A lovely watercolour artwork from an original idea by my book illustrator – so looking forward to being back in this landscape. I do love to mix up my illustrations in my French travel books with photography and some original artwork. I think an artists impression allows your imagination to take you into the sceneContinue reading “Impressions of Provence a Landcape for my French Travel Books”
Tag Archives: books to read
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”
NEW French Travel Book out NOW – Photography from the Book
Please enjoy this selection of photography from my new book They are taken on Fuji print film and Nikon & Olympus Digital Cameras 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 writing and sets out to tour FranceContinue 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”
A NEW French Journey by Photography – Take a tour
All the photography was taken by myself on our visits to Paris and the French regions. I hope you enjoy them and please look up my stories of our travels on Amazon. My new book is a tour around France starting in Normandy. I hope you will come with me and be inspired to travelContinue reading “A NEW French Journey by Photography – Take a tour”
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.
NEW FRENCH TRAVEL BOOK – Out Today – Cordes Sur Ciel and a whole Lot of rain
This excerpt is from my forthcoming French travel book, the fifth in my Series of French travel memoirs. Please enjoy and the book will be released in the spring. It will take you on a tour of France from Calais to the South and back through Brittany and Normandy. It is time to move on,Continue reading “NEW FRENCH TRAVEL BOOK – Out Today – Cordes Sur Ciel and a whole Lot of rain”
Normandy – History, Markets and Food to Start Touring France
The dawn chorus was just thinking about making an appearance when we started our approach to the ferry terminal at Portsmouth. It was then that I realized why my mouth had gone so dry and my hands were shaking. I had not got the faintest idea of how to proceed to the ferry and an embarrassed fear set in. Where on earth do I go – what lane do I take?
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”