Near Macon, Ain - FRANCE

SUNDAY 7TH FEBRUARY 1999

The light of day did not reach our room this morning and like most of you on Sunday morning we slept in until 11am. I opened the little piggery window and looked out to find a rainy day, with farmlands and forests surrounding us. Our room was once part of the barn reserved for the pigs and the lounge room next door was for the goats. Today it lay in contrast to those traditional days. Glossy wood beams shone down from a low ceiling, stone and mortar flanked the walls, alluring carpets adorned the floors and warmth was exuded from every cosy corner.

After our showers Janet lay down our breakfast of fine European filtered coffee and croissants oozing with honey. I sat down next to the wood-fired oven and took in all the pleasures that a reminiscence of home can offer. Jim and Janet spent some time showing us around their home - the embroidery studio full of intricate crafts, the old kitchen wine cellars - loaded to the brim, the well, the fruit garden, the summer terrace and lastly the piece-du-resistance - Jim's woodwork studio full of both small and large creative trinkets and large scale projects.

By three we all returned to the round table for afternoon tea, full of conversation every bit as intriguing as the ones from King Arthur's Court. I spent some time late that afternoon writing my diary, whilst Dave read through the travel books trying to concoct a plan for us. I was stopped by the lingering smell of French stew that had been slowly cooking over the stove all day.

We all enjoyed three hours of dinner full of chatter, starting off with cheese and wine. The entree consisted of French celery mixed with mayonnaise and pate on toasted bread. The came the main - a delicious coq-o-vin casserole with vegetables and for dessert a huge bowl of fruit salad and creme fraiche. After three cups of coffee the others rolled me into the lounge for a quick rest before washing up. It was a lovely dinner, especially when it began to snow lightly outside and in alluring surroundings Jim told us stories of the east of England when he was living near the air force bases and all about his colleagues, especially the ones who we spies!! Sweet dreams were the recipe on my pillow tonight.