When I first started learning French I found this turn of phrase perhaps the most difficult to get my head around. Of course we would say ‘I miss The Luberon’, but now I’m used to it, I rather like the direct translation ‘The Luberon misses me’ and it feels really nice to know that is … More Le Luberon nous manque
Today was always going to involve an early start, but as ever we managed to wake before the alarm and were dressed in minutes, heading out of the hotel to walk to the Gare de Nord for the start of what will be Andy’s busiest travelling day yet. Our plans this year have shifted, settled … More There are advantages to being a ‘morning-person’
A couple of days ago I was sat with a friend, drinking tea and chatting about some of the things we will be doing this year saying that it will be ‘interesting’ to say the least. She smiled and said that her idea of interesting is visiting a museum or looking at some art, a … More And so begins this wonderful adventure
I have to start by saying that I really dislike January. I know it’s a a quiet time of year after the excesses of Christmas and a time for looking forward to the year ahead, also my birthday happens to fall within it too, but I still find it the most depressing of months. Despite … More Beating the January Blues in Provence
Today started early, with my body-clock waking me at 3.57am, rather than the alarm, which was set for 3 minutes later… In fact I am starting to wonder why I bother to set an alarm in the first place. I must admit though, even 3.57 felt like a lie-in, as after many years of having … More Travelling to Provence is never boring… A mad dash through the streets of Paris…
Ever since Andy and I first visited France together on our honeymoon so many years ago, we have always had our bikes with us. Not the sleek road-bikes we have now… … but a real hodge-podge of a collection, from Andy’s well-used commuting road-bike he had had for about 10 years, to heavy old mountain … More Saddlebag of Memories – we have a cycle ride to plan
I had yesterday planned out in my mind and very lovely it was going to be too…. An early start, with my silver-buying head on, to go to the Deballage (Unwrapping) at Avignon. This is a regular event run for professionals only to buy from dealers and I had finally got the necessary paperwork to … More When the day doesn’t go as planned……
I honestly thought we’d tried all possible options to get back to Provence, but it appears now that we may have found another route that is a bit bonkers, but seems (so far) to have been quite fun. This time we have incorporated a couple of market visits into the trip, which has not only … More Back to Provence…. Day 1… Exeter to Paris via Portobello Road Market
A few years ago, if Andy had suggested watching the sunrise from the summit of Mont Ventoux, I would have worked out how long it would take us to drive there, set an alarm and enjoyed the drive across and up the mountain. But that was a few years ago and things change. So a … More Chasing the dawn on Mont Ventoux
When you think of flowers in Provence your mind tends to think about fields ablaze with poppies or the purple flashes of the lavender fields and the vibrant markets are home to stalls piled high with locally-produced fruit and veg or selling honey, created by bees that visit all these flowers……. So often we have … More Bee-Friendly Provence & a French Lesson in an Organic Garden
Vaucluse Dreamer 