OneGuyFromBarlick

Watched Le Tour de France today from the comfort of outdoor table under a large oak at our favourite local French restaurant. Superb view and superb lunch, just forgot to press GO on the video on my camera! Either men in shorts or the wine distracted me!

It was the clench of Lycra shorts what did it....
Pressing on with the editing of the LTP transcripts. Finished Ernie Roberts yesterday, it was a pleasure to read him again.....

They are called "MAMILs", Stanley (Middle Aged Men In Lycra).
I'm not sure if they look worse from the back or from the front! The padded backside is not terribly fetching, and I am sure some of them carry their bike pumps down their front.

They weren't middle aged, they were strapping healthy athlete!!!

No padded backsides either, well not the ones I saw!

9.30 a.m and we are just shutting the blinds to keep the heat out. It was 32 degrees at 8.00 pm last night. At least we sleep in a cool north facing bedroom in the summer.

I was going to go to the Great Yorkshire Show today with my friend who is down from Scotland but Alfie is having difficulty with his breathing so we are off to the vets instead. It might be heart problems, combined with the heat. We didn't think he would get through the night...his breathing was very rapid & shallow, but things have calmed down a bit now thank heavens.

Oh Wendy, poor Alfie. Has the vet ruled out asthma or hay fever?? How is he doing?

He has been much better today thanks Cathy. The vet couldn't find any problem with his heart or lungs and thought that his rapid breathing must have been caused by a combination of the heat and anxiety. We are trying him on some mild calming tablets and he has certainly relaxed today.

That's good news Wendy the close weather will not be helping if Alfie is subject to anxiety attacks. He can't manage his own paper bag if he starts hyperventilating which is self perpetuating unless you can break the vicious circle. In human terms I have experienced it once which was quite enough. I was convinced I was not long for this world and have never felt as rough as when in the full grip of hyperventilation. Scary to watch as well. no wonder you were concerned.

Jack does it when he hears fireworks. Muck, the old Jack Russell did it as well. TLC and quiet cures it in the end.
Guess what, LTP transcripts....

Sorry to hear Alfie hasn't been well Wendy. Today we are going to get the car cleaned and then hopefully a restful day. It's ok having long holidays but such a lot needs doing when you get home. Eileen

We are north of Bordeaux, for an overnight stay on the way to Carcassonne. Very very very hot

Very pleasant in Barlick Sue...
Shopping and LTP today. Had a good day editing yesterday....

Saint Emilion last night. No picture of wine though, we drank it.

Looks lovely Sue.
Normal service is resumed today, my friend has gone back home to Scotland. We have had an enjoyable few days ....some shopping, some walking and a lot of catching up.Like being on holiday without leaving home .

Febby's grandkids visited today. Had to call a halt to the unrestrained fun when young lad was flapping very expensive Dining Room curtains at the dog...Matador style. Apart from that, only had to lower myself to the point of pure bribery, with a packet of chocolate biscuits, when same lad was flicking the garden water feature ON/OFF/ON/OFF/ON at the electrical switch...and I thought it would 'blow/fuse' any minute without serious intervention.
Febby had a rather perplexed look on his face when he caught me (red handed) retrieving my Ipad from behind the toaster (where I had hidden it) as soon as they left. Just protecting my assets, darling!

Hard to discipline other people's kids.....
LTP again today. Honest endeavour is the only way I'll get through them.....

Wildest thunder claps this morning here in Carrcassonne. It may be over in the mountains

Early to bed, early to rise this morning. Temperature was at a pleasant 72F at 6.30am.

It won't last so I'll sit out with a cuppa and enjoy it while I can.

Fun day at Mum's, attempting to dry out her bedroom carpet because the decorator didn't tighten up the radiator properly, going shopping, trying to sort out a poor picture on the new TV she had persuaded my brother to get for her, ordering ready cooked meals online, checking post & bank accounts etc etc., incredibly hot & sticky journey home...... then cool breeze, distant views and a glass of wine or three. Good to be home

Pic taken of Mum today...92 years old and as difficult as ever .

She looks as bright as a button...(and such a sweet face for a difficult woman. I expected a dragon lady. We call my mother " the Crone", and the name reflects her nature.)

Today was the usual chore of cleaning up dog hair. I took a picture of the culprit last night and have emailed it to Stanley to (please) post into this topic.
She is such a honey of a dog.
Look at the pic and tell me if you can resist that face.....( I can't). So darn cute.

'Treasures in heaven' Wendy....
More LTP today..... Score is Stanley 111, LTP 80

Climbing Penyghent.