We have been in France a week and had both good and bad experiences in equal measure so far. More of that later, by email.

Today is my mother,s 89th birthday. Born May 2nd, 1918, it seems fitting that I phoned to wish her happy birthday from the twn square in Compeign, where the Armistice was signed in a rqilway carriage just outside the town in November the same year.