IT has been raining a lot here during the last month or so. A year ago we missed the big freeze while we holidayed in Dubai but winter breaks do not always go according to plan. We have had two detailed emails from friends who have had somewhat contrasting winter holidays, one of which has been a true nightmare.

Dave-Up-Road and Donna-Long-Legs moved to Benevent, France back in 1999 and we became neighbours when we moved out permanently some six years later. By then Dave had established his gardening business, looking after gardens of the English with holiday homes, just as he cut our grass up The Folly before and after we moved out from the UK.

You cannot choose your neighbours but certainly we would have opted for them had we enjoyed the choice: hard-working, honest, caring, extremely helpful and great company.

As they work on gardens, their holidays are limited to winter. They bought a cheap caravan, undertook some refurbishment and went off with our old dog Hugo for a break, driving down to Rocamadour. They found a campsite, parked up and, having checked with the site-owner, let docile Hugo go for a wander.

An hour later he returned with his head split open. One of the campers had obviously gone for him. Dave and Donna packed up and headed for home and the vet. Hugo lost the sight of one eye.

“I couldn’t find out who had attacked him, which was probably just as well,” said Dave.

So they decided to save for a trip to Tenerife, planning on staying for four months. Two friends were flying out to join them for a week and so Dave and Donna packed their camping equipment along with their own.

Come the big day, they set off south towards Spain, but the journey became increasingly troubled because the wind was developing into something of a gale. They never made Spain. Their caravan was blown over on the motorway causing their car to head for the embankment. Dave managed to minimise the impact but not enough to prevent both car and caravan from being write-offs.

Hearing of this we opted to lend them our motor home but they had already returned to Limousin and kitted out their high-top gardening, Transit-type van and set off again. This time they made Tenerife and basked in the sunshine of a well-earned break. Their friends came out and joined them but then, at the beginning of February, while sunning on the beach, they were informed their van had been smashed.

It was only insured for third party, fire and theft, but unfortunately, while the police stated the thief was probably high on drugs or alcohol, he had lost control of his car and crashed into the back of their parked van, writing it off completely, before doing a runner.

The police did not catch the perpetrator but in Tenerife, as in France, it is the car that is insured, not the driver so it is to be hoped their insurance company can reclaim the cost off the other vehicle’s company.

They have had to buy a small car but will be unable to bring all their belongings home.

Donna’s last bulletin concluded: “We will pick an apartment next time although everyone on the campsite here has been absolutely brilliant and helped us out so much. We have really met some lovely friends! We keep smiling though as the sun is shining!”

There is something about their spirit, their reoccurring bad luck which sparks such a wish to help, I almost feel like going down the bank and demanding a withdrawal of ten grand to give to them. Trouble is, I could only achieve that with the aid of a gun, which means I would be unlikely to be penning a “wish you were here” card.

While shaking our heads and contemplating Dave and Donna’s fortunes, we noticed we had received another email from our friends Ross and Eve. Ross Jenkins played football for Watford from 1972 to 1983, was twice Player of the Season and played under Graham Taylor in all four divisions during the club’s rise up the Football League.

We travelled down to see them in October before they set off on their travels again. Every winter, they leave their home in Javea, Spain, and head for Thailand, and they plan to pop up and see us after their return in March.

Their Thai beach residence, food and drink costs them 25 euros a day and as Eve says: We opened the email from Eve who stated in passing: “We have been here for five weeks now. With three more left, we are on return countdown. Ross seems to have made a good recovery from his illness last April, swimming, snorkelling, beach badminton and endless sessions in the hammock swaying in the balmy sea breezes and the company of good friends. Coupled with long sleeps under nets on open verandas, terrific Thai food, and live music before bed, he had no option but to get better.

“The joke is, that in their wisdom, the British government supplement our trip by sending us a winter fuel allowance of £200 whilst our Spanish house is shut down! I suppose I will receive hate mail over that remark,” added life-long socialist Eve.

“I am also well. I am living on tiger prawns and tropical fruits. I'll face the cholesterol count when I get back.”

I think Dave and Donna could do with a bit of that.