I'm John Batchelor. I welcome Simon Constable, my dear colleague who lives in paradise in the south of France,

an Englishman in the South of France. Therein lies the beginning of the tale. Simon reports regularly

on the climate of the South of France in order to make me feel warmer. Simon, there's a warming trend here in New

England. Rather than the minus three of

yesterday when the dogs and I went out at dawn, a little before dawn, first light. It was 20 degrees

this morning, a warming trend. How say your climate, Simon? Good day to you. Good day to you, John. Well, it wasn't as cold as that by a long shot. The low today, 42 Fahrenheit, the high 54 Fahrenheit, which means I only need to wear one jumper. That's a sweater with to keep me warm, which is very nice.

54 is unacceptable for early February, all right? So I'm going to rule this out. Are the

sky's blue or are you seeing clouds and rain? Blue, very blue, very lovely, took the dogs out

this morning and they enjoyed running through the field in the

sun. So they've had a lovely day. Juno and Lyra, are they aware now? Have you briefed them on

their new colleague? Actually, I should put it this way. Have you briefed them on the actual

owner of the estate that is permitting you, Juno, and

Lyra to live there, a European Martins. Have they been briefed? No, they haven't been briefed yet.

I'm a bit worried that they might go and try and pick a fight with the Pine Martin.

And Pine Martin is like a big weasel, a lot bigger than a weasel and a lot more aggressive

and they're carnivores.

And it's living in the roof of our barn here.

Well, I shouldn't say it's probably their property, as you said.

It's their property because their family's been here far longer than my wife and I have been here. But yes, it's now

probably living up with his wife or her husband in the rafters of the barn.

Not bothering you. It's 21 inches long, weighs between three and a5 and 3 pounds, and is a predator, as you mentioned.

It has enemies.

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