Since it was a special first of the month, being Swiss National Day and Horses Birthday, I played the gentleman and let Rita win Pinch’n’Punch (or at least that’s what I told her).

During the morning, we did some combined pan practice, since we realised that the gigs in Moissac were only a couple of weeks away! Later in the morning, we went shopping for covers for the barge. They remembered us from last year, and were very quick and courteous in attending to our needs. We were both surprised when they said they’d be ready by August 14, since the jobs board they consulted looked very full!

On the way back to the barge we dropped in at the Capitainerie to discuss some Fêtes business, and found that the bunting I ordered had arrived. I couldn’t find the multinational flags I wanted, so settled for some Aussie flag bunting. Should look OK, and will definitely be unique among the festival fleet.

Rita went swimming at St Nic in the afternoon,  while I watched L’Escapade and Lazybones disappear up the Tarn to escape the continuing heat.

While Rita was away, I started doing the 40 art show nameplates that would be required in a couple of weeks - not a bad number of exhibits, considering we were wondering whether the Arts Expo would go ahead until Helen Gough stepped in just a couple of weeks ago.

In the evening, Rita and Veronique went up to the Riquet show/exhibition at the Cloister. Ominously, I heard a Code Orange canicule (heatwave) forecast for the weekend. The French often overreact to some warm weather, but this summer has been seriously hot, even by Australian standards. So, might need to take some care.