Silver is in abundance in the garden this morning. Rain drops are everywhere, hanging from the acer tree, swinging like monkeys from the oaks, dripping from the electricity lines, hanging ponderous, from the open veloux window. The garden is green, sodden, and voluptuous, full of water and rain, with a wondrous smell of petrichor. It might be a home day today rather than a gallivanting one, but then again, as in Ireland, the weather does change. Tonight, we want to go the Jazz Festival in Dinan but TF1 forecast thunderstorms here this afternoon. We will see.

It has threatened rain all week. Indeed, the raincoats have travelled with us in the back of the car, but we haven’t needed them. The sun has tangoed with the clouds and it has never been chilly. Poppins and myself have happily clambered around the Marche Littoral (coastline walk) in St Cast de Guilo, or St Briac sur Mer, we have marched in the early evening across the Baie de Beaussais, and scrabbled through non existent paths in the local forets. We have sauntered around lovely lakes in warm sunshine, and sunbathed on sand and rocks on beautiful beaches in swimming costumes. Most evenings we have eaten on the Terrace or on the Veranda with the sliding windows wide open and lain out on the lounge chairs in the garden, reading. So, I am not sad that this morning is silver. I made a delicious pot au fer (beef stew) yesterday and have the broth ready for when we want a comforting bowl of soup. I also have a tin of cassoulet. Today might be the day to investigate its contents. I do hope we get to the jazz in Dinan though, tonight.

The rain stayed away and last evening, I loved sitting in the café, with my ruby leffe listening to the Jazz. Well, actually, I didn’t really like the experimental jazz (lots of vibrating strings, and out of tune notes played long) but I loved the ambience, the square, the crowded cafes, and the Plain trees. Yesterday, we also explored Plouer Sur Rance. It’s where the Rance River meets the Estuary and there was a lovely restaurant, a beach, a pool and good walks. It will be returned to…for lunch! But not today. Today the rain pours, so maybe it will be the broth and tin of cassoulet day (it wasn’t) and I want to finish my Stephen King novel!

So, I did finish my Stephen King novel, Billy Summer. He has successfully got me back into reading, and I have now begun Ken Follet’s novel set in the 18^th century, The Armor of Light. All of this year I have struggled with the books I’ve chosen. I didn’t like or finish Caledonian Road, by Andrew O’Hagon and struggled with the latest Chigozie Obiama because it was so grim. So, it’s a relief to be enjoying the books when the sun don’t shine.

Plancoet, Cast le Guildo have been favourite finds this week. Plancoet is a lovely town on a hill which could be in Derbyshire except for the fabulous park in its midst. The French really know how to do parks. And Cast Le Guildo was a rather elongated town which stretches far and wide across its peninsula with a lovely town beach, a port, a marina, lovely little coves and some gorgeous houses. However, the lastest, exciting find has been Dinard. Even on a cloudy day, it was a gorgeous seaside town filled with seasidey accoutrements…casino, buckets and spades, ice creams, dogs, colourful windmills, rows of brasseries, ads for croque monsieurs and gallettes. The Marche Littoral was a wonderful clamber along the coast with fabulous views over the old cite and massive shiny white cruisers laying in the bay. I have also found a lovely cove to swim in. We shall return. But, first, today is market day in Dinan. We are going to buy market stall roasted chicken and roti pomme de terres cooked in the fat for lunch! Yum yum. And I might just get myself some ear rings!