So there I was this morning getting the van prepped for our trip in a Francewards direction on Wednesday, when I received an email out of the blue from a recently-deceased friend's son inviting us to visit him and his Spanish wife if ever we find ourselvesnear their new place in Cataluña.

And yes, if (Calder planning being what it is), we do get down to Argelès-sur-Mer his house is only an hour's drive away. Result! I got quite excited.

Sadly the fates have conspired against us as he will be in China while we are down there but, here's the irony, as he and the family will be in England in late June, they will be visiting us instead.

I feel cheated.