Weekend lifestyles of the carefree french

It has always amazed Una and I that no matter what sort of bad weather we get during the week in Hyeres, bang on schedule Saturday morning there are clear skies and the sun blasting you out of bed and into 'lifestyle' mode. While the world fretted about melting down in late Sept, we (along with everyone else down here) sat on Almanarre beach and read the FT (aghast) between dips in the cool med. It's quite incredible and I'm putting it down to that old adage that 'life is what you make it'.

We paid another visit to Grand Var early last week to pick up some last minute items. I visited Decathlon and got a fleece top for €10!?. As usual it was packed with people trying on runners, snow boots, ski suits, trying out walking sticks, tents, guns.. everything to do with the outdoors and getting out at the weekend. and this was tuesday morning when you would expect most people to be in work!

Its only a theory, but maybe the same way that a dark mood can attract dark skies over a house, the same thinking about the weekend and good weather by a populace can create the perfect atmosphere for the lifestyle loving french when the weekend comes around!

This morning.. blue skies, no wind, bright sun. Quelle surprise! I'm off driving since I have to sit in the same seat for over 1000miles next week so a walk from Hyeres to L'Ayguade (for lunch) along the beach sounded just fine! After less than a quarter of the way the day was so lovely that we stopped and just sat on the beach staring at the sun. We were joined there by another local so we know we're in the right frame of mind!

After a quick recce of L'Ayguade and the fact that no one was sitting outside we took a big gamble and headed back for home and towards a little place called 'Café de Plage' which is on the beach near the entrance for airport.

We've passed this Café a few times and I've never been completely convinced it was even open! Today our luck was in. Not only did they have a plat du jour but it was sangliere aussi!

To sit outside, eating wild boar and penne, drinking delicious Cotes du Provence in glorious sunshine with the waves lapping against the shore and a clear view of the Ile's de Hyeres... I could not have scripted a better second last day for us.

As the clouds rolled over we bid our farewells and not content with the distance travelled headed for a last look at La Capte and Lido (the weather forecast is not great for tomorrow - it seems there are flaws in my theory or there is a religious balance to be struck).

20 mins after we got home the wind started howling and the rain is now coming down in sheets.

Ireland, we are ready.