On a brighter note ....

Two weeks after the dog attack, the infection really looks like it is dissipating and the wounds starting to heal. I am in less discomfort and am able to do a bit more every day which is such a relief, although I still have to be very careful not to do anything that may reopen the wounds. The weather has been absolutely brilliant for the past few days with clear blue skies, warm sun and ambient temperatures up to 20 degrees - this is mid November .... it can't help but lift the spirits, can it! The stunning autumn colours in the deciduous woodlands that surround us here are also reaching their peak which, likewise, just makes me smile. It really is a beautiful time of year down here in the Pyrénées:

This week, we headed into Spain for the first time since we moved here. The Val d'Aran is only 50 minutes from us here, via Saint Beat, and is a mecca for mountain biking and mountain walks. The ski resort of la Baqueira is just up from Vielha and will no doubt feature on our list of 'ski resorts we must visit' this winter. We have so much more exploring to do, which is really quite exciting. Then today we managed a walk around the Lac de Montrejeau which is just 25 minutes from us. It was my first opportunity to try out my new camera, a Canon Ixus 230 HS, which seems to be quite a stunning piece of kit! Along with masses of coots, a fair few great crested grebes and of course mallards, we also spotted a group of cormorants resting in a tree which was quite a sight....

It's not a bad spot at which to wile away an afternoon....

The early evening light, heading back to Aspet was just lovely...

In other news, work has recommenced on the upstairs bathroom and hot water for the shower should be connected this weekend. We may well have a usable shower cubicle up there by the end of next week which would be just fantastic! So all in all, life is once again on the up. This is a very good thing :-)