With temperatures still in the low 30s, it just doesn’t seem right to be thinking about lighting a fire, but the shops are full of wood burning stoves and electric radiators, so I guess winter must be on its way.

The commune of Caupenne has cut down some trees, so as residents we were able to order some firewood last spring, at about half the price we’d have to pay elsewhere. Philippe, the maire, called in yesterday to find out where we wanted it putting, and this morning it arrived, half of a huge lorryload. Kieran’s friend Chris is staying at the moment, so the boys have started the task of cutting it to length and stacking it; not a quick job as there are ten cubic metres of it, but it should keep us toasty warm in the winter.