Never own a mule. Never buy a mule. Never let a mule worm her way into your heart and train you never to ride her or make any demands on her.

Even The Grauniad can't bring itself to say the words "climate chaos". We're about to run out of drinking water in Haute Vienne. That's really going to put the performance of my investments* in perspective. (*I don't have any of course. I worked in nature conservation.)

Chuffed to have hosted Dr Erica McAlister — entomologist, author & Natural History Museum fly curator — at Le Moulin. 🪰 She gave us a brilliant talk, explored our rewilding project… and loved it. ❤️ We want this to be a place where serious naturalists come to visit. Felt like a bit of a milestone. 🦋

Heartburn much? 🔥🐸 Its all going on down at the pond this morning. #holidaysinfrance #natureholidays #lemoulindepensol

I have to tell you now that no such undertaking has been received - and that consequently, this country is at war with Piddington.

We have the fabulous Erica McAlister staying next week and she will be giving a talk at Le Moulin on invertebrates and then we're all walking to a resto for Sunday lunch. I guess you are all too far away to come but I just wanted to show off a little. 🪰 #nature #diptera #LifeinFrance

Calling motorcycle bluesky. Does anyone know what this bike is? This photo is of my parents. ❤️ The pic was in the local newspaper. #motorbike #nortonbikes #velocette

WTF??

Prunella. ❤️ 17 and still living her best life.

Goodness gracious...... Great banded grayling!

French traditional music appears to have a strangely calming effect on animals. 🎶 Vladimir here hates having his feet trimmed. But put on some pipes and hurdy-gurdy and he’ll stand there and put up with it - just about. #donkey #VielleARoue #MusiqueTraditionnelle

There is still water in our big pond. But we desperately need some rain. 🐸💦 #frogs #naturephotography #LivinginFrance

Classic 🇫🇷 apero dilemma ce soir. Invited for 6pm. Food not mentioned. Do I: 1. eat first then be presented with a banquet of lovingly cooked food? Or 2. Go hungry and be flat out drunk and starving by 9pm? #France #apero #LifeinFrance

Me finding out the Notaire's is shut on Tuesday morning, having waited all weekend and Monday to get a tiny but important thing done. #France #FrenchLife #LivinginFrance

Hosting a community showing of the Natuonal Emergency Briefing at Le Moulin de Pensol this evening. In English, in France (where we live) but excitingly we will have some Germans and Dutch attending too. Imagine discussing a subject this complex in your second language. 💪🌿

Goodbye to my strange little dog. You were never a good boy. Often quite the opposite. But you loved us and we loved you for 14 years. 💔

New puzzling question of the day from my phone.

A violet dropwing - about an hour from us in southwest France. Nature really went to town on that paint job. 💜 We are hoping we'll get them at Le Moulin one day. #dragonflies

Not sure why but my mental health's really deteriorated-it's a struggle to work/move,my self esteem's fallen down the🚽& self hatred's LOUD. If my posts make your day a little better/you've saved one of my 📷s,maybe buy me the equiv. of some teabags on ko-fi.No obligation obvs: ko-fi.com/emmamitchell

@wildflowerhour.bsky.social Devil's beggarticks. Bidens frondosa. Not UK but SW France. Naturalised, sometimes classified as invasive but we find it's very well behaved (unlike the H balsam behind it). #Wildflowerhour #CommonNames

Got dragged out of a restaurant last night as the second fire in 2 weeks was knocking on our door. Worth a televised National Emergency Briefing yet Andy Burnham? #Climatechange

Apparently Britain's record wildfires are the fault of… rewilding. 🌿 This level of tossery crossed a line even for the Daily Mail, so I've submitted an IPSO complaint for breach of Clause 1 (lying through billionaire oil-covered teeth). Anyone else complained? #ClimateChange

Good old BBC - takes some balls to segue without comment from a VT with a farmer who mentions climate change 12 times and explains he can't grow many root crops anymore and the harvest will be awful, to a piece on GDP growing by 0.4% - which they then examine in detail. 😱 @georgemonbiot.bsky.social

In place for l'eclipse. This is going to be so embarrassing for science if it doesn't happen. 😬🤞

If you watched Threads when you were a kid and couldn't sleep for a month, I suggest you dont read this. But also - everyone should read this.

The great enthickification continues. 😠

Me feeling crippling climate guilt for flying back to France on Thursday (my Dad just died) when Flight radar looks like this. Do you think some things can't be solved by consumer action but only by Government policy? 🤔

@thetimes.com Is there something wrong with you?

Wankers.

Ooh its Chinook day at Farnborough. Does anyone want me to pick them up any hardware? I hear there's a sale on?