Les Issambres, Le Var, France.

Sitting looking out across the bay at Saint Raphaël and the Corniche de l'Estérel as I write. Was up at dawn for a walk along the coast to fetch croissants for breakfast from the little village of Port San-Peire.

Found a video in the appartment of Jaques Brel in concert at Olympia, Paris, and watched in awestruck amazement. His rendition of "Ne Me Quitte Pas" direct to camera (a single close-up held for the duration of the song) was heartstopping - every bit as powerful and affecting as Sinaid O'Connor's video for "Nothing Compares 2 U" - so much so that I'm now wondering if there was a conscious or unconscious influence at work. JB was a French national treasure and of course I know many of his songs but to see him "live", in concert - Wow, what an extraordinary energy!

Am off now to accompany the kids to the beach - yippee!