Frosty in France

A beautiful clear sky last night.  Around midnight it was fantastic star gazing conditions.  In this part of France there is very little industry (it is mostly farming) and so virtually no pollution, either particulate or light, so the skies are really clear.  Looking south from our terrace, Orion was glorious as always, while Jupiter was just rising in the south-east.  Beautiful.

So overnight the temperature fell to -4, the coldest I have experienced down here for some time.  The rain water that had collected on the tarpaulins that cover the outdoor furniture had frozen into glass sheets.  Oscar the donkey looked rather forlorn as he surveyed his frosty field.

Yet by lunchtime it was 18 degrees as the sun burned through.

What it is to experience a slightly different climate to the UK!