It’s the countdown towards the rising of the sap. The cherry and almond blossom and the mimosa are hustling for the position of Best in Show. Apricot and peach buds are bursting to show off their petals. Shrubs are being cut back, vines have been clipped and tied, camp-sites are being spruced up, weeds are being torched (yes, really) – there’s a mad dash to get everything ready for the Spring. As always, keeping a cool head in all of this is our friend Canigou reminding us that Winter is not over quite yet.

At time of writing it’s pouring with rain and that lovely sprinkling of snow that was covering the Albères has melted and trickled down to join the streams and rivers gushing down the hills. In Argelès-sur-Mer we are often marooned at this time of year as La Massane causes chaos at all points where it meets the road. We’ve had some sun though and some extremely cold temperatures. There have been days when one is coaxed outside and others where the crackle and spit of a flaming fire makes us pull up a chair and settle down with a good book.