No - this isn't one of my pieces, I don't live in the Quercy, I live much, much further South - towards Spain, but I wondered if you could have the same things in your little corner of the world.....It's quite normal here in France - everywhere! On top of it all, it's Spring - and I notice it. After the "triste" period of Winter and the first 2 months of a "New Year" - time passes, so do people, but sometimes it's difficult.............. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Welcome to spring in the Quercy... Welcome to spring in the Quercy where the last few days have been as warm and wonderful as May. My lemon trees have been hauled out of their winter quarters to waft their delicious scent over the sunlit terrace; they’re chock full of waxy blossom and in dire need of a few bees. The herb gardens ...

Okay - I wanted something about this guy - "Sinterklaas", but I had to find it so EVERYBODY could understand it....! Somehow or other, not everybody speaks Dutch, single or double! So - all right, it's American (I think) - but after all, New York started off life as "New Amsterdam" - didn't it...! Anyway, I wish everybody, all over the place "Happy St Nicholas" - whenever you celebrate it! http://www.thehollandring.com/sinterklaas.shtml (just click on the title or copy/paste to your address bar)

And why not "season's Greetings"? It's the time to start thinking about the CUISINE d'HIVER..! Champignons for conserving and eating fresh - get to the Doctor's quick afterwards! Don't forget the preparation of the "Sauerkraut" (a ma façon) - lovely green, fresh cabbage pickled lightly in vinaigre de Balsamic, accompanied by all those fatty cuts of meat, all forbidden - but it doesn't matter - I've got to the Doctor's quickly - remember..? Time to say "tatty bye" to the birdies - until next year, if we're still alive - and if not we'll join them in the sky...! "HAPPY AUTUMN!"