Where to start?

I've been thinking about doing this for a while, mainly after starting to help Jan edit her "Letter from Languedoc", which she sends to relatives and friends, and which she started as a means of keeping in touch after we moved here to France.

We live in a small wine growing village between Nimes and Montpellier and moved here from Windsor (England) in July 2002.

Between us we have six children (plus one grandchild), one living in Spain and the five others in the UK. We have a big dog called Max.

Today
As I look at the dire weather warnings for the UK tonight I consider our good fortune that we were able to have lunch on the kitchen terrace today. My son has been with us for the last few days so it was good for him to be able to sit in the sun before returning to the rigours of academic life. The concept of more pleasurable weather was very instrumental in our decision to move to France and so far we have not been disappointed.

All our thoughts, at this time, must go to the unfortunate people of South East Asia and in particular for the many, many children who have lost their parents.