Normal service is resumed

We were up at 4:30 a.m. and on the shuttle to the airport at 5. Through security in 15 minutes, and thanks to S's finely honed system of Ryanair travel (hand luggage only, row 33), we were driving out of Carcassonne airport before 10 French time. The journey had featured thick cloud throughout, but we whizzed along the empty autoroute amid sunlight and windblown clouds (such a pleasant contrast to the M62).

Home to a happy, prrrt-ing Mystère, a clean, warm house, and a lovely flowering plant left for us by Blandine. She can come again! We haven't done very much for the rest of the day, although I have been out shopping for some essential supplies, and S has been researching our proposed autumn trip. And now we are burning the last of our firewood and settling in for a quiet evening.