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
Last week Andy and I were sitting at Menerbes overlooking the view when two people on electric bikes pulled up beside us and were trying to identify the villages on the hills opposite. We got chatting and they explained that they had just hired the bikes and one said how wonderful it was and that … More Beyond the Veloroute #13 – Incredible Roads, 2 Cols and Wow just Wow!
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
It’s been a long time since I last posted about a cycle ride in the area, that’s not because we haven’t been cycling, in fact the opposite is true. This area is so good for cycling and even though we thought we had been along most of the main routes, we continue to find new … More Beyond the Veloroute #12 – Over the top to Cucuron
The last time I posted about the renovation works at our little place, the house was in uproar and we were tip-toeing through piles of debris and dust as our plans were turned into reality. The airbed in front of the fire proved to be a comfortable place to sleep and certainly very cosy, whilst … More After 3 years we have a bedroom with a door!
Over the last 3 years we’ve had a few interesting and at times chaotic trips between Devon and Provence, including Not the most relaxing trip back , but I think it’s fair to say that Andy’s trip today has outstripped all others. When I left the house at the end of March, we decided to … More Marseille to Apt…. just not quite as planned!
Yesterday Andy and I sat in the Artisan Bakery on The Quay in Exeter, raising a cup of coffee to celebrate the 3 years since we signed the papers and picked up the keys to our long-dreamed-for house in Provence. Of course we would have rather been in France, sitting in one of our favourite … More L’Art de la Rencontre – 3 years on…
By the start of November our little place was in a state of chaos in readiness for the work to start. The rooms were piled high with relocated furniture & building supplies and Andy had laid new Travertine floors throughout the 2 main spaces upstairs that would become the new bedrooms and bathrooms. This was … More The building work starts and the water stops….
Firstly I have to start with an apology – the last few months have been rather chaotic with one thing and another and I find that this really is the first time I’ve been able to sit and write about our little half-life in France for quite some time. It’s probably best if I start … More Time for the transformation to begin
As you have probably gathered by now we tend to enjoy spending our time in France cycling, visiting brocante market & vide greniers and drinking coffee, with the days passing by in a blur and us inevitably falling into bed each evening tired and satisfied after the day’s activities. There are certainly worse ways of … More The Pleasure and Pain of cycling to a Brocante Market
Vaucluse Dreamer 