Since being here, the thing I’ve missed more than anything else (apart from family), is the band I used to play with back in Harrogate; I play my guitar regularly, but it’s just not the same as being part of a group.

When a friend came round yesterday to see if we had any eggs to spare, little did I realise where it would lead. His wife was making a cake to take to a flower arranging course in Nogaro, but had run out of eggs. Was I going? No, I knew nothing about it. Well, I was welcome to go, if I took a cake. Flower arranging’s not usually my thing, but looking at the stack of mending I’d just started to tackle, it seemed strangely appealing! So I threw together a quick shortbread, gathered up secateurs, cocktail sticks and a craft knife and left Nick and Kieran to do the washing up!

At the end of the afternoon, not only was I amazed to find that I had a quite presentable table decoration; but talking to the woman who ran the course, discovered that her husband plays in a local Irish band I’d heard of, EtCeltera. We’d planned on going to see them at the bistro in Panjas on Saturday, where they’re playing for St. Patrick’s day. But I heard myself asking if they were looking for a guitarist and yes, Michele said they were and could I make it to the rehearsal that evening? So, rather nervously, I headed off to Aire, where I met with a great group of people, a mix of French, English and Norwegian, and including some pretty good musicians who play an amazing array of instruments; guitar, banjo, fiddle, harp, tambour, penny whistle and mandolin, to name but a few. I don’t think they were looking for a guitarist so much as willing to welcome anyone who’d like to play with them. The rehearsal was the most relaxed I’ve ever been to, with “other halves” manning the bar (this being the armagnac region, nothing happens without plenty of lubrication), and going on till after midnight, at the end of which I was told to turn up at 6.30 on Saturday to set up, and to wear something green.