The ACO rule is that the 24 Hours will take place on the 24th weekend of the year. Strangely, that's the 17th June

Nope. I dropped out when they went for Minis with mid-engines and big tea trays on the roof. I'm sorry, but the Scarf and Goggles used to be the centre of real conversation in the day, but they got rid of it, like so many things.

Werner, a big thank you for the time and effort you have put in over the years. On a different note, I shall feel substantially less pressure next test day! And you'll be pleased to know that the camera worked fine once I'd sorted out the gremlins.

We feel like the home guard but live five miles from the circuit and no wish to go to the track. The weather and the temperature are so against it. Worst for many a year.

What with the footy this month a lot of BiB will be on duty elsewhere, learning Russian by the looks of it, but today's paper mentions that the police presence will be high, 2,800 in all, due to terrorist threats.

Toured BSJ yesterday and was surprised how good it looked in the main. Some very marshy areas, stagnant water etc., but it looked to have been properly cut a few times already and cars were parked in the middle with no traces of wheels dug in. Of course Blue and MB will be fine since sandy soil, but beware the bottom of Houx Annexe!

Still rain forecast until Saturday, but today lovely blue sky at the moment despite the forecast. But beware, storms here normally start about 6pm.

And our Portsmouth/Ouistreham ferry left a tad late last night (full) but was bang on time this morning. Got home to Le Mans in two hours with no rain luckily, but since then it has been atrocious.

Wrong! Too late to tell you it hissed down huh? Raining now as I speak too and storms forecast this evening. Surprisingly I popped in to BSJ and apart from some areas it looks not too bad. Oh, and our ferry last night was on time and arrived at Ouistreham with no problems.

Given our problems we were lucky to have any photos! Am in UK but will be home in the morning if you need a photo Werner. Well, if I have one!

Not so. Had no message on the matter but expect perhaps a delay on arrival.

Yes Le Have is one of the union hot spots and at the last general strike in May the ferries were cancelled for three days running. Expect the same next week sadly. Brittany Ferries advise me that their other routes all expect delays of an hour or two at worst. A note about your return. I arrived in the UK yesterday and it took an hour to get through passport control at Portsmouth. I am on the overnight to Caen Monday with the XKSS so fingers crossed!

After finishing my photography on Sunday I went to a bar not far away for a drink. 15 gendarmes laid out with a beer in their hand watching the tennis final. Next week the owner tells me he is supplying 180 breakfasts every day at 10€ each one. That is a lot of CRS and flics!

It was 27C yesterday and 26 today. Get your ferry booked!

A little tip for your breakfast. On the Falaise bypass turn right for Putanges Pont Ecrepin and stop there at a little logis by the river. Lovely spot by the river, it's called the Lion Verd. I have used that route for over 25 years now and if you go on through Ranes, Pre-en Pail, and on down you end up at St. Saturnin. Never a BiB in sight.

If only the race was today! Beautiful sunrise, not a breath of wind and am writing this on the terrace. Here's hoping.