Red sky in the morning ...

At last the snow has disappeared to be replaced by a light, warm breeze and a thin layer of high wispy cloud. Digby fairly raced along on his morning walk,the balmier temperatures clearly helping him forget the arthritic pains. The sky this morning is tinged with a palet of red,orange and gold - a wonderful backdrop to the walk and a sign of another weather front sweeping off the Atlantic and heading to the Pyrenees, and us. Hopefully, after five days in a row of freezing weather this time it will be a warm front.

Yesterday was spent re-registering the cars from Italian to French jurisdiction and getting new number plates. The Land Rover was no problem - the paperwork needed to complete the process and satisfy the authorities was sent through from Paris within twenty minutes and the local dealer made and fitted new plates on the spot. The dog car is another matter. Volkswagen France say that as the car was bought in Italy it is nothing to do with them and they can't issue a certificate saying it is safe to drive on European roads. Volkswagen Italy say that as the car is out of Italy it is no longer their responsibility. Volkswagen Head Office in Germany eventually connected me to a young man in 'customer service' who was suffering from a charm bypass and who rather unhelpfully suggested I drive the car back to Italy. Todays task is to continue this one way Faustian dialogue with Europe's largest car manufacturer . Being the European Union there is no such thing as a car registration document that is recognized in all 27 members. Naturally, without a French approved Certificate of Conformity ( in French) re-insuring and replating the cars is impossible.

Digby is outside in the garden telepathically imposing his will on a ball (so far the ball is winning) while Wilf is upstairs in the kitchen optimistically hoping 'the font' drops the baking tray.