Small apartments - big Turkeys.

While the rest of Europe shivers in the unseasonable cold our little corner of paradise continues to be blessed with clear skies and bright sunshine. You could almost believe it was spring if it wasn't for the arrival of the Christmas decorations in the bar. The waitress with the peroxide hair greeted Wilf and yours truly wearing an apron that spelt out 'Bon Noel' in battery powered flashing red lights. I fear the aprons novelty will have worn off by Christmas. Wilf gets fed pieces of croissant while I examine the new and truly hideous collection of postcards for sale behind the bar.

There is a decidedly unpleasant smell emananting from behind a radiator in the hallway. Wilf spent much of last night sniffing the skirting boards with evident delight. My guess is that a field mouse has decided to build its hibernatory nest on top of the central heating pipes . 'The font' has asked me, several times, what I intend to do about it. A solution - short of moving out to a hotel or ripping up the floorboards - seems hard to find.

Today a day for chasing up workmen. Perhaps one of them will have experience with malodorous mice. The gutterer hasn't been seen for a month and has disappeared without fitting the new downpipes or the all important final length of guttering above the front door. When it rains a Niagara of water cascades on unsuspecting guests. The painter also needs to be chivvied along. Five weeks ago he applied undercoat to the shutters on the street side of the house and completed two windows by the kitchen in the smart new Farrow and Ball colour scheme. Since then nothing. As for the electrician he's seems to have decamped to South America leaving wires sticking jauntily out of ceilings and power sockets unconnected.

Over lunch one of the lady professors informed me that restaurants in New York are required by law to stay open on Thanksgiving. I find this improbable. More likely that restaurants in New York enjoy a bumper days takings on Thanksgiving. Small apartments - big turkeys - seems sensible that New Yorkers would decide to go out to eat .