Huzzah! It’s back to Toulouse again. This time we are returning the hire car. It’s due back by 11am so Matt’s hassling me to be ready, I am more concerned with putting my out of office on.

Weather isn’t too bad as take on our second convoy. Stop as St Gaudens to fill up where it’s cheapest. Unfortunately I have no idea how to work a French pump. Matt to the rescue, good thing too as I don’t know where I put my Monzo to pay for the fuel, and indeed the tolls.

I then take the lead on the motorway to set a pace that I am comfortable with. Relatively plain sailing. Did have to pass a row of 5 trucks which was a little daunting, they do have a habit of pulling out unexpectedly.

Just as we get into Toulouse and it starts lashing down. Glad I got Matt to take the lead for the final bit, I’m not being helped by the satnav being constantly interrupted by my alarm going off. I can’t look at the damned phone long enough while driving to cancel it. That means it goes off again every 8 or 9 minutes!

I head off to return the car while Matt makes himself dizzy going round and round the roundabout. Job done and I dash through the rain to meet up with him.

Leroy Merlin is first on the list. More gaines, switches and sockets for the kitchen, and some picture frames for me. Also had a look at some lights and cushions. What do you think?

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LeClerc next. Couldn’t find what we wanted (large tub of suet balls for the birds). Picked up a couple of bits and pieces, glitter and a weird bird decoration for me. [Something for Matt]

Matt’s hungry so we’re off to Burger King. Well, these chips are pretty good.

We’re massively over this trip and start to head home. Thankfully I remembered just in time that we have one more stop to make. We’re off to Castorama (French B&Q) to go check the kitchen that we’ve designed. Looks good and Matt seems happy with it, and my somewhat random decision that I wanted a blue kitchen which has driven most of the subsequent decisions.

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While looking around we also bought a few baubles and, rather unexpectedly, some stools for the new kitchen. I insisted that we bought two packs. You know that if we only bought one, by the time we went back for the second they wouldn’t have any and we’d have to replace all of them.

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Back at home and I’m doing a bit of work and responding to questions from accountants and insurance companies. Fun. While Matt watches the F1 highlights.

In the meantime, my little London elf is shopping for some more decorations. I’ve now had calls from about 8 different shops, she’s doing a sterling job. Quite the haul too.

A bit more work and I’m done ready for dinner. Fish tacos! Well not really, it seems that I mistook tortillas for flatbreads but it did the job. Balls, just dropped the glass that I’d just washed up.

Dinner done and there’s more spreadsheets to be done while I draft some updates. Either that or Matt is plotting to rule the world, I’ll leave it to you to decide.

Easy night tonight so we’re catching up on a bit of bake off before bed.