Dont lose sight of joy of living here

We live approximately 20 miles north of Brivela-Gaillarde in the Corrèze overlooking farmland in a gently sloping valley.

One night, in the small hours, when returning to bed from a call of nature I was aware of movement and powerful flash lights in the field behind the house. My first reaction was someone up to no good, so should I ring the Gendarme?"

Taking a closer look through binoculars which are always kept handy for bird watching, I could see that the action was centered on the mare which lives in the field.

Twenty minutes later the reason for the activity was obvious – when a very small foal appeared and was washed and cleaned by its mother. The result is recorded in the attached photo taken less than 48 hours after the birth.

Such an episode cannot be bought or provided in a theme park – it is just an illustration of the joys which come with a move to France and puts presidental elections, tax returns, petrol prices and so on into perspective.