Herder and guide.

Some high cloud but no sign of the rain that's been forecast for the last three days . It's already warm . The old farmer emerges from under the bonnet of his ancient motor home and waves . '' Salut. M'Ongoose ! '' . Two weeks to go and the first Presidential election posters going up on the billboards in the marketplace . At the cafe the waitress wearing a pair of wire , sticky-up , bunny ears . For the beer and absinthe set a cause of much hilarity . Wilf quite unaware of this sky blue and pink addition to the easter routine . He eats his half croissant and then dozes. The headline in the local newspaper - ' New techniques in asparagus growing ' . Life in France Profonde.

Home via the lane that runs on top of the ridge . The old fellow , nose down , ploughing along without a care in the world . The hedgerows alive with wrens . Hundreds and hundreds of the tiny things . Their cacophony disproportionate to their size. The first wild hyacinths and slipper orchids peeping through the grass . From time to time Wilf pauses to let me catch up . Old blind dog as herder and guide . A day for joyful living . A really good Friday .