It’s that chaffinch moment again. I’m sitting in here thinking of the thousand things to do and he’s out there on the terrace with his flash plumage strutting around thinking « Yes, I’m looking good today » « I think I’ll walk a little bit to the left » « Yes, I’m looking good » « I’ll get a mate today alright ha ha » « Little bit of seed here, that’ll do nicely … » Is this what happens to us after we leave Earth ? Can we return fancy free as a chaffinch ? At the pearly gates do you get a kind of UCCA form to fill in ... « If I can’t be a chaffinch … can I come back as a dog ? … a dog in a good family … » Oh well. It all remains unanswered.

Spring is here certainly and we are about to off to the Basque in a couple of weeks. What a fabulous part of the world that is and at this time of year such crisp clear air. There is also the spectacular Anish Kapoor show at the Guggenheim in Bilbao. Now that should be interesting !

For those of you still wondering what to do after Easter there is a chance to see Daniel in his vest again and also to stay three nights in the four star hotel Manoir d’Hautegente and see the stunning sights of the Dordogne. This would include the castles of Benac and Castelnaud, the gardens of Marqueyssac and Eyrignac, the town of Sarlat and the great cave of Lascaux. Your heads will be buzzing with the culture but you will be feeling fit-fine and looking wonder-healthy for the return to the UK and those rainy Spring weeks and of course the greyness of election mayhem-headache, And let’s not forget the flowers ! There would be around thirty different species of orchid to see in May in the Dordogne Quercy as well as the fields of meadow clary, ox eye daisies, poppies and milkwort. And who could forget Diana’s picnics ?? And the occasional bouts of laughter as the nightingales sing in the bushes below the lofty poplars. Well yes .. I’m only trying to remind you of that feel good factor walking with James and Diana !

The last newsletter had stuff about our floral trip in Umbria, Italy starting 23rd June. This still has a couple of places open and is a real flower delight too. Please pass the email on to those that you think may enjoy such spectacular scenery as the Festival dei Due Mondi of Spoleto has started by then and our hotels are anxious to have all our bookings sorted by 15th April. So hurry with your decision so as not to be disappointed ! We would hope to be in Spoleto in time for the midday concert on 29th June.

News here : well we are well. Coco on fine form and off to Prague on a school music trip. Louis determined to get to the Lycée des Arènes, in Toulouse for his baccalauréat. It has an artistic bent but not easy to get into. He’s tired of his Montcuq friends’ mentality and dreads being with them in Cahors ! Diana and I greatly looking forward to seeing you and so too is Choco-oioi of course (well … just cos he gets a walk doesn’t he !)

Anyway all photos here are to tempt a few couples who plan last minute and think « Yes this would be the answer for a good perk up ». With much love from us all JDCL and C.