For almost three years I have taken a walk or a bike ride in the vineyards with Kit the Labrador and Flynn the Husky. Same time, same place. It's never boring. The vines change all the time and the wildlife is extraordinary and never more so than today. Having finished our walk the dogs were bundled into the ancient van and off we toddled homewards. In a flash a sanglier (wild boar) about the size of a big Rottweiler tore across our path and skittered off down the hill ahead of us. My heart flew into my mouth for a moment while I worried that there may be a whole family of them about to appear through the vines. Although I was in the van I've seen a car pretty much written off by a collision with a chunky sanglier. And who knows, they may have a violent dislike of Kangoo vans – many do.As it happened the boar was a lone ranger and scampered off into the vines looking rather jolly. Sadly he probably won't last long as we are tripping up on the start of the hunting season and the local chasseurs are drooling already. None can wait until the grape harvest is over so they can fill the air with gunshot.
