I awake early and head down to the boulangerie to pick up croissants for our breakfast. The shop smells lovely and is full of delicious bread, baguettes, anciennes(old recipe), épi(baguette dough, risen and then snipped with scissors to form a wheat sheaf effect) ficelles(very thin small baguettes, sometimes filled with Roquefort or cured sausage). I order loaves and patisseries for the evening and walk back home. Everyone is already up working and getting the house ready for our visitors later in the day. We finish the chores and sit out in the garden, enjoying our fresh pastries and coffee in the sunshine.

Abi and friends arrive in the afternoon, tired and excited after a long, hot journey. Joe, Jan and Dot greet them just before they head off to Barcelona for a few days. We show everyone to their rooms and sort out drinks and snacks while they unpack and have a rest. In the meantime, we get the barbecue ready for the evening meal and prepare a selection of meats for the grill – Toulouse sausage, steak haché, entrecôte, chicken and huge crevettes. We make up various salads from the produce bought at the village shop – very fresh and delivered that morning.

One by one, everyone comes down to the garden and we start the evening with various aperitifs. Blanquette de Limoux, Rosé, beers, gin and tonics and Ed’s famous Bloody Marys (see his recipe at end of blog).

After the meal, we serve up cheese, followed by patisseries and finish with more drinks and coffees. We stay for a while, listening to music, then leave the younger crowd to clear up and head up to bed after a wonderful, busy and enjoyable day. Tomorrow we will drive to La Cite in Carcassonne and soak up the atmosphere of that fascinating ancient town.

Bon nuit à tous

ED’S BLOODY MARY

Tomato juice – a good make

Vodka (amount to your liking)

I measure of Muscat (or Sweet Sherry)

Lemon

Celery

Salt and Pepper

Tabasco Sauce

Worcestershire Sauce

Ice

Two large glasses

Put lemon slice and ice in glass, add Muscat or Sherry, and the vodka (1 or 2 or more measures according to taste!) Top up the glass with tomato juice, Tabasco, Worcestershire Sauce and salt and pepper. Mix and taste – adjust as necessary and serve with celery stick.

À Votre santé