Arrived in Konstanz which is a lovely town on an isthmus surrounded by lake. Very few miles from the Swiss border. As it is a tourist town, there was a selection of hotels, although the one I chose had reception on the 8th floor! The reason became apparent in the morning. The evening I arrived, the kind ladies from Martin Randall had told me they’d … Continue reading The story continues

Well hello to my small and select audience. Apologies for the long pause between posts but if you don’t go anywhere or you go somewhere you’ve been several times before, it feels difficult to come up with scintillating publishing. I am writing this on the morning of Monday 4th September, on a train. In southern Germany. I am supposed to be having a genteel breakfast … Continue reading Avoiding planes may not be worth it

This evening we are off back to the UK but this morning we went to see Victor Hugo’s house where he lived in exile. He had been a member of National Assembly but objected strongly to the advent of Napoleon III and was, accordingly, exiled. He spent time in both Belgium and Jersey before coming to Guernsey but this is the only house he actually … Continue reading Last day in Guernsey

Today we were supposed to go to Sark but the wind got up and the boat couldn’t go. Instead we pottered about , Sherry had a massage, I went to the museum and we went on a tour of a cider farm. The cider orchard is local and organic but actually owned by Thatchers. We were shown round the orchard, had the principles of how … Continue reading More Guernsey

This is a small island, part of what we call the Channel Islands and the French call Les Isles Normandes. They are very close to the French coast and came to the English crown when William the Conqueror combined England with the Duchy of Normandy. For some reason, they never went back. We are staying in a very nice hotel at the top of the … Continue reading Guernsey

Staying in a basic but very nice hotel run by a young couple who seem to work all the hours god sends and are very cheerful and helpful. Bless them. So many tourists go to Mont St Michel that there is a car park and a shuttle across the causeway. You can also walk but the only cars allowed are those of the residents and … Continue reading Mont St Michel and back to the UK.

Again, apologies for the late posting but yesterday’s took SO long with both dodgy Wi-Fi and 4G, that I fell asleep before I could do anything else. We went to Bayeux to have a look at the Bayeux Tapestry (not made in Bayeux and an embroidery not a tapestry but hey….. it was made in the 11th century so we are just grateful it’s still … Continue reading History!

After my adventures in the hotel with the lights going out, I didn’t expect anything else as we had changed address. The TV in my room going on at 3am was not something I bargained for. Very mysterious, especially as the remote control was on a table on the other side of the room. 👻 This morning, off to Monet’s garden at Giverny. I can … Continue reading Monet – and others

After discovering that the lights in my room went out after 20 mins – reading in bed obviously not encouraged – I rose bright and early to pop off to the airport to meet Sherry. Now I know that if it says a plane is due in at 8.10, the chances of you seeing the person before 9 are slim to minimal. But 10.45????!!!!!!! The … Continue reading Mainly in the airport

To celebrate the significant birthday of a dear friend from the United States, we are to spend a stately week in Normandy and the Channel Islands, returning to the UK in time for the coronation. At least, in time to watch it on television. There is nothing the British do better than pageantry. It is also good to see a continuity that arises above the … Continue reading France in company