I take on too much, I know I do, and one of the ways I try to make up time is by skim reading emails and the like. This usually works in English, but is less successful in French.

We’d exchanged several emails with our Helpx couple, about their arrival, food, work, etc., so we set off to pick them up from Toulouse railway station on Saturday afternoon. We got a little lost, but eventually found the station, but not our helpxers. I phoned to check where they were; in front of the station. So we’re we, but couldn’t see them. “La gare de Matabiau?” I asked. “No, the gare St Jean.” I asked directions to the other station at the information desk, but the man seemed a bit bewildered, got out a map and pointed to the autoroute that leads to Bordeaux. No, I explained, I wanted the gare St Jean in Toulouse; finally I understood; there isn’t one; it’s in Bordeaux, 4 hours drive west. I phoned Valentin back; “are you in Bordeaux?” “Yes.” ” I thought you were coming to Toulouse.” ” We changed our plans, we did tell you.” When I looked back through the emails it was there, but somehow, in skimming, I’d missed it. Fortunately they were able to get a car share as far as Mont de Marsan, from where we picked them up, finally arriving home after midnight, instead of 8.30 pm. I don’t think I’ve ever felt such an idiot.

I’d prepared a quiche for the evening, which we had for lunch the following day. I took a bite; it was sweet! Or to be more precise, the pastry was sweet. As they’re vegetarian and try to avoid eating butter, I’d bought pastry as it’s made with oils; what I hadn’t realised is that pâte brisée is savoury, whereas pâte sablée is sweetened. It tasted really strange!

We haven’t put them off completely, however; they’re a lovely young couple, quite a bit younger than our own kids, who are enthusiastic, strong and more than willing to work. We did a couple of hours of forest clearing today and it made an enormous difference as Gwenaëlle could carry more than I can and Valentin could carry as much as both of us. Clearing the wood is looking like a realistic possibility now.