France

Paris

One of my favourite Tv programmes of the moment is "Call my Agent!", set in a Parisian talent agency, it's our French fix now that we've finished Spiral . I've written about these programmes before, twice in the case of Spiral. But watching Call my Agent! has provoked my itchy feet. I've missed travelling. When…Read more Paris

Twelfth night

Not the Shakespeare play, though it was the first one I studied*. The festival of Twelfth nthefeastnot the ight. It's not really celebrated in Scotland, only seen as the day for packing away the Christmas decorations**. But in lots of countries it's a day of celebration. Three years ago we experienced the Arrival of the…Read more Twelfth night

Ringing in the changes

Almost a month ago I wrote a post about one memorable Hogmanay. Yesterday I got thinking about more of them, and started planning this post*. And then today I listened to reports of quieter celebrations around the world, and the cancellation of Edinburgh's "traditional" Hogamanay festival. Now I'm no spring chicken but I'm not *that*…Read more Ringing in the changes

Ile de Re

I must start with an apology, I'm getting a strong sense of Deja-vu with this post. I'm pretty sure I've written about Ile deRe before, but on a quick scan back through old posts couldn't find one. It's possibly on my old blog? If it does turn up it would be interesting to see if…Read more Ile de Re

Gardens

I'm not much of a gardener but love visiting and being in gardens. My mother filled her small terraced garden with blooms and my sister has inherited Mum's green fingers and has a lovely garden, but I'm usually having too much fun to take photos which do it justice. I'm lucky to have two beautiful open gardens right on…Read more Gardens

Towns that smell of chocolate*

To be honest I think I've only ever been to the one, although both Edinburgh, my home of nearly thirty years, and Carlisle, smell of biscuits.** The chocolatey town? Oloron Ste Marie in the south of France, where we visited the Lindt factory. Actually that's a bit misleading, I don't think you can take factory tours.…Read more Towns that smell of chocolate*

Stopping for lunch

These days I start thinking about lunch pretty much right after breakfast, certainly no later than mid morning. Who am I trying to kid? This is normal , not lockdown behaviour for me. I have to be very, very busy or ill, not to have at least part of my mind on my next meal.…Read more Stopping for lunch

Le Puy en Velay

I'm back with the armchair travel. In Le Puy. A stop on our return through France in October. And at first I wasn't sure whether I did like it. Actually it was strange and beautiful on first sight. Approaching from the hills we could see its stripy cathedral, and weird volcanic toadstools, those topped with…Read more Le Puy en Velay

Travelling, but is staying at home*

*Well apart from our permitted hour of outdoor exercise*.* So with plenty of time on my hands I've been looking back at some photos from our trip to Europe in the Autumn. I last posted in November. Back then my main worry was the effect Brexit would have on future trips. And I…Read more Travelling, but is staying at home*

(still) being European

Don't misunderstand, I've nothing against the other continents, I'm just delighted that we've got a little reprieve and still belong to the EU and all the benefits that brings. We're just back from a three week trip through France, Northern Spain and Portugal, taking advantage of DogStarke's pet passport for what may be its last…Read more (still) being European