Ett sista besök på det närmaste boulangeriet innan vi rullar hemmåt
Molly är packad, de sista fönsterluckarna har bommats igen och vattnet är avstängt.
Kyrklockan har precis slagit sju slag och med samma iver som alltid larmat byn om att det är dags att kliva upp.
Men när vi sömndruckna vandrar mot bilen är gatorna ännu tömda på folk.
Det fascinerar mig hur byn har sin egen rytm som styrs av kyrkklockans klämtande.
Ända sedan medeltiden har kyrkklockorna funnits som en närvaro i många franska byar. Ljudet av kyrkklockans slag tar plats i vardagen och särskilt sjuslaget på morgonen och kvällen samt tolvslaget ljuder länge och känns i kroppen.
Tiderna markerar att det är dags för Angelus som är en katolsk bön för att fira Jesus inkarnation som ska reciteras tre gånger om dagen (kl. 7, 12 och 7).
Vår första tid i Frankrike så satte vi oss nästintill käppraka upp i sängen var gång klockan slog sju men nu har risken för hjärtinfarkt minskat avsevärt.
Jag är den första kunden på boulangieriet och vandrar ut med en påse pain chokolad och två pain aux raisin som är min favorit. De kommer bli vår frukost vid den första laddplatsen.
Baksidestext: "Bringing sixteenth-century Languedoc vividly to life, Kate Mosse's The Burning Chambers is a gripping story of love and betrayal, mysteries and secrets; of war and adventure, conspiracies and divided loyalties . . .
Carcassonne 1562: Nineteen-year-old Minou Joubert receives an anonymous letter at her father's bookshop. Sealed with a distinctive family crest, it contains just five words: SHE KNOWS THAT YOU LIVE.
But before Minou can decipher the mysterious message, a chance encounter with a young Huguenot convert, Piet Reydon, changes her destiny forever. For Piet has a dangerous mission of his own, and he will need Minou's help if he is to get out of La Cite alive.
Toulouse: As the religious divide deepens in the Midi, and old friends become enemies, Minou and Piet both find themselves trapped in Toulouse, facing new dangers as sectarian tensions ignite across the city, the battle-lines are drawn in blood and the conspiracy darkens further.
Meanwhile, as a long-hidden document threatens to resurface, the mistress of Puivert is obsessed with uncovering its secret and strengthening her power . . ."
Molly is packed...
...the last shutters are closed and the water is turned off.
The church bell has just struck seven, alerting the village with the same urgency as always that it is time to get up. But as we wander sleepily towards the car, the streets are still empty of people.
I am fascinated by how the village has its own rhythm, governed by the tolling of the church bells. Since the Middle Ages, church bells have been a constant presence in many French villages.
The sound of the church bells is part of everyday life, especially the seven strokes in the morning and evening, and the twelve strokes at noon, which ring out for a long time and can be felt in the body.
The times mark the Angelus, a Catholic prayer celebrating the Incarnation of Jesus, which is recited three times a day (at 7 a.m., noon and 7 p.m.).
During our first time in France, we would jump out of bed every time the clock struck seven, but now the risk of a heart attack has decreased significantly.
I am the first customer at the boulangerie and walk out with a bag of pain chocolat and two pain aux raisin, which are my favourite.
For the croissant dough (laminated pastry):
1 kg flour (T55 or 65)
25 g salt
120 g caster sugar
60 g fresh yeast
200 g unsalted butter
480 g warm milk
500 g dry butter (250 + 250 g)
For the crème pâtissière:
50 cl milk
6 egg yolks
125 g caster sugar
65 g unsalted butter
1 vanilla pod
5 cl dark rum
For garnish:
125 g redcurrants
To finish:
1 egg yolk (glaze)
10 cl sugar syrup 30° baumé or cane sugar syrup
Our shared book in the car was Kate Moss's Burning Chambers.
Back cover text: "Bringing sixteenth-century Languedoc vividly to life, Kate Mosse's The Burning Chambers is a gripping story of love and betrayal, mysteries and secrets; of war and adventure, conspiracies and divided loyalties . . .
Carcassonne 1562: Nineteen-year-old Minou Joubert receives an anonymous letter at her father's bookshop. Sealed with a distinctive family crest, it contains just five words: SHE KNOWS THAT YOU LIVE.
But before Minou can decipher the mysterious message, a chance encounter with a young Huguenot convert, Piet Reydon, changes her destiny forever. For Piet has a dangerous mission of his own, and he will need Minou's help if he is to get out of La Cite alive.
Toulouse: As the religious divide deepens in the Midi, and old friends become enemies, Minou and Piet both find themselves trapped in Toulouse, facing new dangers as sectarian tensions ignite across the city, the battle lines are drawn in blood and the conspiracy darkens further.
Meanwhile, as a long-hidden document threatens to resurface, the mistress of Puivert is obsessed with uncovering its secret and strengthening her power . . ."
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