The blog is off for a very long week end in Greater Paris-student demonstrations and general strikes always permitting. If all goes well the CB Bloggee will need to brace himself for cute images of the grand children-assuming that La Broadband Parisienne is functioning in a First World Country with Third World telecommunications.

I doubt if we shall see the frog (local ones) ejaculation in the pond before we go. Despite the great song and dance of two days ago les grenouilles seem to have wisely returned to renewed hibernation until the Blether Centre sends us the Spring due today. The image shows Freddie or it may have been Frederica coming up for a quick shufti-but sang not and subsided thankfully to the comfort of underwater waiting room. (Click on image to penetrate the camouflage)

According to a Guru from Kew Gardens ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4828896.stm bulb plants may be as much as 6 weeks later this year than last. Our Daffs started to open up late last week but have redonned their fleeces for the time being. Perhaps by the time we return from Paris they may have taken the plunge. Readers of the link will see a reference to the late Michael Fish MBE-late in a professional sense, of course. Retirement is obviously making him restive and eager to be back with the doom and gloom fraternity. For all our sakes Mr F, don't even think about it.  ¶ 10:08 AM