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Birdbrain
Squawking seagulls are an inevitable part of seaside life. In my part of Normandy they gather at 06:30 to discuss the coming day before taking to the air to menace holidaymakers, steal abandoned...
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Learning is addictive
Here in the northern hemisphere, spring is well on the way. At the other end of our planet, autumn is looming. Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to exchange winter for summer on board the...
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One man can make a difference
The port of Granville in Normandy, at the foot of the Cherbourg peninsula has been welcoming tourists for a very long time. Its famed carnival, now in its 145th year, brings tens of thousands of people...
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Through Savage Europe
As part of my ambition to visit all the countries of Europe, I’ve lately been travelling through the former Yugoslavia. With hindsight, it seems impossible to believe these seven republics ever existed...
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Sometimes local is best
It takes just 30 minutes for me to drive into West Sussex. But, oddly, I don’t think I’ve crossed the border for the last couple of years (apart from getting the train to Gatwick Airport which really...
View ArticleWe are all artisans. Five ways to impress your customers
Over the last few months, I’ve been engaging a few tradespeople to carry out tasks about the house and garden. Some were excellent, others not so good. Most did a reasonable job but I’ll most remember...
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My love affair with The Sunday Times
Newspapers are in the news. Now that hardly anyone commutes, very few people are buying them, advertising revenue is dwindling and some may be forced to close. Although I’ve worked on weekly papers, I...
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What would Shackleton do?
Lockdown restrictions may be easing but there’s still a long way to go before we get back to normal. Irish polar explorer Ernest Shackleton knew a thing or two about waiting for things to improve. His...
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Ten reasons to be cheerful
I’m back in lockdown after a short break to France resulted in two weeks of quarantine. Never mind, I’m working from home and the weather has turned rubbish again. Now, I’m not making light of the...
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Huxbear. It’s a special kind of winery
Perhaps you have to be rich to own a vineyard? Visions of châteaux in the best areas of Bordeaux, old family estates in Italy and steep hillsides next to castles along the Rhine come to mind. It...
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