Tuesday 14th July

The sun gives us life, the sun grows our food – and the sun makes us smile.  There is no doubt about it, I see the evidence almost every day.  People are simply happier when the sun shines, and that explains a lot.  Northern Europe with its wet and windy climate produces glum people who struggle against the weather and trudge to work in the rain.  Here in SouthWest France the sun is shining and all you get all day long are smiles.  Smiles from the tourists, who cannot quite believe how beautiful it is here.  Smiles from the local shopkeepers, smiles from the people at Kismet who at first avoided us but now that summer is here and we are all busy cannot help but smile.  Smiles from our friends who cannot quite believe how lucky they are to be living here.  And a smile from myself too.  Not smug but genuinely happy, you look up and there it is – that lucky old sun with nothing to do but roll around heaven all day (and make us all smile).

So, if you are in England and it is drizzling, don’t worry – the sun will shine again – and then remember to smile.  Don’t take too long thinking about it because it won’t last long as you well know.  Now see what you have done, allowed an element of smugness to pervade this happy little post.