Tick Tock

I bought a large, inexpensive metal clock for the garden last year so I could keep track of time (I don’t always wear a wristwatch).  Sadly it has been a bit of a design failure because it disappears completely into the stone wall background and I still can’t tell when it’s time for aperitifs.  I’ve painted the hands gold and that helps a bit.  This morning I got Paul to cut some rough planks to put behind it to give it a rustic look – jury’s still out.

Whilst we were standing gazing at this work of art our neighbour Philippe arrived and clearly thought we were slightly mad.  He took Paul off for an inspection of the grape vines and I hung washing out.  It immediately started to rain, even though meteo said it wouldn’t.

I’ve made my version of minestrone soup for lunch, I feel like something warm and comforting.  I make it with onions, garlic, lardons, tomatoes and heaps of basil, plus some white beans.  More tomato and bean soup than minestrone I suppose.  Goes well with bread, cheese and red wine. 

Paul has just come indoors looking very cheerful, he has been sampling Philippe’s cherry flavoured eau de vie.