architect, understated and chic yet retaining the feel of a French country farmhouse, has a fabulous pool, a vegetable garden, fresh herbs and fresh fruit on the trees and everything else that you would expect of a country retreat - an owl living in the barn, noisy birds in the morning, mosquitoes in the night, spectacular sunrises, sunsets, moonlight and stars and peace and tranquility that is only occasionally punctured by the sound of a chainsaw from the neighbouring farm or the French airforce screaming across the sky.

We have had a relaxing and at the same time energetic week. We have all read and slept. We have been out walking and running and cycling. We have swum morning, noon and night and played keepy-uppey in the pool until our arms were aching from the effort. We have eaten like kings on the simplest of fresh food - meat grilled on the barbecue, roast chickens, tomato salad, green salad, more salad of all sorts, cheese, charcuterie and fresh bread.

Today is our last full day here and I suspect that we will do more of the same. The sky is clear, the sun is up and the pool is already beckoning.