Véraison

It's ages since I've posted vines. The point at which the grapes change colour gives you 40 days until harvest. So that's the end of August then, as opposed to mid-September. At least the yield looks better than last year, though more rain is needed to fill them out.

It did rain this morning, with associated thunder, so I didn't bother with the pool, knowing it would be closed at the slightest hint of bad weather. I went for a  short walk this afternoon instead -- the first time for ages, since it's been too hot to even contemplate it.

This evening, rather than sitting around at home we decided to go and try out the latest version of O Mazette in Fabrezan. It's been through many versions since we moved here. It is a nice location, but this is the second worst incarnation since the miserable Irish couple. The previous owner did decent food, but the couple of tapas we had this evening were evidently out of the freezer and into the deep fryer, and the service was a bit sloppy too. Expensive for what it was, so we won't be back.

We had run out of bread, so yesterday I dragged the neglected starter out of the fridge and fed it. To my surprise, it was in good health by lunchtime today, so I started a couple of loaves which will be baked tomorrow. In the meantime I've baked a yeast-based spelt loaf which took ages to rise despite the heat, but is not bad at all.