Time seems to fly by and there is never enough time to get everything done, either that or Sarah and I are just getting older and can't do as much? Sad news to report is that Patapouf our rescue Newfoundland from Paris who has been with us for six years,sadly went missing a couple of weeks ago and hasn't returned nor has anyone seen him! He was around 12 years old so a good age for his breed, but it is very quiet without him, those of you who knew him will know what I mean.

Vines around the house have now been attached and work continues on the big field it could be called late but we don't mind as it doesn't produce loads of quantity and its easier for us to see what we are doing.

The late spring has helped us in the sense that the grass and weeds haven't started to grow as quickly as normal but as many of you will know if using chemical weed control this wouldn't be a problem, however, by mechanical means and by hand it is both time consuming and costly and is about to start. An article that a friend has read has got us thinking? somebody has been using sheep to graze between the vines, so if anybody has a couple of spare sheep give us a call and you can have some free grazing.

BOOK NEWS

Many of you who know us well will be aware that Paul Strang, the foremost authority on the wines of the South- West of France has just gained an award for his new book Wines and Winemakers of the south west. For those of you that haven't heard of this man look out for this new book and also his wife's cookery book on the South west Goosefat and Garlic ,a must for anyone who likes the food down here, and who wouldn't!!