Arriving at our new host I was comfortingly reminded and reassuerd that we were carrying out our plan to visit Southern France for the winter. Over the last month Id kind of lost sight of that since Brittany and Normandy are so similar looking to Brittain with slate roofs and grey stone squared off houses and towns. And I only just remembered, where are all the vineyards?

We have finally moved far enough south that countryside France was beggining to resemble all which I had conjured up in my mind of how countryside France should look; crooked red roofs, pale stone houses and narrow streets. Beautiful. Further affield, vineyards are the scene of the day. White grapes, because this is the cognac region.

Here we have landed our best hosts so far. All the renovations in the house are tastefully finished and the Charante river flows right next door. Theres a court yeard out the front with a barn, old stables and various other sheds. The chickens are pets and give 8 lovely eggs a day. But unfortunately the swimming pool is empty. And the pool house isnt quite completed, and that is why we are here.

So far weve been taken out to a quiz night, in the English language, with the English people and as far as I remember, I forgot I was in France! On market day we were treated to a plate of fresh oysters and a glass of white wine from the stall, but later on in the week the weather turned and our evening in Angouleme was cut short. Angouleme, fyi, is actually the home of comic strips. There are lots of buildings with cartoons on the side of them.