‘Hey, Fern,’ Ceana appears behind me as I load up my breakfast plate with croissants and jam. ‘Nico says you’ll help out when I head home. Thank you. It means I can go off without having to worry about anything.’

I can see she’s genuinely pleased.

‘It’s my pleasure. It’s nice to feel useful.’

Bastien appears in the doorway, calling out Ceana’s name to attract her attention.

‘Oh dear. Looks like we might have a problem. I’d better see what’s up.’ She gives me a weak smile and dumps her plate on the side table.

Bastien is the only tutor I’ve not really had a chance to talk to, but that’s mainly because he’s rarely around. I hear him – well, I hear the sound of a hammer on metal as it reverberates around the little dip in which the barns are situated, but that’s about it.

I head over to the far end of the table where Kellie and Patricia are deep in conversation.

‘Morning, ladies. I hope you both slept well.’

‘Fine,’ Kellie looks up brightly.

‘Very well indeed, thank you,’ Patricia adds.

‘I won’t be gardening this morning, Fern,’ Kellie continues. ‘Patricia suggested I have a go at the pottery workshop. It sounds like fun. I’ve already committed to Taylor’s woodworking class this afternoon. We’re learning how to use a lathe and having a go at turning mushrooms. Sounds like a cookery class, doesn’t it?’ She’s excited, happy and I can see a playful smile hovering around Patricia’s lips.

‘Great, it will be interesting for you to try something different this morning as well, Kellie,’ I add, enthusiastically.

I’m sure Odile will be delighted to have another pupil and hopefully it will give Kellie a chance to chat with some of the others. Her guitar performance seems to have given her confidence a real boost. That hard-edged, aloof attitude she had when she first arrived is softening nicely.

‘And we have a new recruit joining us on weeding detail,’ Patricia says, looking across at me rather gingerly. She takes a small bite out of a piece of brioche and it’s a moment or two before she continues. ‘Stefan said he’d come along this morning to help out.’

I try hard to contain my smile. That’s great news and he will be wonderful company for Patricia. My little team of newbies have found their feet and soon it will be time to say goodbye to one of them. I can’t believe it’s Thursday already. But I feel like I’ve been here for a long time, as if I was destined to be one of the team. How ironic that I seem to be having a better time on my little adventure than Aiden is on his. This is therapeutic, and I feel that I’m recharging my batteries.