According to CC I am paranoid about the cats going out. There is a notice in the front entrance asking people not to let the cats out that way because it leads directly onto the road.

They are allowed out in the back garden but I still worry because, being cats and innately curious, they go next door and beyond and French people are not always kind to felines.

If I can use bad weather as an excuse I tell them it's too wet or windy or whatever but we have had nearly two whole weeks of bright sunshine and nothing more than a light breeze so I have had to let them loose to play all day in the garden.

Chloe, being the youngest, is the most nervous about the big outdoors and, until today, she stayed very close to the door. However, when I went to inspect the vegetable patch she followed me and sniffed her way along the path, round the wheelbarrow and then up to Parsley who was having a dustbath right where I had sowed the beetroot a few days ago.

Parsley took exception to this invasion of her space and promptly chased Chloe all the way back to the conservatory. The poor little thing didn't venture out again for the rest of the day.

Just recently we have had a new visitor in the garden in the shape of a large white cat with a brown tail. Yesterday he chased Parsley and one of the twins and came in through the bedroom window. Today he tried his luck again but the window was closed. He came up to me, purring and looking for a fuss. It's difficult to tell whether he has a home or not. Lots of cats wander the village scavanging but, even a pet puss may not have the required tattoo on its ear or microchip (a recent alternative).

He came close enough for me to see evidence of fleas so now I'm paranoid again in case my cats want to go and play with him or invite him in for dinner.