Chocolat filmed in the quietest film location village in Burgundy

Taken from my NEW book released on July 7th Chocolat This destination is one of our favourites – Northern Burgundy. It is a much neglected part of France from a tourist standpoint. To the north is Champagne with its landscape of gently rolling vine covered hillsides. The towns of Champagne are steeped in wine makingContinue reading “Chocolat filmed in the quietest film location village in Burgundy”

Tommy Simpson and our Ascent of Mont Ventoux

From early on in my life I have always had a fascination about the career and death of the British cyclist Tommy Simpson. In my youth I was a keen cyclist, but I never cycled competitively. I had one of those ‘Can you remember where you were when JFK was shot?’ moments in 1967 when Simpson died that July day during the Tour de France on his ascent of Mt Ventoux. I do remember exactly where I was when Kennedy died. I was in a fish and chip shop in Darwen, Lancashire – my hometown. I clearly remember my parents and everyone around being very shocked.

A Day in………Whitby, Yorkshire

A Day in ………..Whitby Whitby – a name synonymous with a number of cultural events and iconic characters. I will endeavour to write this short piece without referring to the obvious. I shall try but it will be difficult. You see I go to Whitby for none of them. I also am not a fanContinue reading “A Day in………Whitby, Yorkshire”

NEW French Travel Book out NOW – Photography from the Book

Please enjoy this selection of photography from my new book It is taken on Fuji print film and Nikon & Olympus Digital Cameras Number 1 New Release on Amazon My fifth book about our twenty five years of French travel is due out in the summer of 2022, early July. It is mainly new writingContinue reading “NEW French Travel Book out NOW – Photography from the Book”

Lavender Fields at their best in a Provencal Summer

Travellers have their own favourite areas of Provence where they appreciate the vast fields of lavender. For me the finest spot is close to Banon. In fact anywhere around that village whether you head towards Forqualquier, as in this shot, or north of the village back across towards the famous area around Sault, you willContinue reading “Lavender Fields at their best in a Provencal Summer”

From my NEW FRENCH TRAVEL BOOK -Chocolat filmed in the quietest film location village in Burgundy

Taken from my NEW book released on July 7th Chocolat This destination is one of our favourites – Northern Burgundy. It is a much neglected part of France from a tourist standpoint. To the north is Champagne with its landscape of gently rolling vine covered hillsides. The towns of Champagne are steeped in wine makingContinue reading “From my NEW FRENCH TRAVEL BOOK -Chocolat filmed in the quietest film location village in Burgundy”

Chocolat filmed in the quietest film location village in Burgundy

Taken from my NEW book released on July 7th Chocolat This destination is one of our favourites – Northern Burgundy. It is a much neglected part of France from a tourist standpoint. To the north is Champagne with its landscape of gently rolling vine covered hillsides. The towns of Champagne are steeped in wine makingContinue reading “Chocolat filmed in the quietest film location village in Burgundy”

TRAVEL BLOG More NEW Stories Please Enjoy these short memoirs and more

My passion is writing about travel and particularly French travel. I have traveled extensively in France and wine and food has always featured on my travels and now in my books. My friends always await our return from France with the latest new finds from the vineyards and I was more than happy to keepContinue reading “TRAVEL BLOG More NEW Stories Please Enjoy these short memoirs and more”

D-Day and the American Cemetery near Omaha Beach

On the anniversary of D-Day these are my thoughts from a poignant visit to the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. It is poignant especially because of being situated where these young men fell. I hope you enjoy this recollection but sadly we still today are filling places like this as young lives are destroyed inContinue reading “D-Day and the American Cemetery near Omaha Beach”

A Day in …………….Grasmere

Grasmere is a small popular village in the English Lake District. You can indeed have a day in Grasmere itself but if you are able then it repays putting the village at the heart of a walk in the area. Our day begins just off the A591 from Ambleside at White Moss National Trust CarContinue reading “A Day in …………….Grasmere”