It feels incredibly luxurious to be spending three months in Brittany. Last year we arrived for the last week in June, which was wonderful, we celebrated our daughter’s 18th birthday. As a part of her GAP year, she’s now in Maine, working as a Camp Councillor, Paddle Board tutor and Lifeguard at a Girls’ Summer Camp. As soon as she left from Heathrow, we loaded the car, drove to Plymouth and came to enjoy June in France.

We managed to get to the Rose Granit Coast and see the puffins, I was delighted, though I think next year we need to go to Scotland to see more birds, closer up. There are so few puffins in Brittany, seeing them was an absolute treat, there was an intake of delighted breath from everyone on the boat, as we watched them swim and fly past, and manoeuvre on the rocky island. They are so very tiny, thank goodness my husband had a decent camera, as my phone recorded nothing but waves!

It’s been so warm we’ve lived on salads for the last couple of weeks. Fortunately Brittany has wonderful vegetables, we can buy delicious lettuces, tomates, carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, onions and artichokes, and as I mentioned last month the strawberries are completely perfect. I’m hoping the weather will persist and we can continue eating well throughout July.

My salads are so simple, I either wash and spin lettuce leaves or slice tomatoes and onions. Kate (The Cook’s Edit) has links to many delicious recipes for hot summer days.

My husband now has his boat moored just along the coast, the other morning there was a lobster in his lobster pot! He brought it home. As it was still early I had time to bake a soda bread, we sat down to a delightfully simple meal of ultra fresh lobster with brown bread. One of the best food combinations in the world.

I read Persuasion, it is still my favourite Jane Austen novel. There is something so very moving about the love of Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth, so simple, loyal and real. This month I am reading Lady Susan, The Watsons and Sanditon, all three are in one volume and are completely new to me.

I know there are many suggestions for summer reading, both in newspapers and in here in Substack. My Kindle is filling up with Samples. Here are a few books I have enjoyed in the last month.

These two novels by Frances Hodgson Burnett are published by Persephone books (I love the bookmarks.) I enjoyed both and felt there were echoes of The Buccaneers, the unfinished novel by Edith Wharton in The Shuttle.

Laura Thompson discussed Lord Peter and Harriet Vane recently. Like many readers I am particularly found of Gaudy Night. I have read and re-read Dorothy L Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey books and was therefore delighted to find these continuation novels by Jill Paton Walsh.

Daisy Goodwin has a good, six book, list for holiday reading. I have Miss Buncle’s Book back in Richmond, so she’ll have to wait until September for a re-read. I have seen several good reports of Small Bomb at Dimperley by Lissa Evans. Having read both Crooked Heart and V for Victory last month, I’m looking forward to it this month.

Our beach house is very close to the sea, to do any shopping I pop into the car and head off (up a hill) to the local town. Driving back this morning I saw a most magical sight. A large hare was running through a field, it jumped into the road in front of me, leaping across to the next field. It was like watching a prima ballerina, so lithe and light and elegant. The leap was incredible, just landing once in the road, before it disappeared, at high speed, into the next field. I slowed right down to watch it, so very, very beautiful. If you haven’t yet read it you must read Chloe Dalton’s Raising Hare.

On our morning walks Lara (my ten year old ex-racing greyhound) see hundreds of rabbits, fortunately for them her eyesight is not what it was. There is a little one who visits our garden every evening. I have to clap my hands to scare it away, before the Lara goes outside!

I am looking forward to visitors during July. My son will be here, with his wife and my two grandchildren. I have sorted out toys, that my daughter had when she was small and books suitable for three year olds and one year olds. We have wetsuits and life jackets ready for sea faring adventures. I’m beyond excited to have them all stay for ten days, I just wish it were longer. I have also bought some enamel plates and dishes, wonderful for eating out on the terrace, as they won’t break if dropped and perfect for small children, so much lovelier than the plastic dishes we had when our children were small!

The pasta/rice/pudding bowls are from Falcon Enamel. The dinner and side plates from Argon. Both easy to find online!

June has been quiet, many local holiday houses are still closed up, the holiday season starts on July 1st (the Lifeguards certainly start work then). I love the beach here, and the maritime weather. This morning in the Times there was an article about the Heatwave in Europe, it said that with the exception of ‘one sliver of North West France’ most of Europe was experiencing extreme heat. I am most definitely in the ‘sliver’. Here,

beside the Atlantic, we experience true celtic weather. Should the temperature rise above about 24 degrees, a rain shower may arrive, or an over night sea mist will role in, my husband says it’s ’Outdoor Air-Conditioning’! It reminds me of my childhood holidays in Scotland. If you’re coming here don’t forget to bring a jumper and waterproof jacket, even in July and August!

Every day is different on a Breton beach!

And finally: in my email box yesterday, from John Lewis:-

Really?