Happy Birthday Ree.

Those that know us well may be surprised at our silence with regard to the Rugby World Cup. Most of our readers will know that the World Cup is taking place in France, and where we live in the South West is where you will find the most fervent supporters. To get tickets we would have had to apply 18 months ago, but we did get satellite TV installed so we could follow the fortunes of the England squad. Having muddled their way through to the quarter-finals last weekend, neither England nor the host nation, France, expected to meet each other in the Semis. However, Saturday saw defending champions, England, beat 2003 runners-up Australia (again, ha ha!), and France shocked the world by sending the favourites, New Zealand, home on Sunday. Tomorrow, old foes France and England play each other for a chance to meet either South Africa or Argentina in the Final.

By happy coincidence it is BF’s birthday on Sunday, so we are having a party tomorrow evening with French friends, Sabine and ‘coq sportif’ Christophe - buffet food so we don’t have to miss any of the action on TV! It is likely to be a late night, so John and I took the precaution of taking our regular Sunday walk today instead. It was about 2.45pm when we reached our departure point, the bergerie above Bareilles. The leaves have turned and the late afternoon light was beautiful. Here are some photos:

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Returning, for the benefit of our American readers, to the subject of the Rugby World Cup, I realise that Rugby is very much a minority sport in the US. It shouldn’t be. True, there is very little money in it compared with football or baseball. But you have a great team. They played their socks off against South Africa (who may well be the next world champions), scoring 15 points where England (reigning world champions) scored nil! Rugby Union is a great game. Your team are fit and fast. Think of Rugby as football without the padding and tea-breaks, and you can learn to love it. Go USA!