If we hear a ring at the bell and no-one comes straight in it either means the door is locked or it's someone we don't know.

At last I've managed to learn how to bar unwanted salesmen without being rude and, fortunately, there haven't been so many 'beggars' recently. I do object to being offered rubbish at inflated prices and the more insistent they get the easier I find it to stick to my guns.

However, today I opened the door to find two gendarmes standing there. They asked to see the Whale about an 'infraction du code'.

'You probably need to see my son,' I said as it's Jay who drives the car, but they insisted on seeing the person on their form so I asked them in and wheeled out the Whale. As soon as they realised that he was not in a position to drive they decided that they would speak to the 'culprit'.

When I asked what rule he had broken they said it was a case of 'vitesse'.

I went upstairs to find Jay and warned him that the police were after him for speeding. He looked shocked but came downstairs to see what it was all about. They started talking about a fine and I thought they meant we had overlooked a payment. That's serious because the longer you leave it the more you have to pay.

However, it  turned out that it was because he had been fined a year ago but, as he still has his British licence, they were not able to deduct the necessary points.

The policemen perused the tattered piece of card that is Jay's driving licence and decided to write down all the information they could find. We offered to make a photocopy of it for them and they gratefully accepted.

Then it was courteous handshakes all round, we all wished one another 'Bonne journée' and the two officers went out into the heat of the day to continue their business.

Phew, what a relief.