Quality time.

The weather forecast was quite simply abysmal with warnings of gale force winds, extreme cold and des gelees blanches . More like Iceland than France. It came as something of a surprise then to open the front door and find the sun rising into a near cloudless sky. The rest of Europe might have been brought to a halt by freezing temperatures and thick snow but the garlic growing region of South West France remains as warm and bright as a Scottish autumn day.

Down the hill with Wilf for a sun blessed walk along the valley floor. It's either a sign of the illness or a side effect of the cortisone but his back legs and hips are becoming noticeably stiffer and losing some of their suppleness and strength. Whatever the reason he refuses to complain and continues to exude his trademark affability and enthusiasm. Life is just taken at a more temperate pace. When tired our family fellow simply stops, lies down in the sun and observes his surroundings until he's ready to move on again. Wilfs motto : - Borrowed time can still be quality time.

This morning we met a wizened old farmer out for his morning constitutional . A beret wearing countryman with a gun slung over his shoulder on the look out for a rabbit for the lunchtime pot. He shook my hand, introduced himself, asked where we lived, and then bent down and greeted Wilf. We spoke about the weather, the proper way to serve foie gras, the local vets, his son in Toulouse, and the recent loss of his best hunting dog. " Dogs - they bring us joy and tears". Then he paused before carrying on " but mostly joy ".