Perhaps that is the micro climate of Charente Maritime. Lucky us.
It has been a day of can do. I have been having problems with the pool filter not working but I just gave it a little French attitude after trying desperately for one and a half hours. A couple of hours off over lunch and voila - working hard again. Then, the lawnmower wouldn't start but again a little TLC and patience and a little clearing of grass from its nether regions and voila - off Mo went (my daughter has named her Mo). I think I will name the pool pump too - perhaps Phillipe the Pool Pump