I don't follow much sport nowadays - I used to spend much of the summer in front of the TV watching test cricket, but the sell out to Sky and the move to France scuppered that. The French aren't quite so intent on giving over mainstream TV to sport on a weekly basis but there are a few events that they go nuts for. Obviously key football tournaments come into that category, as does Six Nations Rugby and I imagine that as host of the Rugby World Cup later this year, that will be wall to wall too.
There are two events that I follow with a passion though - the Dakar Rally during the first couple of weeks of January, and the Tour de France during the first three weeks of July in general. We are on day 9 now, and a day where the stage finish is at altitude, finishing with 4.3km of 11% climb going up the Puy du Dome sometime near 6pm French time. I need to watch! The area is interesting as it has been blocked off from visitors and spectators as a nature reserve, so my usual chuntering about why stupid people jump out in front of the riders will not apply today.
This is the end of the stage.
We are currently enjoying lots of flowers, including dramatic summer bulbs bought from the Pound Shop in England when such things were allowed, and also from Aldi. They provide a bit of drama at a period when many of my favourite flowers are coming to an end.
Today at the potager, I lifted the shallot crop - rather disappointing given the size and quality of the start bulbs, but they will make a good couple of pots of pickled shallots which are rather nice with cheese and cold meat. I transplanted into the space they left, some little gem lettuces that we had set off in a seed bed and were far too close together to do any good. I'm hopeful as the soil is quite moist, but nothing ventured, nothing gained as they say!
Anyway, I've got a report to write, so just a short update this week.
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