June 2002.  Two weeks in the village of Missegre, near Limoux.  Beautiful green countryside of trees and mountains.

A motley collection of not particularly friendly cats.

We shared the garden with Percy the peacock.

There were three quarrelsome cockerels who thought they ruled the roost....

but not on Lord Percival's estates.       

He kept them in their place with a fine display of plumage, that he could vibrate with a buzzing, rustling sound.

        He's behind you.   

We visited the old abbey of Saint Hilaire.  This is were the monks invented Blanquette de Limoux, the sparkling white wine of the area.  Apparently this wine predates champagne.