Lunch with my Mum

It's Armistice Day here in France, so at 11.00 there was a remembrance march past the house down to the War Memorial outside the church. French martial music sounds very jolly when played in a rural village, even though large numbers of local men lost their lives in the wars.

Only when I heard the music did I realise that all the shops and schools would be closed, and that the restaurant we had hoped to go to would be hugely over-subscribed. So we set off for Marseillan early, to get there for noon. The wonderful Ferme de Marine was already heaving with people when ee arrived, but they squeezed us in on the terrace that sits with its feet in the lagoon.

Lots of patio burners kept us toasty warm despite rain lashing the awnings. What a splendid way to spend a Friday lunchtime.