Execrable.

Winter arrives. The skies clear but chill. The heating switches itself on automatically. The first time since February the temperatures have dropped below 5 degrees. The Electricite de France workmen arrive early with two more reels of cable. They unload them on the village green and then disappear. Perhaps it's too cold to lay cabling.

Down in the little market town the locals have switched into winter mode. Fur trimmed, quilted  jackets much in evidence.  At the bar all the outside tables empty. The beer and absinthe crowd clustered inside by the radiator enjoying a pre-breakfast libation.

The new plastic chairs bought by the bar owner three months ago have all been broken. They've been replaced by plastic wicker style chairs in day glo pink . These seem to go with the new tables with their out of focus gardenia pattern. There's no other word for them : Execrable.

Off to the airport later today. ' The font ' flying to Delhi to see a saintly lady who looks after stray dogs and then, after a few days, onto a home for blind girls. Angus heading off to Moscow and Beijing to see folk in dark suits and talk about hanging chads and fiscal cliffs.  We'll meet up in India later in the week. Back on the 9th. Until then stay safe .