That’s a bouffadou. I bought that one over in the Pays Basque last year, and it’s for reviving a dying fire or barbecue – by blowing through it. As regular readers already knew.

Yes, July hasn’t started well here! After blazing heat a week ago, there were two dull days at the end of June, then this morning a huge drop in temperature (about 18°) and rain to go with it. Then Carol had to leave the van (I was still dozing) and she tripped over one of the guy ropes of the awning. Flat on her nose and quite bloody … a neighbour who came round for Lapin Au Vin last night was there before I was and helped pick her up. Happily he’s a first-aider, but we wondered whether treatment was needed. When we contacted the (English) owner of the site she said we could go to the hospital in Carcassonne, but the wound didn’t look like it needed stitching and there was no evidence of concussion, so we decided to administer pain killers and take it easy – no appointments today, anyway. I’m sorry, but she wont let me take her picture! …. Spoilsport!

Then we found half of Sunday dinner has gone missing! After yesterday’s shopping we couldn’t get everything into the fridge, so some stuff stayed in the insulated bag in the awning. Including 2 chops. Today only one chop can be found! Did we bring 2 home? Did we leave the bag unfastened, so the cats could get at the content? This is reminiscent of a similar incident a few years ago at St. Valery, where a burgling cat was definitely the culprit. But there’s no evidence, like packaging, lying around and the person who looks after the cats says if they take anything they always bring it ‘home’, and she hasn’t seen it!  C’est un mystère! And it looks like ‘one chop between two’ this evening. (Can anyone place the quote?)

Thanks for a comment on the house-hunting. Anyone may chip in and we’ll take no notice if we don’t want to. If you really want to see stuff, this is the short list:

http://www.abessan.fr/fr/liste.htm?ope=1&ville1=&habmin=&termin=&prixmin=&prixmax=&ref=1100318553

We call this one “The Oaks” – there are many oak trees all round – reduce some and remove others and we have a supply of wood for years!

http://www.hdcimmo.com/300000euro/2852/2852FR.htm

There’s lovely! Owned by a Welsh couple. The living room is less pink now, but it’s still a disappointing space.

http://www2.housescape.org.uk/cgi-bin/full.pl?&aud1&&1867&&

Harryport! We’d found this one on the web before we came with APITS, and wanted to see it. The APITS team said we wouldn’t want it, but we’re not sure.

http://www2.housescape.org.uk/cgi-bin/full.pl?&aud1&&1907&&

Massive! Built for a former Mayor of Quillan and way above budget, but the agent says he wouldn’t have shown it to us if he didn’t think the owner would come down to our price. It’s currently a holiday home!

http://www.mmimmobilier.com/detail-bien.php?ref=131;

Exterior and living space superb! Kitchen corner very cramped and bedrooms small. Unlikely that vendors would reduce by enough, but might be worth an ask!

More viewings on Tuesday. On Wednesday we plan to change campsite. This has been fine, but pitch is small (no room to walk wide of the tent – hence tripping hazzard, it wasn’t the first time, just the most serious). Also, we’d quite like a pool on site and maybe a bar/restaurant as well. We hope to find ‘the’ house within a week now. We’ll see …