It all started about three weeks ago when he broke into La Chambre Cheminee and started to sing loudly.

At first we thought that the fact that it was occupied by three ladies from Galway was accidental, now I am not so sure.

Le Grillon, for this man seems to be a cricket, not our usual cicada/cigale (who are busy off somewhere metamorphosing during the winter),Sile managed to find and extracted him from the boudoir of the Galway ladies.

But she then did a kind (if foolish) thing- she released him- live- back into the wild.

This Grillon had no intention in going too far from the Galway ladies.
He set himself up in an Oleander just outside their window and has stayed there ever since, serenading them (now long departed) from sunset to sunrise every night.

Unfortunately our bedroom is directly above La Chambre Cheminee so we are now the recipients of his amorous chanson, and it is very loud, sleep deprivingly loud.

Fortunately our windows when firmly closed keep out his chirping saw but, even in October, we do have warm nights in which a little cooling northern breeze would refresh us but this is not to be.
Several nights recently I have opened the window in the early hours only to find Monsieur Grillon singing away at the top of his voice. I have tried to reason with him but he is too cute (or too smitten) and every time I approach his tree he falls silent- only to start up again (mockingly) the minute my back is turned.
I can only be grateful that the nights are getting colder, sleeping with the window shut is getting easier.