Summer sunshine

 Whit weekend, or Pentecôte as this allegedly secular state calls it, is upon us and with it the first of a series of family visits - Sam is nearing the end of his week with us.

With the lighter, warmer weather we have a nightingale serenading us day and night from our neighbour's garden over the road.

Whether to display the European flag in Town Halls or not, and locally the questionable use of the (relatively new) incinerator in the neighbouring village to dispose of some rubbish, and its rising cost (which Montpellier politicians find hard to take).

I have completed my annual, stressful completion of the French tax return, and we're continuing our regular activities - Bach in a choir for me, various cello outings for Mary.

More local preoccupations - rising cost of housing not altogether compensated by cheap public transport, bullfighting displaced by book fairs, and more women doing extreme sports!

But our local version of bull sports, the Course Camarguaise, is much less cruel and mor entertaining - we'll be going to the afternoon event in our new arena if the weather allows this afternoon.  As you can see the bulls get their own billing and the best survive into retirement with statues on local roundabouts.

Roundabouts are often on our minds because they are ubiquitous here even in small communes, but the official rules are a bit different from those in the UK, and not everyone here  really understands them.

As with incinerators, road improvements are an increasingly hot potato, but on the whole I feel pleased to see that after 30 years or so in the planning the Lien, (more or less) linking the A9 and the A75 motorways across the north of Montpellier will be finished in 2026 - map below.  Meanwhile, we profit greatly from the 4 tram lines now operating in Montpellier.

One important milestone socially has been the 10th anniversary of mariage pour tous, the legislation which permits gay and lesbian marriages.  Some of our good friend here have benefitted from this, as have friends following similar legislation elsewhere.  We have happy memories of weddings of Pierre & Charles and Jonathan & Alex (pictured below) over the past decades.  Christine Taubira was the minister (Garde des Sceaux) who braved abuse and even death threats to push this legislation through, and the first gay marriage in France was in Montpellier.

Jonathan & Alex, Charles & Pierre

As many of you will know our surviving dog is Edmond in very good form although increasingly blind.  He seems to  enjoy his life (and raw carrot!) and we much enjoy his company.

And of course the garden is a constant pleasure...