Fayance

Travelling to our next destination, Fayance. Heading towards Cannes, Monaco along the motorway. The scenery has changed from lush green to grey coloured mountains and tall cypress trees. And it's getting hotter. We also know we are heading into the territory of the wealthy, when we are being overtaken by Ferraris and porches, big shiny Audis.

Fayance perched on a hill top to the north, surveying the plains to the south. Fayance was a fortified town and, in spite of its size, it has kept the charm of its medieval origins.

So what have we been up to for the last few weeks? It's been hot, but we have had the advantage of the swimming pool, then lazing in a hammock to get dry.

I was the mosquito's favourite food, being bitten every day. The one day my legs were covered with bites. 33! I was itching like mad and in the end we slept in the car.

Most of the work we have done was gardening, and my first time up a ladder to trim the ivy which was taking over the upper windows. Our host came up with an idea of making very large and high boxes, and to make them bio, by filling them with cardboard, straw, compost and then the last few layers with good soil. Ready to plant. Much admit they looked good, and what a good idea. They are lined with black waterproof lining. Which after we had filled the one, it was decided that it would be too hot and would also keep the moisture in. so we had to empty it out, and then refill. What fun. Lol.

We didn't venture very far from the villa, only walked down to the local market, which was filled with colour and aromas from herbs and vegetables. Courgettes of all different sizes and colours.

Our big day out was to visit the nearby town of Mons, for a pottery sale!

Mons is one of the highest villages in the Provence. The village remains unspoilt and pretty much has it as for centuries. They way to get to Mons is by a narrow and windy road through the mountains. At the start of the journey we didn't get very far before the temperature gauge in the car started to point to high. We pulled over and discovered there was no water in it. So it was safer to go back to the villa and top up. Our host was a bit bemused because this car doesn't take water ……. Well any way Dave filled it up and the journey recommenced.

After two weeks our host treated us to a fantastic meal at 'une auberge' where we had well Dave did, fish soup to start with a diy job of grated small pieces of bread with garlic, then a spoon of roux, then grated cheese. Then placed in the bowl and the soup ladled over. This is a speciality of the south of France, and the correct way to serve fish soup.

So we left this area, tanned and relaxed. Ready for our journey to Gumieres, which 8 hours and 30 Euros on the toll road, but that's another story.

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