A few kilometres from the town of Clermont l’Hérault lies the huge Lake Salagou,extending to 750 hectares.Created between 1964 and 1969,this artificial lake set in magnificent countryside  provides the setting for any number of watersports,sailing,windsurfing,parasailing,kayaking,and of course swimming.Even in the height of summer the numerous creeks around the lake are uncrowded and provide perfect picnic [...]

To the  Chateau de Cassan to watch a performance by the celebrated Russian pianist Nataliya Morozowa playing works by  Bach,Chopin,Borodine,Liszt and Balakirev.Nataliya plays with great skill,passion,and spirit,an electrifying performance.She has that star quality which is a combination,of beauty,elegance,and huge stage presence.We are indeed lucky that every summer she returns  to our little corner of paradise [...]

To Paris with some friends(4 comfortable hours on the TGV from Béziers through the huge and beautiful farm that is France), where the Champs Elysées itself had been turned into a farm with grass,various crops, cows and other farm animals.What an amazing idea and what flair the French have!However unfortunately the entire population of Paris [...]

Last week I went to see this amazing film about the rounding up of the Jews in Paris in 1942  by the French police under orders from the Gestapo and their temporary incarceration in the Vélodrome in Paris, prior to being sent by rail  to a concentration camp. The film is  exquisitely acted particularly by [...]

On some house hunting business to Marseillan, a small harbour on the Etang de Thau where the oysters are grown to the delight of all those who like feasting on this mollusc(not me!).As I sat in a café on the harbour  I reflected on how lucky we are to be able to jump into a car [...]

A two hour drive in brilliant sunshine brings me to Quillan where Rosemary Bailey, the author of the book named above,is giving a talk. Living in the area herself and clearly loving it,she has managed to obtain both written and oral testimony of the war years,the refugees both from Spain fleeing the civil war,and those [...]

The Priory of St.Michael of Grandmont stands on a bluff high above the town of Lodève with stunning views across the plain to the sea.
Successive civilizations have left their mark from a neolithic ritual site (3000-5000B.C.),Gallo-Roman remains,Visigothic tombs(600A.D.) to the  Priory of Grandmont itself, built in the 12th century.
The founder of this order was Etiennne [...]

Although I love the heat of summer,this is a glorious time of year when everything bursts into vigorous new life and the valley breaks out into fresh verdant colour.
My neighbour’s cherry tree which fortuitously overhangs my garden is heavy with blossom.Last year a heavy rainstorm tore all the blossom from the trees,and the luscious cherries [...]

Shopping down here is a bit of an adventure because opening hours tend to be ,shall we say,flexible.Most supermarkets are open during the week from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. but some shut for lunch from 12-2.p.m,as do almost all other shops. Some shops are closed on Monday having been open on Saturday,which is quite [...]

I seem to be the only one among my friends,none of whom I must emphasise are right wing racists,who is against the idea of banning the burka. There are of course respectable arguments on both sides. However I am deeply suspicious of governments dictating what people should or should not wear.It is often argued that [...]