Let not a book lie idle

Today, I celebrate a welcome new arrival on the port and share a recipe for a very easy, very French chocolate cake.

There is a new arrival on the port and it’s not a boat. A few weeks ago, a small metal box on a stand appeared in the little park in front of the house, a free library for locals and visitors to deposit and help themselves to books.

When I lived in London, there were many of these boxes in our neighbouring streets. They were mostly homemade, either basic…