I spotted some graffiti

Near work.

C’est pas gentil ça.

Views from my office – an occasional series

This green and yellow boat caught my eye – different from the usual craft on the Saône.

Seventeen swans swim in the Saône and a stripling aussi

My rentré to work today and a lunchtime riverside stroll with a colleague produced a couple of surprises.

A bank of swans on the Saône – 17 of them in fact. Dix-sept cygnes.

And then a teenager – not quite dix-sept ans – but jumping off the underside of the bridge and swimming to the side.

He told us it wasn’t too cold.

Les vacances en famille

Right, look away now if you don’t want to see some holiday photos from our week in Bouc-Bel-Air and trips out with Cath’s sister Sally, nieces Hanna and Lauren and great niece Alma.

The even more famous Mont Sainte Victoire – as seen from Sally’s balcony

Unlike Lauren who lives and works in Marseille

Cafe gourmand

Another thing I have learnt about during my five months in France is the option in a restaurant of ordering a cafe gourmand.

It is a coffee with a selection of small deserts. Whoever invented it is a genius. I tried a couple while on holiday in Bouc-Bel-Air and they were delicious.

Swim in the sea at Marseille – take two

The last time I tried this il faisait froid so this time I knew it would at least be a little warmer.

We were spending the day with my niece and her daughter and a trip to the beach was in order. The weather didn’t want to play ball.

It was warmer than in March and I managed to swim for a bit longer. And of course we had a little helper with us.

Alma and Cath strolling round the beach.

Les oiseaux du Sud

What a week it’s been for birds. First there was a rouge-queue noir in the garden of our AirB&B. Then I went to the Camargue and saw some amazing birds.

They said all nine European herons were on site and I saw six of them – including the odd-looking Squacco heron, a bird with a mullet.

I also saw a couple of bee-eaters – what a gorgeous bird that is (no pics I’m afraid) – a glossy ibis, a black-winged stilt and a pair of storks along with their chicks on their nest.

And not forgetting the important bird I saw in Fuveau.

The green woodpecker is where my niece Lauren got all her toys from when she was young.

La fete de la musique

Did you know in France, 21 June is not only the longest day but it is also la fete de la musique? Live music venues pop up everywhere and everyone – and I mean everyone- goes out to listen to it.

We were near Aix so we went there for dinner and dancing. Wow – it was busy.