The forecast was for clearing and a warming trend. Yippee after yesterdays driving rain. The morning was cold and overcast, but we didn't need umbrellas. Unfortunately, as Jack was showering, something bad happened to the hot water and heat; they went away. We left for the market and what we expected to be an afternoon of visiting fortified towns hoping that when we got back, the heat and hot water would have miraculously cured themselves. It was really cold and we hadn't had breakfast so we stopped for cappuccinos. The Tabac was warm, but I guess we should stop ordering cappuccinos in rural France. You know there is a problem when they come with whipped cream from a can. The market was much smaller than the one on Monday, but we were able to pick up local strawberries and new potatoes. Jack keeps saying the potatoes are good because I cook them longer, but I know it is because they are different from the potatoes we get at home. We had lunch at the local hotspot. I had beef stew on noodles and Jack had "faux" steak and frites. The portions were huge and unlike the portions in Paris. It looks like a lot of people in this part of France actually are farmers as opposed to office workers. With the exception of the Information guy at the Toulouse airport, everyone has been super nice. It's hard to understand why people complain about the French. People smile at us and try to be helpful even if this means speaking French slowly and acting like they are imparting information to us while we nod, smile back and are clueless.We came back from the market hoping that the heat and hot water would have cured themselves, but there was no such luck. Our hosts back in Toronto started calling plumbers. There was nothing we could do since we are in the countryside and most people don't speak English. Ultimately, one of us had to stay at the house to wait for the plumber. Since only Jack can drive the car and I can't, that person was me. Jack got out a couple of space heaters and I curled up in the sitting room with an trashy, engrossing book and read until 6. When the kids were in high school we had a trip to France and the Loire Valley. I had booked for a night at Chateaux Bordelaisiare - a real Chateaux. The owners had come on hard time and couldn't afford upkeep on the chateaux (who can afford a chateaux?) so they took in guests and had festivals in the summer. It was the coldest winter they'd had in Europe in 25 years and the rooms had single pane windows that didn't really shut. They brought us 6 space heaters and while they did warm the room a bit, it was a miracle we didn't burn down the building. This isn't quite that bad, but it brings back memories.At the market I had bought a couple of kinds of sausage, Jack went to the supermarket to get white beans and I put together a sort-of cassoulet including leftover duck breast from yesterday. We're about to eat and it is awesome. The plumber finally showed up and we're anxiously awaiting his diagnosis and repair. No luck....its going to be sponge baths in the morning. Oh well, it's an adventure.