Strolling along the grand promenades and charming side-streets of Nice, you could be forgiven for thinking that the pandemic had melted away just like the clouds in the shimmering blue sky above. But just try going inside any public space – shop, restaurant, tram, hotel – and it’ll be back quicker than you can say…

Ah, la belle France, land of life, country of culture, bounteous home of fine food and fine wine, home of very amenable entry requirements for fully-vaccinated Brits… (… sorry, I meant to say “…and that special quintessential je ne sais quoi that is at the romantic heart of all that is French”.) Anyway, we’ve come…

Well…going through security is as bad as ever – “go over there please” where’s the plastic bags?… “no take that out as well please sir…no more liquids, sir?” – crowded, panicky, pressurised. And that was just fast-track. Maybe it doesn’t help that most of the people here have forgotten how to do flying. Including me.…