Alberto Contador en route to victory

It was Tour de France fever last Saturday as the Tour cycled past us en route to Mont Ventoux.

As well as many shots of headless riders, and tarmac (why do cyclists go so fast? - I guess it was a sprint stage) guess who I managed to snap cycling past Chateau Colombier?

Ouch - the cost of a motorised pool cover

The pool cover is great - it's safe, it keeps the pool clean, and - most importantly - the greenhouse effect helps heat the water up, and stops it cooling down at night.

OK - swimming for 15 minutes at 15 degrees on the 15 of March this year was a bit excessive. But the temperature of the water has been well into the 20s since early April. Actually, during the recent heat wave (temperatures in the 30s for a week) the water has been too warm.

However, the cover also has its disadvantages. Mainly that it's heavy, and needs 2 people to push it open and shut. And that's not that easy an job even with 2. For 1 person it's almost impossible.

So - it's got to be motorised. But you could almost buy a small car for the cost.

Do you think I can start to charge visitors a pool cover motor service charge?

the theme of 26

Sometimes you can land yourself in it following on from conversations with friends.

Random exchanges and chats with Anne (during her recent wet and cold trip wine tasting to the Languedoc) means that I have set myself a challenge for food and wine weekends here at Chateau Colombier.

My plan is to create 26 "amuses bouches" (little tasters - think tapas) to go with 26 different regional wines and drinks.

Why 26? Because that's the number of the department of the Drome.

I'm very happy for visitors to help - in ideas, in preparation, in sourcing products and wines, in wine and food tasting, and for the photos and tasting notes.

Happy in Provence

A blog Happy faces, Happy places by Matthew Taylor reminded me of a conversation with Josef Gehrmann from Muenster - he and his family were house guests here at Le Colombier this easter.

On the dining room wall I have a picture of Van Gogh's The Potato Eaters. It's a dark and sombre picture - and I just liked the contrast with my environment here in Provence.

It's a reminder that I'm here, not there.

It was Josef who pointed out how much the darkness - and depression - of this Van Gogh painting contrasts with the brighness of, for example, his famous sunflowers, painted, of course, in the light of Provence.



The light of Provence is almost a cliche - it is amazing, and undescribable. But the effect it has on your emotions - and your happiness - is very real.

Parcours de Sante (fitness circuits)

They've been doing a make-over at the lakes at Cornillon. More trees, parking bays, and more picnic benches. And a great adult outdoor fitness circuit, complete with little signs showing you how to use the equipment.

Personally, I'll stick to the swimming and the picnics. But it adds to the multi-generational activities that the lakes offer.

Any volunteers to construct a fitness circuit on the terraces and in the wood at Le Colombier?

First swim of the season

Pool at 15 degrees. So with a wetsuit, and upbeat music, I officially opened the swimming season. Managed 15 minutes. Can't be bad.

Green Gym

I read an article a while ago about a new credit crunch way to get fit. It seems you dump your expensive gym membership, and head out to your local potato farm. There you get to spend the morning picking potatoes; you get a healthy workout in the open air; and the farmer gives you a healthy lunch of soup and home made bread.

Somehow I'm not sure that you'll be back everyweek. However, start a vegetable patch to grow your own potates - and the rest - and you'll soon discover muscles you didn't know you had.

So if you fancy a workout - of the muscles during the day, and the tastebuds in the evening - come and try your hand at gardening in my green and blue gym!