Remember the 1960s UK Eggs Marketing Board slogan "Go to work on an Egg" (voted the top 77th advert of all times)? Well, our new neighbour does better than that; he goes to work in his helicopter. Now please don’t think we’re nosey neighbours spying behind our net curtains (we don’t have any anyway), but I can’t help going outside at the sound of a chopper (all the fault of a 1960s American TV series called "Whirlybirds" something or other). His helicopter may not be very big (as you can see from the photo) but it’s absolutely fantastic and red. I’ve been hankering to take a photo of it for ages so when luck came my way the end of last week - with clear skies to boot (for us both), I bombed out of the house to take a photo (or two). Nigel’s promised to take me up in one so that I can take aerial photos of some of the gorgeous towns and villages around here for the website. Only problem with that is that I’ve no head for heights and haven’t the heart to tell him!

Sunday dawned with a brilliant blue sky so we decided to drive over to Frejus and visit the zoo. MInd you, it was not an easy decision. Still clear in my mind was the haunting look I received from an old male Orangutan in Chester Zoo (UK) when I visited there many, many years ago. While he sat on the grassy slope of his enclosure his eyes met mine and I suddenly felt as if I’d trespassed on his privacy. Worse, while this stinging thought burned in my mind, I also wondered who was the caged animal: him or me . . .

Nigel and I are not lovers of zoos but since I’d never been to the one in Frejus, we felt it an ideal opportunity. Yet I still dragged my heels knowing that I’d be upset after having seen many of these creatures in total freedom in South Africa. Taking several boxes of tissues with me, we arrived there about lunchtime and, apart from a few moments of terrible sadness when they came in handy, we "enjoyed" our visit. Would we return? Possibly in a few months time. Would I still be upset? Yes.

Following a request from one of our readers a few days ago, I’ve been trying to find information about an Italian artist named Alberto Magnelli. Not having much success I thought a trip down to the Maeght Foundation in St Paul de Vence might provide me with the answer. Sadly I drew a blank but it was fun to get out of the house and away from the computer where I had been hunched over my keyboard for several days working on the website.

Although today stayed cloudy and cold, the drive was immensely enjoyable due to the number of Mimosa trees in spectacular bloom and orange and lemon trees heavy with their fruit. While the deciduous trees may have lost all their leaves, not so with the olive and many varieties of pine trees that make up our landscape and continue giving us a touch of greenery even in winter.

Even today, after all these years living here, I’m still taken by surprise by the winter months on the Cote d’Azur and the delights they hold. Yesterday lunch time I walked to Opio with Freddy our Fox Terrier; about a thirty minute walk from where we live. While in the shade it was rather cold, out in the sunshine we topped a rather decent 24°C/75°F. As we walked past a number of gorgeous mimosa trees, plump oranges and lemons ready for picking, roses and Bougainvillaea starting to flower again, it struck me that January (here) ain’t so bad at all!

I’m sure you’ve had one of these: as soon as you step outside you just know it’s going to be a beautiful day. So it was for me today weatherwise. As I walked around the garden early this morning with the dogs whooping all around me, irresistible earthy scents were everywhere and, looking up, the promise of a gorgeous blue sky was unmistakable.

By lunchtime the temperature was already a glorious 25°C/77°F and pure magic. In fact, these past couple of days, unlike the UK, we’ve had a few spring-like days that have made it hard for me to stay in and work on the website. Any excuse to get out and about, even if it is just around the garden, is good enough but so as to not to feel guilty that I’m not at my desk (ie. skiving off), I’m out with my camera too.

It seems that this balmy weather is triggering nature into movement too; we already have several dainty yellow crocuses in flower, our Passion Flower is growing and our tiny lavender-blue Rosemary flowers are busy being visited by Bumblebees.