Gorgeous breakfast on the terrace. This place really is out of this world. So high & still the peaks are higher. The moon rises right opposite the outside dining area, huge & majestic- and so late in the evening. Walked into town this morning to see the view across the rooftops & church steeple, then met Nick in the square for a drink. The Bastille Day preparations are under way. Walked through this historic village known for its boot trade & so...

Went into the village on the back of Nick's motorbike to pick up the croissants for breakfast at their local Boulanger. How very French. Walked around the local market, bought some shorts & had crepes. Packed up the car & headed for the Côte d’Azur coastline, with its bluest of blue waters on one side & mountains of pink rock on the other. Jill & Nick knew of a cove away from the crowds where we could stop for a baguette & a swim. So hard t...

Up early to catch the train to Bordeaux, then a change to First Class for Nice, 7 hours in total. Europe does trains so well - punctual, clean, nicely appointed, comfortable, & all carriages have little tables, power points & overhead storage. There's nothing quite like a train trip, especially through such a beautiful part of France, with its rolling fields of sunflowers, maize, wheat & vines. The farmhouses, chateaus & hamlets are straight out o...

A lazy last day with Alan & Caroline, with scrambled eggs & tomato to start. Scott put in a new pane of glass in one of the gite's door complete with putty, & fixed the leaking sink, whilst I finished our washing. Drove back into the walled city of Brouage to visit the shops there, but nothing of any interest. The wooden shutters on the local homes are painted either blue or green to represent working the sea or the land. Saw white swans, a beaver &am...

Had a late night eating pasta & drinking St. Emilion wine, & then up early to drop Scotti to golf at Royan. Caroline, Alan & I went into the town & found a market, full of fresh fruit, vegetables & clothing. We sat down for a coffee & I bought a cucumber for 'breakfast,' apricots, & the sweetest strawberries I've ever tasted. I also bought some shorts & a dress. We went to the Catholic Church service, which seemed to take forever...