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...

Woke to another rolling thunderstorm & rain on the roof, which cleared to an overcast but warm day. Set out to St. Emilion for a tour of this stunning wine producing region. You could take a thousand photos here & still not capture the beauty. Rolling fields of vineyards, dotted with magnificent chateaus that stand like fairytale castles amongst grounds of woods alongside manicured gardens. The stonework of the buildings is incredible when you think of t...

Today, did some more work around the property - Scott was on hedging duty, then into Rochfort- a lovely historic naval port - known for the longest building in the world, where shipping ropes could be made to the standard length. Saw the restored ship, Hermione built in the 1600s, & had pistachio & rum & raisin ice-cream in the Town Square. Rochfort is also home to the gendarmerie acadamy. Finished the day in the huge pool & a barby, sitting ou...