Chris never having seen the Tour de France, he and Nick just had to take him into the Pyrenees yesterday to watch a stage. They left the car a little way from the Hourquette d’Ancizan and cycled up the hill until they reached a suitable vantage point, from where they could catch all sorts of freebies, from polka dot print hats to cakes, keyrings to fridge magnets, thrown to spectators from the publicity caravan as it passed by. Later, as the riders flew by, Chris was delighted to be able to spot Chris Froome in his leader’s yellow jersey, and to marvel at the speed at which they shot up the first category climb.

Once the race had passed, they headed back to Ian and Alison’s bunk barn in the foothills below Arreau, where numerous cyclists were staying for the Tour week. Back before anyone else, they let themselves in as the place is never locked and assured the Irish woman who was hoping to stay there that night that she’d be welcome, then fed cake and flapjack that they’d taken as part of their picnic to returning hungry cyclists, before helping to make dinner, to which, naturally, they were invited. They got home in the wee small hours of this morning, having had a brilliant day.

Today was back to work; Chris fancied trying his hand at driving the digger and dug a very respectable trench for the foundations of the abri (shelter) that we’re going to build on the side of the cabanon. Tomorrow he’ll have a go at making concrete in the cement mixer; all new  and different experiences for a lad who, just a week ago, graduated in Philosophy from Cambridge.