Spring?

This morning, I just happened to be wandering 'lonely as a cloud' when I spotted the first Daffodils of spring. It's amazing how they instantly raise your spirits. Soon we shall have Cowslips, Buttercups, and Dandelions. At daybreak today there was yet another white frost and the temperature at 8am was minus 3 C. It is now mid-day and we have bright sunshine and about 10 C. I wonder how long it'll be before we hear the first Cuckoo or spot the first Cranes, high above us, returning to their warm-weather homes?

Pocket knives.

The two iconic pocket knives of France are The Opinel and The Laguiole.

The Opinel (the ones with the wooden handles) are probably the most common pocket knives in France. Hardly a home in the entire country would be without at least one. Invented by a M Joseph Opinel in about 1895; well over 20 million have been sold (I myself currently have at least 4). They have simple beechwood handles, and traditionally a high carbon (not stainless) steel blade. They are still made by the Opinel family in the town of St-Jean-de-Maurienne in the Savoie. Personally I always buy the No 8 size knife; they seem 'just right'.

The other classic pocket knife of France, and produced much closer to home, is The Laguiole. Not a single factory, but a group of manufacturers in and around the town of Thiers in the Aveyron who all produce knives of a similar design. This knife was invented by a M Jean-Pierre Calmels in 1829; the small corkscrew being added in 1840 as a result of requests from local waiters. The Laguiole usually has a simple horn handle with a stainless steel blade.

I am hardly ever more than a few feet away from an Opinel (there's usually one in my pocket), and it's my knife of choice for everyday usage. Surprising how many times in the day that one has use of a length of string and an Opinel, a man and his knife should never be separated..

Lichens.

Grand-vista landscapes are predictably admired, but small areas of forest-floor can often be much more beautiful. It is often claimed that one can tell the quality of the air by the quality of the lichens, this probably goes for mosses too. Here in S W France the abundance and quality of lichens is extraordinary. I never cease to be astounded.

Once loved babies.

It used to be common in France to dump cars. When cars were bought, they were bought for life. When they eventually died, they were taken to the woods and simply abandoned. The two I illustrate are very nearby, but I know of lots more. Now, I suppose there is some scrap value in old wrecks, so it's very unlikely to see any more dumping. Given time I expect they'll all return to the earth.

'Reve de Luxe'. by J Roger Clifford-Banks. 36 by 48 ins. Private collection UK.

I'm posting this rather poor photo of a painting from 1988 especially for Maiden Luxe. Her Blog http://maidenluxe.blogspot.com/ is a 'must' for lovers of interiors, fashion, style, and all things French. I think Maiden's business is based in Australia, but like all 'true hedonists' she has a home in the beautiful south of France.

Sigmund Freud. 1856-1939

Freud had a favourite joke, which is also one of my own favourites.

A young Prince was walking along Oxford Street, when he came face to face with another young man who looked exactly like him. He was so struck by the resemblance that he asked his look-alike 'Did your mother ever work at the palace?'. His double replied 'No, but my father did!'.

I've always liked the jokes in Christmas crackers. Q. Which is the richest country in the world? A. Ireland, because its capital is always Dublin! (doubling)

I mention the above because I've just added another one to my list of favourites. Q. What do you call an underground-train that is filled with scientists? A. A tube of Smarties!

Harvey James C-B.

Ollie's big brother Harvey J. Another blonde, handsome, heart-breaker. Ollie and HJ live in Edinburgh's lovely quarter called Stockbridge. Lovely boys, lovely parents, lovely family.