A medical crisis in Uzes is not something I had anticipated. I never expected to have to learn such french words as ‘infirmière’, ‘douleur’, ‘ordonnance’, ‘chirurgie’ – nurse, pain, prescription, surgery… There are of course other words which have a much easier …

Tomorrow there will be, what our family calls, a ‘Love Actually moment’ at Marseilles Airport. Kate and I will brave the snow and the biting cold to journey to collect someone very special. He will only be able to be …