''Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling.''

James E. Starrs


Morning was spent trying to pack and in the afternoon we finished the weeding. It was hot hot hot and as much as I moaned, I'm definitely not looking forward to being back in not so sunny England tomorrow! I played with the manual focus on my camera taking pictures of frogs on lilly pads, giant flies and weird bees (black with a yellow bottom). Then L and I made a cake with some rhubarb I was given by a teacher at school. I couldn?t believe no one in L's family have ever tried rhubarb before. The cake turned out to be a disaster, which seems to be a pattern when I bake here. L said rhubarb tastes like apple and his Mum like lemon. Really?

After a late tea with his grandparents we cycled to the Danube for some fishing. It was me this time who persuaded L to go, how the times have changed. It was the same type of fishing as before but this time I got to stand in the water to do it. I spent a lot of time making my maggot wiggle like a drowning fly and managed to catch more fish than L. Even though they were the useless kind and I had to put them all back I am very happy. L used a fish he caught as bait to try and catch an Asp but he didn't and the little fish died for nothing. The sky was beautiful and there were 2 different photos I tried to get but failed. The first was the sun through the trees, I wanted rays and stuff but alas it didn't work. The second was the sky reflected in the river, the colours were perfect but didn't come out on my camera. I must learn more!

For the second day we had to cycle home as fast as possible to avoid being out after dark and so avoid the chance of being arrested. I love the feeling of cycling fast on a warm evening in the countryside. The bike I use here reminds me of one in My Girl, it needs streamers and makes me feel like a little girl because it's so big. This is why I have chosen this photo, L and I together on our bikes.

When we got home L wouldn't let me cycle through the gate, I had to get off and walk. Boring! In a few years this will be a stupid comment but I get a rush when I manage it.

This time tomorrow, I'll be back in England and sitting here next to L now I have to say I'd much rather stay here next to him.