A Comedy of Errors: A five star “Masterclass” in Chaos Picture this: 1,000 Cunard World Cruise guests, descending upon a Hong Kong hotel with the organisational prowess of a toddler armed with a spreadsheet.

Market day in Chalais and its minus 5 degrees. No so many stalls out today and l am not surprised , they must be freezing their mits off. Yet the locals still come out in force to but their daily fish and vegetables.

The Pyrenean cheese seller is on the phone to say she won't be making a great deal of profit today. Her lucrative, gullible English punters are nowhere to be seen. And the French wont stand for their sharp practices of over cutting the portions. The foreigners feel obliged to pay the €22 plus for the wedge of cheese, unaware that the same is available in the local supermarket at half the price.

Sun is starting to come out but peoples breath combines to make a haze over their heads.

walk down from Chatignac to visit friends. Arrived at three and departed having stopped off at every other friend on the way back up the hill in total darkness. Our red noses helped us to find our way. Was it the cold or the alcohol?

Now that's what l call a strait furrow

First Christmas party, crackers, champagne, glorious wines and food and of course magnificent company, not to mention the crack ( not an illegal substance, just Cumbrian for conversation) As per usual, started at noon and ended at 6.30. A typical French lunch.

This was quickly followed by a Brunch at David and Ellens the following morning, starting at 10am. A real American style brunch with champagne and bucks fiz, cheeses, smoked salmon, fruit, crumpets, croissants, eggs, cooked breakfast. The list went on for ever. Terrific.