This is CBS Eye on the World. Here's John Batchelor.

The South of France, Simon Constable writing for Barron's, The Wall Street Journal, and other distinguished publications.

We go to the South of France because here in southern New England, it is a wonderful

day where we're told we'll reach to the 40s and also down to about 13 degrees with snow on

the ground. However, Simon lives where there is springtime suggested already.

Simon, a very good day to you in the south of France.

Now, I've long known that the Englishman in you is keen on the south of France, hence you're living there.

This is your third spring.

What's it like here?

Not even February yet.

What's it like outside, Simon? Good day to you.

Good day to you, John. It is absolutely lovely outside. It's 52 degrees, which is not bad for January.

It started the day at 40. We do have a bit of patchy sun coming through. When I went out this morning,

it was misty, walked up the hill,

quite away with a dog, and then the sun came out at that point as the, as the mist disappeared.

And I'm expecting that we'll see a lot more of that as we go on. What is interesting is we've got

daffodils already perking up,

and we've got the birds mating, which means that the eggs will come along soon,

and then we will be greeted by absolutely lots of delightful squawking in the morning from all

the birds from now for a few months.

This is your third spring.

Is this ordinary springtime this early?

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