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Spring round the corner!

This seems to have been the longest winter I have experienced on France; first the cold January and then the awful, relentless rain and cloud we have had in February. People here are not used to such long periods of bad weather and when it suddenly ended a few days ago, you could see the smiles of relief and suddenly people were out taking strolls.

I have learnt since living here that even in January there are hints of the new year to come. For example I always love to see the hazelnut catkins everywhere. and even when it was raining a week ago, the birds were telling me that spring was on the way. The doves have started to call to each other and the tits have started their teecha song.

I am a useless gardener and ignorant of almost all plant names, but even I rejoice at the crocuses and daffodils everywhere. The hillside opposite, covered with chestnuts, is still the same dark winter colour, except that now there is the odd flash of white from hawthorn and wild cherries.

The last few days, with afternoon temperatures reaching 18 degrees, have been delightful. I have enjoyed simply basking in the sun on the terrace, or driving up to see my friend, Dessa – an excuse to take a road which has stunning views.

At the same time, the sun reminds one that life is not really back to normal: we still can’t go and sit out in the cafes in main square (or quai) in le Vigan. Covid maps all show France coloured as a country with a disturbingly high number of cases. Even in our little commune of 600 people there are 10-20 current cases.

So far France has resisted a post Christmas lockdown (although some regions, like the south east look as if they might be heading that way). The schools have remained open – including the Ecole de Musique in le Vigan. Classes resume after the half term break next week, and I am trying to practise daily, as I am due to play the current piece, Max Bruch’s Kol Nidrei, with a pianist on Tuesday. After that I expect to start on the next project, Schumann’s Fantasiestücke no 1.

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