It’s been a while since I showed you the progress made by the Milky Bar kids. These past ten days has seen a marked difference and suddenly, Maman Fleur has time on her paws to enjoy the company of our other adult cats while her little ones explore their new world. Since I last blogged about them, they are now bombing around, climbing, running and chasing one another. They have discovered ping pong balls, and toy mice. The litter tray was introduced and immediately understood. They are also enjoying baby food and cat milk rather than draining their mother dry. Their bowl of water affords them endless fascination as they dip their paws in, creating little waves and much mess.

This has been an incredible journey for us humans too as we watch (and learn) the inter-play between Maman Fleur and her little ones, the different calls she makes to them when it’s time for their feed, teaching them how to kill a toy mouse or when she returns from being away from them. So far we’ve managed to name Little Fleurette, but the ginger boys are proving difficult. At one point I nearly called them Tom, Dick and Harry but it didn’t seem quite right. Nigel is keen to call at least one of the boys Ginger, but I’m somewhat hesitant. I’m sure you’ll remember last year he wanted to call Fleur’s brother Yoda (’cos he had rather big ears) when we adopted them. Yoda is now sensibly called Graham.

Least you think that my time revolves solely around these little furry balls and my computer, I must tell you that I do, occasionally, join the adult world. Such was the case when I attended a workshop entitled ‘How To Get Ahead In Publishing ‘ this morning in Valbonne. The presenter was a super lady called Marie Clayton who gave an excellent insight into the book publishing world. She is to give three more workshops which should empower us all to become authors. It is true that I write but I don’t feel I am an author. And while at times I can find it frustrating to face a blank screen and wonder how it is possible for my inspiration to suddenly deflate, I am writing short non-fiction articles on a subject that is easily researched. But to write a book and keep all the threads going - now that I am in awe of.

The old English proverb, It never rains but it pours, seems to be the buzz word here on the French Riviera these past few days ever since the Cannes Film Festival started. As I write this it’s absolutely belting down and the forecast predicts worse is yet to come. I fear skimpy frocks and dainty shoes on the red carpet tonight would be better replaced by some stout old wellies and heavy-duty duffle coats. This rain is also rather unfortunate as my friend Ineke is down here visiting Montpellier for a few days and hoped to bask in some hot southern sunshine after the deluges of the UK recently. But things are made sadder as it’s her birthday today and like me (’cos it’s mine too) she remembers it nearly always sunny.

Pre-empting our move later on this year and as one of my birthday presents, Nigel bought me a super book entitled ‘Success with Mediterranean Gardens’ by Shirley-Anne Bell. The book has been compiled for gardeners yearning for a hot Mediterranean-style garden but who live in a cool, temperate zone (much like here really for the moment). As Nigel and I continue to discuss the type of property we’d like to have in Aquitaine, the idea of renovating an old place and creating a garden from scratch appeals to me more and more. And of course it goes without saying my new garden will do its utmost to care for the welfare of bees, butterflies and other endangered species.

Talking of bees, yesterday I met with the very lovely Carol Drinkwater and, my word, is she ever the busy bee. I’d interviewed Carol in 2005 when The Olive Route was just about to be published. Her latest book ‘The Olive Tree’ is due out in October and promises to be one incredible tour-de-force. While I have always admired Carol’s tenacity and passion to uncover the origins of the olive tree, her current work with UNESCO’s World Heritage and the environment is utterly staggering and deserves our full support. I’ll be writing a detailed report about my meeting with Carol and the work she is currently doing in the June issue of AMB. Indeed, while I might blog about my garden and its funny ways, environmental issues are seriously lacking on the website. Plans are currently underway to rectify this and I’ll be telling you more about them in my next editorial.

But today is my special day and so I’ve decided to spend it away from the office. Nigel is preparing a special birthday lunch for me though, sadly, not outdoors by our pool, and then I shall try and find some Mediterranean sunshine, even if it is between the pages of my new gardening book . . .

I have a feeling that the logistics to moving our four dogs, seven cats and four kittens to our new home is going to prove a tad challenging. While all the felines can certainly travel in Gus the Bus, it’s the number of cat baskets we’ll need that’s slightly daunting. Having said that I think we have as many computers as animals now and finding packing boxes for them should prove an interesting exercise. Various coloured folders are now on my desk filled with an assortment of action plans, To Do lists, maps and property details. Staying focussed will be essential but, unlike many people when they move, we are not tied to a deadline - though I would like to be ‘in’ by Christmas . . .

Nigel and I have decided that our best course of action is to rent a place initially. Like intrepid adventurers our first trip will be one of reconnoitring the lay of the land and seeing what kind of properties exist. Shall we buy a ruin or something partly renovated? There again, moving straight in without having to do any DIY or building work might suit us best. Above all, there must be an internet connection. It will also be important that we work with a truly trust-worthy estate agent and while using the internet as a basis for my property research has been a god-send, dealing with a professional but caring team will be essential to the positive success of our venture.

I must admit that the thought of moving from here scares me a little but at the same time, fills me with a sense of anticipation and excitement. The Lot and Garonne/Dordogne region of Aquitaine, known as the Other South of France, is a land rich in chateaux, medieval villages and architectural sites so I’ll feel right at home there. In fact, Nigel and I made a brief visit there in August 2004 to interview the very charming Polly Platt and vowed to return to discover the region in more detail. Four years on here we are planning to move there. Funny old world.

Further afield is the Gironde and the Atlantic coastline and Arcachon Bay that claims to have Europe’s largest sand dune, the Dune de Pyla, whose tip is called rather brilliantly Cap Ferrat. After the pebble beaches of Nice it will be fun to discover over 3 kms of uninterrupted and beautiful golden sands. I hasten to add that this is not one of my photos but one found on the internet. I look forward to the day when I shall stand in that same spot, sand creeping through my toes, and take a photo myself.