It’s a beautiful morning. The sun is already high in the sky, the table’s ready. Your first guests are beginning to come downstairs. There’s little Mathis, with his parents. They arrived the previous day. Mathis doesn’t have any hair at the moment. It will grow back very quickly. In the meantime, he likes to dress up. You greet him Avengers-style, entering into his superhero game. He laughs and his smile brightens the start of your day. There’s also Alice, who’s been here for a week with her mother. Alice is already better. She’s champing at the bit because, in an hour’s time, she’ll be meeting Edgar at the foot of the big olive tree for a sculpture session. She adores Edgar. Everyone adores him. Whether he’s teaching them to draw or doing physical exercise, Edgar is universally loved. And then there’s your favourite, little Francesco. Francesco has been with you for nearly three weeks. His parents take it in turns to be with him, because they’re divorced. This week, his father’s here. Francesco’s a comedian, who lights up the room. He and your mother form an unstoppable double act. In an hour, Odette and Francesco will do some gardening together, and then cook. Shrove Tuesday’s already past, but they’re planning to make pancakes, and your mother promised him he could toss them. Francesco is all excited.

It’s a beautiful morning. The farmhouse is full. Your life is full. Most of the time you’re here, in what is now your element. Sometimes you travel, because you’re invited to speak to local authorities and entrepreneurs in France and abroad. They want to know how you designed and built all this. When you’re away, Charlotte takes the reins. Charlotte has proved to be an excellent manager, in addition to having great nursing skills, which are always very useful here.

It’s a beautiful morning. You walk down the little dirt track to pick up the post. On the letterbox is the name of your little paradise: The Rooms of Wonders.