On Saturday, we planned and listed the tasks and laid-in the materials for the work that will start on Monday morning.

And on Sunday, another ice-cold but brilliantly sunlit morning, we set-out for Magelas where there was a puce-brocante (an ad-hoc, street flea-market).
As with all such events the 'early-bird' rule applies and it is as the traders first unpack their wares that any 'gems' and bargains may most likely be spotted.

We were not early-birds as Sunday was to be the last day of 'rest & relaxation' before the start of work - and we spotted no gems .
However, ambling amongst the stalls in hope and in sunshine was a delight.

And this plane tree (the ubiqitous tree of every square in France), in the sunshine, caught my eye.

Plane trees also almost always line the roadsides as they approach the small towns and villages of the region but, alas, they are now being systematically removed.
They are being removed for the same reason that the country pub in Ireland – an equally ubiqitous feature of rural Ireland – is being forced to close: they both are being held responsible for road accidents and fatalities.
In my view, the reasoning is poor in both cases: drunks that drive into trees risk death whereas I have yet to be struck by a tree or a pub, if you see what I mean?

Anyway, I don't like 'the nany state syndrome' and, while, by force of circumstance, I have had to become well used to it in Ireland, it is the last thing I associate with France and I trust the trend doesn't take hold!