Photography from Somerset Devon and Cornwall England

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Hopefully these photos will bring back a few memories of your travels – or maybe inspire you to travel to these beautiful parts of England

Beautiful Village of St Amour and Paradise Hotel

Beaujolais is a beautiful region of rolling hills, some quite small, almost mounds really, with vineyards on the slopes. The land is formed with a base of granite and limestone and as you would expect the ‘terroir’ is distinctive. Beaujolais is an easily recognisable wine with a character much different from its near neighbour Burgundy, again showing how interesting it is to travel and taste your way through so many contrasting regions of France. The wines here flow down to Lyon in the same way as the rivers that pass through that dramatic city and are part of the gastronomic culture that makes Lyon a French capital of food. We gain a clear idea of what we will see in this area just from our hotel room window looking out over these gentle hills and vineyards, a view that is worth every penny of the cost of a stay here – peaceful and bucolic.

A trip to the French restored treasure of Carcassonne

This chapter is taken from my first French travel book ‘First Time we Saw Paris’ and appears also in the compilation ‘Off the Autoroute’. We also had the opportunity one day in our first week in France to visit the cité of Carcassonne. My only recollection prior to visiting this medieval, heavily restored fortress citéContinue reading “A trip to the French restored treasure of Carcassonne”

French Travels, Cricket, Springsteen & Brief Encounters

Taken from my French travel book ‘Off the Autoroute’ : I was watching the English version of the Antiques Roadshow recently when it produced a blast from my past as well as reminding me of people we have encountered in France under the most unexpected circumstances. On this programme an old cricket stump was producedContinue reading “French Travels, Cricket, Springsteen & Brief Encounters”

Claude Monet and his House at Giverny

The story goes that Monet in his search for a house to accommodate his growing family set out one day by train from Paris and spotted what was then the tiny hamlet of Giverny. Standing out amongst the cluster of properties along Giverny’s long main street he saw from his carriage a long but lowContinue reading “Claude Monet and his House at Giverny”

Richard & Linda Thompson – I Want to see the Bright Lights Tonight

Richard & Linda Thompson – I Want to see the Bright Lights Tonight I have to say this album scared the life out of me. To say Richard is at his bleakest is a genuine understatement. Love it – it is darkly beautiful. I was heavily into Fairport Convention around this time. In fact, theyContinue reading “Richard & Linda Thompson – I Want to see the Bright Lights Tonight”

Ralph McTell – Spiral Staircase

Ralph McTell – Spiral Staircase Before we headed out for a session at our local tennis club, my friend Chris would want to play an album. Our pre-exercise ritual. His brother was an enthusiastic and talented acoustic guitarist. We weren’t but wished we could pick the strings. We were better than him at tennis thoughContinue reading “Ralph McTell – Spiral Staircase”

Alan – A Young man lost at Salerno 1943

After the death in 1919, at a time when John Atherton was away on service as an army driver, of his young son Roger it took some time for him to come to terms with his son’s death. On his release from the army John settled back with Sarah in the family home in BuryContinue reading “Alan – A Young man lost at Salerno 1943”

Barclay James Harvest – Live

Barclay James Harvest  –  Live At the time an interest in the English band Barclay James Harvest was a bit unusual, moving me well away from the mainstream – no ‘glitter & the rouge’ with these Northern lads that is for sure. In some ways it was quite natural I should see what they hadContinue reading “Barclay James Harvest – Live”

French Tour starts here in Beautiful Rural Normandy

Taken from my NEW book ‘Off the Autoroute’ now on Amazon in Hardback, Paperback & Kindle Normandy Our first trip to France coincided with a change to my company car, almost to the very day. It is a long story but for a time I had been using a spare company vehicle after having, shallContinue reading “French Tour starts here in Beautiful Rural Normandy”