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Yes, Gardian, I hope it will be Bingham. I'd rather him than Kyren Wilson. Maybe his waistcoat will be stretched beyond restraint before his trousers? He's certainly fatter than when I last watched him😂

Nobody shouts around here but I grumble and complain and fret but, for some reason, this year I am calm and laid-back and apart from looking up some bank statements, have yet to complete anything online. May is a month full of activity chez nous. Both our birthdays (on separate days) to celebrate, the village's fête patronale lasting a long weekend, of course all the May holidays and no muguets to be seen in our flower beds this year so can't give out bouquets to anyone. Then there will be the ceremony at the monument aux morts and then the religious ones later in the month. You'd think the impots would realise they are really pressuring us unfairly?

Well, everyone, I am delighted to report that the lack of reception was due to the weather. Rain either in bucketloads or fine and plentiful with thick mist. This morning, everything was back so I could catch up on some of the thrilling action I missed last night. If you haven't watched, it is really very addictive. This is the world championship and 3 of the 4 finalists are qualifiers; something that has never happened before. Talking about the weather, a woman has died in the Aisne dept because a mud slide demolished her house. Made me think of the mud slide in Aberfan that killed schoolchildren and teachers in a primary school. I wasn't living in Wales then but it was national news headlines.

No, it's just the weather. Was watching last night without problem. I just thought that perhaps the BBC has blocked our signal or something.

Via satellite like you. I have retuned the tv, checked the connections, done all the usual so now I think it's the weather. Rain, wind, cloud all day (as every other day this week). Sometimes, when the weather is bad, we lose our signal but, because not all channels are affected, I thought I'd just ask. Thanks for the prompt reply, greatly appreciated🙂

Has anyone experienced difficulty with viewing some bbc prorammes, for example, BBC2 and BBC4? Have been watching the snooker from the Crucible and suddenly, this afternoon, there was "no signal" and also "no streaming". So nothing on Yesterday either. If it's no longer possible to watch, will there will be no Wimbledon tennis?

Good thinking, Gardian. So there IS justification for me being just in time every year.....and that is no matter how early I start the blasted return.

There you are, Gardian, they ARE looking at Norman, who is a French citizen, "very, very" closely, non?

Oops, the song doesn't seem to be in my post. Attempt number 2.....IF I remember how to post links! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPZkZF4RhUM

What I mean to say is, it's such a nonsense thing to say. If you were with children, you could say to them, let's go out and make mud pies, build sand castles, have a teddy bears' picnic, etc and the children would understand and most would want to take part in those activities. Alternatively if there were just you and your OH, you could suggest, let's have lunch in the new resto in town, go for a ride to that air field and watch the gliders, make a trip to the cinema and they would also know what you're talking about and could fall in or not with your suggestion. But.....shall we go and make some memories? Really, whatever next? And anyway I think the best thing about memories is that they could fade and are therefore the more precious when you are able to retain some of their essence. Here is "I remember it well"

Fittersmate, DL said to look in Connexion. It's not a source I normally use and it was the first time I'd ever accessed Connexion on line. They also said 1.139

It's OK, Lehaut, I don't particularly like being part of any herd. In fact, I am nearly always the one who is "behind the curve", whatever the curve is or where it's situated.

I do realise that there are lots and lots of things about this so-called modern life that leave me in a flummox. One activity that I hear mentioned frequently and whose meaning completely evades me is "making memories". You even see it in adverts as in why not do this (go on a cruise, visit Turkey) and make memories. People have "bucket lists" and they want to "make memories" for their children. Don't you just go and do things, visit the Black Hole of Calcutta, Tutankamun's tomb, whatever, and you remember some of the things you have done and don't remember others? Surely, you don't do things to "make memories", you er...do them because you'd like to?

I must say I never understood the phrase "bird brain" because there is so much evidence to prove that birds are actually very smart creatures. If you could put up with the "noise" perhaps you could use some wind chimes. You could, of course, call the ensemble a Concerto for Aeolian Harps?

Lori, I am definitely never flying again. You'd have to put me under a general anaesthetic and leave me in the hold. I'd MUCH rather be amongst the suitcases.

Well done, Noisette, for getting that very impressive photo! Mind you, if that bird had been swooping upside down, would you have had it soaring upwards?

Oh Lori, I am horrified and traumatised by what you have said. The couple changing their babiy's nappy would definitely have been the last straw for me.

Ha! ha! I'd like to see some of those! I used to have a cut out of a seagull but that was a souvenir for me rather than for the birds. You see, I lived along the heritage coast in South Wales.

Well, well, well, what a great deal we have in common. Firstly, Lori, thank you for that link. It is one of those places where I just long to get on that bridge and walk along those paths! We do have lots of these panoramic points in the Dordogne. As the French walkers always exclaim, it is so "vallonnée"......hills and views everywhere you look and a joy to go up and down all day long if you are walking! I am another one who loves driving on small country roads and don't care if I take a couple of days to go anywhere. We used to do this a lot, drove around and if a church tower was visible in the distance, we stopped at wherever it was, looked for a small hotel or chambre d'hôte and stayed the night. I also like to arrive somewhere the night before and spend time in a Novotel or some such and go onwards the following day. But, like Martin, I no longer fly and can't bear the thought of all the hanging around, the queues to pass security, the machines for getting your boarding pass, and la di da di da.....quelle horreur! Also I'd have nightmares about going on a long distance flight sitting next to a fat person who would overflow into my seat, monopolise my arm rest, and block my view of the aisle. Then I'd think about if we needed to evacuate the plane and this person got stuck and I couldn't get out and perished in the ensuing crash and I am not sure they'd know how to get my dental records from my dentist in order to identify my remains. I remember a delightful old chap telling me years ago that, when one got older, there was no more agreeable place than your own home. And now I myself am getting on, I wish he was still around so that I could say I have found out that he was right about that!

That's a nifty tip, Lehaut, thanks. I'm going to try my French on it and see if that's understood. I envisage hours of fun!

YES, Lori, you are a woman after my own heart! We are lucky to live in such a beautiful and large département. You are right, there is always a delightful corner to be discovered, even if you just go on foot. I managed a walk yesterday evening and I really enjoyed looking at the land and crops, the contours of green and brown plus the swifts, ducking and diving they way they do.

I remember Wooly advising me to string up Cliff Richard CDs on our veranda to stop birds commiting harikiri by flying into the glass. Not sure they worked that well BUT they weren't Cliff Richard's as specified by Wooly....I was simply not a CR fan and did not have his CDs. Eventually, I put up voile curtains which were a better deterrent though I appreciate that, in an open terrace, that might not be possible.

Martin, I could see you have very fond memories of your parents! I say "lucky you" because parents were people who mostly embarrassed you at school and stopped you doing things when you were young. It's strange how some things remain in the memory and some completely disappear into a dark hole. I have missed a flight once while on holiday in the far east and my flight was around midnight THEIR time. It was mega confusing, what with the heat and everything else. Cost me a bundle to pay for another flight and even then it was a 48 hour wait. Also missed the ferry once in Brittany and had to go all the way to Ouistreham to take another ferry home. While these things might seem funny in retrospect, at the time they were extremely distressing. Increasingly, I am not so keen to go too far from home, pityful object that I am.

It's the weirdest weather I have known in my umpteen years here. Planning to walk with friends this afternoon as it's been sunny and only a bit cold this morning but I made the mistake of looking at the météo. It says, orage and grêles this afternoon! So it will be lunch at home and perhaps I'll make some bread. I am no domestic goddess, moi, so this does not seem like an attractive alternative to a walk and perhaps taking some pictures on my new phone and see if they come up upside down like Noisette's.

Good tip, kingfisher, except that I'll probably mislay the stylus.......now you have reminded me that I am forgetful as well as clumsy, thanks!😜