Rain,rain, and more rain.

Climate fact of the week : It's the wettest and coldest summer in the south of France in more than 200 years. It was raining when we set off in the car, it rained all the way there and when we finally got to the hotel it carried on raining . For what it's worth it also rained all the way back and is still raining now. Solid, unyielding sheets of water. Undaunted by the weather 'the font' went off to the spa while Wilf and I settled in the bar to study the winelist. On the short walk with me from the room to the bar Wilf determinedly ploughed through, and christened, every wet bush and shrub in the garden - I must get his eyesight checked. By the time we got to the bar his fringe was plastered down with water and he looked like Paul McCartney in the early days of the Beatles. A towel was brought for him by a smiling barman and he lay down contentedly in front of the fire to dry off. While I savoured a glass of reviving Batard Montrachet he had a bowl of water.

The hotel charged €26 for Wilf to stay with us in the room. At the time of booking I thought this was daylight robbery but for this princely sum he got his own white ceramic water bowl and a wicker basket with a matress with the hotels logo embroidered on it. A large pile of old sheets was also usefully left in the room to help soak up the water from post walk muddy paws - how sensible ! Although dogs weren't allowed in the rstaurant the 3 Michelin star chef made him a bowl of lean roast duck with lemongrass flavoured rice and green beans. This was delivered to the room half an hour before our dinner reservation. This gave him time to eat and settle down and relax before we left. 'The font' helpfully pointed out that his evening meal was the sort of thing that was served at British weddings in the late 80's. What it will do to his digestion, or his expectations, is anyones guess.

More tomorrow.