This morning's weather continued as it was yesterday - both heavy rain and strong winds. When I tried to take Magnus out for his morning walk, he stood on the terrace, looked outside, and then looked at me as if to say: You must be joking! Nevertheless, trooper that he is, he followed me out, efficiently did his business, and walked straight back.

By lunchtime, the storm had blown itself out. It became drier and brighter, but the wind remained gusty. We drove to St Romain-de Malegarde to make best use of the remaining hours of bright afternoon skies before dusk at 5pm. This small village dates back to ancient times, but much of what see today is medieval. As with Cairanne, which is close by, it was also associated with the Templars and Hospitaliers.

We parked in the Place Verdun, which is a square surrounded by and nursery and a primary school. In one corner is the inevitable war memorial. There is a fountain and a canopy of plane trees. We walked up into the old village, following roads such as Rue Grand, Rue de l'Église, Rue de Lavoir, where we found such sights of interest as a four-faced fountain, the church and the bathhouse. The village is very original to the point of being crudely built. The church is quite imposing and is famous for have a one handed clock and a maltese cross, harking back to the templars.

Since, we had time, we then drove 3km to the next village called Buisson, which, apart from not being built up a hill, in many aspects, mirrors St Romain-de Mallegarde with a Place Verdun (did the French only ever win battle?), Rue Grand, Rue d'Église, Rue de Lavoir. There is also a four faced fountain and a canopy of plane trees in the square. Repetez aprés-moi. Some of the buildings have a modern appearance as they have been rendered with plaster and painted in different muted colours such as green and purple. More modern = a few centuries later than medieval.