Welcome to a magical little island on the French Atlantic coast. My perfect place to just be! I have visited many times so why do I keep going back. From the colourful La Rochelle it is reached by a great arching bridge to tranquility, a stylish and perfect French experience along with the refreshing Atlantic sea breeze. Dotted about this little island are ten stunning villages all with something different to offer. If you want buzz then it’s St Martin or La Flotte, if you want beach then it’s Le Bois Plage or La Couarde or the smaller pretty … Read More
I was a little nervous as I secured a place in the Alps; this time last year I was being helicoptered off a mountain having fractured a pelvic bone. Set me back a little but didn’t take the passion away. I’d always wanted to return to this little place in the Aravis Mountains not far from Annecy that I visited some fifteen years earlier so with only a five hour car journey between myself and the Hotel and Chalets Le Croix Fry it was the right time to pay a visit. Fruit tree orchards merged into the Southern Alps as … Read More
As days become warmer, it’s impossible to resist the urge to get out – attention turns to more exercise and a spring swim in the med. A short drive from Aix en Provence or Marseilles the magical Calanques are a special place to walk, breath deeply, practise yoga or simply sit and take in the amazing views………………….
I hadn’t heard about it before I moved to France; amazing to think that it could have been missed, being only focused on those sun-searching trips down to the med beach after long winters living in London, only to be sandwiched between the … Read More
A truly spectacular place to buy a property; as well as visit for a holiday! I’ve always dreamed of having a home here. Transforming a wooden house into a cozy, stylish home. I’ve met many people in Provence who have done just that.
I dream of preparing for Christmas by chopping and stacking wood for our alpine home and HUGE FUN tasks like digging ourselves out of freshly fallen snow drifts outside the front door. Trips to enchanting villages nearby for chocolate box treats. Exquisite! Fresh mountain air, dramatic scenery, HEAPS of opportunity for cheese fondue. The snow is still … Read More
A best friend’s birthday arrived and we agreed on a spring Alpine getaway. Our chosen destination, Megeve. A traditional Haute Savoie village in the mighty Mont Blanc where the French hip and cool come to play. With the village at 1,000ft and the highest skiing point at 2,350ft, it’s not the highest and the snow can be a little dicey; but if you want perfectly groomed pistes and a great choice of beginner/intermediate runs you will be satisfied. This is a place for food lovers and the little village sparkles with cozy interior-design shops, endless patisseries and horse-drawn carriages. Our … Read More
When you only have a limited time to enjoy Provence, authentic experiences are to be treasured. This one came lovingly wrapped in the form of a friends’ invitation to join them for a special day. Wrapped up cozily against the chill of a provencal winter, a lazy morning drive took us through the gentle hills and valleys of the Luberon to Opede; the dreamiest village of all!
The stillness and peace against an electric blue sky was deafening….. as we sat in the little square enjoying a cafe. Not a soul around except for a bird or two and a … Read More
Nothing prepares you for the smell! So familiar, intoxicating…..it’s a head rush! The smell of Lavender! I have spent years trying to create that smell in various forms in my home in London but it’s nothing like the real thing. A short trip up the A51 from Aix en Provence towards Manosque and a right turn to the Valensole Plateau and you are transported to this purple land. The ever changing colours of Provence are quite something but I think this is the most impressive. You can find it all over the region but a good source told me that … Read More
New Year rolls around again and I’m truly determined this time to add a different fitness regime to my life….
My previous New Year experiences have included the usual joining the gym, but oh what a yawn that is! I’m simply not a gym girl – it’s truly dull in my world. I always end up working out for 30 minutes and then spend 1 hour in the restaurant sampling un-healthy choices on the menu. The last few times I went to the gym in London I actually only went to the restaurant….? Oh dear. No, this year there will … Read More
Recent Posts
- Ile de Re – perfect Atlantic holiday island in France
- Hotel and Chalet Le Croix Fry – authentic, charming special winter retreat
- Postcard from a traditional savoyard ski area in France
- Stunning retro chic b & b in Aix countryside
- Take a trip to the beautiful Aix en Provence
- A heady cliff walk and one of the clearest water swims in the Med
- A peek inside a beautiful chalet hotel in the French Alps – near La Clusaz
- Port Grimaud; great family hang-out
- Cassis – the fishing port with film-set looks
- A very special resort in French Alps – Megeve
