I arrived back at our apartment in France before noon (interesting journey, but this morning's drive from Issoire was quite magical across a cloudless Massif Centrale).

I vowed to just unload the car but in the end capitulated and gapped and filled some track in my French workshop, a loggia facing the setting sun. How very pleasant it is to work outdoors. I understand from the most unbelievable Met office that the UK is in for 3 months of good weather and I hope that is true. However, having once lived near Exeter where the met Office now resides, I can relate to many a day when they never looked out of their windows.

Any Met Office modelers, make your comments below.

My current priorities are several. The first to to make Module 3 which would complete the 9 foot long scenic section. This will also require some construction of the 4 foot long fiddle yard extension. The complete 13 foot long layout will fit along one wall of the "sejour" or living area. But first I have to move two IKEA Billy bookshelves and these need repainting as they are over 20 years old, have been pee'd on by a Yorkshire terrier (at the base) and are in a dark stain that is NOT exactly Mediterranean! So the days will be divided between furniture restoration, modeling and my other passion, French cuisine (don't ask, I may start posting food photos!) This does not include a vow to take regular exercise. The days are simply too short.