These are the days I love the most. The latest edition of AMB Cote d’Azur has just been published, I’ve done my normal day-after tweaking of the site, and for a couple of days I have some free time to myself to plan the next issue and, of course, life in general (what woman doesn’t?).

No longer glued to the computer for hours on end, I’m now able to spend a little more time in the garden and see what lovely goodies are peeping through. The recent warm weather has brought forth a sudden wealth of spring flowers and there’s a bright green tinge appearing on the trees around us. The three dogs have also been enjoying themselves and have been bombing around the garden as if a herd of banshees are after them. Archie’s invariably in the lead, ears up and grinning, little Maggie May charges after her Big Bro while Freddy trails behind just in case he needs to double back to see where I am (he’s a mummy’s boy all right).

So yesterday found me more outside than in, with camera at the ready. I managed to take a photo of my first Red Admiral of the year as he fluttered and danced around the garden. I purposely leave a batch of stinging nettles at the bottom of our garden for them to lay their eggs on. Our mild Mediterranean winter must have helped them too, and now that the warms rays of the sun are here, it’s wonderful to see these colourful creatures in our garden.

This afternoon Maman Fleur went for her pre-natal checkup and, indeed, she is with kitten. Four of them. Her confinement is expected to be the second week of April and I shall be keeping you all up to date with her progress and of course, photos of the tiny tots when they are born too. I’m not sure who was the most excited, our lovely lady vet or me. Maman Fleur loved all the attention and didn’t stop purring once.

So we’re now in count down mode and can’t wait to see what markings her kitties will have. We did have a rather splendid marmalade male who came courting for a couple of days but, as our vet said “C’est sur qu’elle a trouver un voyou” (You can bet she found a rascal) and then went on to lavish much praise on this itinerant father for his daring (and very successful) deed and passing on some “redoutable” genes to his future bi-lingual (or should that be tri-lingual?) progeny.

I came across a wonderful ditty the other day: A clean house means a broken computer. Isn’t that brilliant? I simply fell about laughing at that one. But it’s so very true. You’ll be pleased to know that there has been some improvement with my washing machine routine (mainly because I plaster my monitor with reminders to take the washing out). Sadly, the vacuum cleaner gets a rough deal as I approach the deadline to the next issue of AMB and it doesn’t get to see the light of day for several days.

I’ve also not been very good at keeping this blog up to date and will pull my socks up and make a sterner effort. There are some exciting projects happening over the coming months which I’ll be sharing with you.

Tomorrow I shall blog about the White Horses Project and show you photos of the beautiful Camargue horses that have been chosen for the fantastic journey that occurs in May.

But for the moment it’s time for Maman Fleur to be fed (again) and yes, she’s still crazy for her prawns - and now a recent delicacy - cod roe!