L'inondation

That's French for flood and believe me that's what we've got. It seems to have been raining for about a month. It must be driving the builders mad. They seem to be spending most of their time covering the roof with sheets and endeavouring to stem the tempest. Apparently on Friday afternoon there was a terrible storm (we were in Carcassonne and the weather was good). Saturday was dry and pleasant, however Sunday the deluge continued day and night. Despite copious barricades the water was flooding into the kitchen from underneath the new kitchen stairs and I couldn't sweep it out as quick as it was coming in. Cyrille was very concerned when he arrived this morning and soon set Patrick to work to dig trenches out around the house and across the courtyard to redirect the water.

However Cyrille had to do a lot of praying because he was not entirely sure that this was the solution. He did not have to wait long because there was soon the heaviest rain storm I have ever seen. Water was pouring out of the unconnected pipes as though it was being pumped out by the firebrigade.However, it was dry beneath the kitchen steps, much to everyone's relief.

When the rain eventually eased John and I realised that the surrounding fields were flooded. The river Ceou which runs through our valley had already burst it banks when we got up this morning. So we set off with our cameras to record this monumental event.

Goodness knows what the position will be tomorrow as it is still raining.