Terrace gardening

We move the sheep before it gets too hot and then tour the estate. It’s all very steep and Keith is bringing lots of terraces back under cultivation. Hard work with a brush cutter to clear the terraces before running livestock over them.

He has a couple of terraces of garden. Loads of aubergines, tomatoes, courgettes. Plenty of beans and peppers. A huge variety of less well known veg, from Japanese sweet potatoes to amaranth. We eat figs off the tree and nibble freshly plucked greens.

In the evening we head out for a night out. It’s Monday at the end if the season and both bars down the valley are shut. We head up to Rocles - shut. Valgorge - shut. Finally, at St Martin, the Dutch hotel is open.

There’s not a single vegetarian thing on the menu, but they agree to make the chèvre salad without lardons. I go to the other extreme and have tartare. It’s enjoyable hanging out on the terrace, pichet of wine standing ready.

Back at the yurt we talk and play music into the wee hours. Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow I head to London.