Can't get any fresher.

 Max - mercifully bored - drove me to Leucate today for oysters. They are grown on bits of string and pulled up when big enough to be eaten, right there. The white wine that is served with them is local but I was too engaged to take notes.

Here is our charming friend and neighbour Msr Louis, aka Le Patriarch, just before returning to his official home on the cote d'azur. His holiday home is here in Esperaza. He is 92 and says I must take photos because he'll die soon - but he shows more vivacity than most of us. He'll be back in October for the mushrooms and has promised me a pannier.