Category Archives: lifestyle

If Heineken made a year….it wouldn’t be this one

Posted on December 30, 2016 by

  The cold but radiantly sunny morning found me filled with a sense of purpose as I motored along peaceful winding lanes towards an isolated house in the countryside on a mission of mercy. Once inside that house, through some simple manipulations, I … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016, Digital photography, Dogs, Eggs, Excellence, Expectation, France, French countryside, harmony, Humour, lifestyle, New Year, Poultry, Uncategorized, Vendee, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

reflecting on a Sunday lunch in La Rochelle…..

Posted on October 31, 2016 by

The skies are blue with soft white clouds and the sun is shining. It’s business as usual in La Rochelle. Ancient stone walls reflect the warm sun into the darkest corners of the streets. Pavements are cluttered with the tables and … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016, Art photography, Bistro, Cooking, desserts, Digital photography, food, Food and Photography, Food photographer, Humour, lifestyle, Photography, Photography holiday, seafood, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

bored of the flies…..

Posted on June 9, 2016 by

The sun has finally, if temporarily, ceased its curmudgeonly behaviour and has had the good seasonal grace  to put on its hat and come out to play.Summer’s forte lies in promises rather than foreplay and as these promises are so … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016, Art photography, Digital photography, Drinks, Emotion, Expectation, Food and Photography, Food photographer, France, Humour, lifestyle, Photography, summer, Uncategorized, wine, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

…it’s a photography holiday..but not as we know it, Jim…

Posted on January 6, 2016 by

Camerahols are dead, long live Vendée Holidays. Just when I thought the time had come for me to perfect the art of selfishly lazing around a pool, a vibrant young couple, Matt and Emily Clark, have recruited me to work … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016, Digital photography, food, Food and Photography, Food photographer, France, French countryside, Landscapes, lifestyle, Markets, photography course, Photography holiday, Wine | Tagged , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

grumpy santa’s golden balls….

Posted on November 13, 2015 by

Being that we are, if not renowned, at least known for our minimalist Christmas decorations which, were it not for our grandchildren could easily descend to many degrees below minimal, you can imagine my surprise when I was, this very … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015, Christmas, Christmas decorations, Digital photography, Humour, lifestyle, Photography, Still life | Tagged , , , , , , | 27 Comments

the best legs in Lyon….

Posted on August 6, 2015 by

The streets of Vieux Lyon take on even more charm when seen through the legs of an unusually good Côte Rôtie. Its goodness is guaranteed as it has been selected and poured by Georges dos Santos, a man who is regarded … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015, Art photography, Digital photography, Drinks, Excellence, Excess, Food and Photography, Food photographer, France, grapes, Humour, lifestyle, Photographic Prints, Photography, Uncategorized, Wine, wine, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

Still waters…eaux de vie..

Posted on April 30, 2015 by

This man is disappearing. When I came to France, some 14 years ago, he and his brethren were part of the fabric of country life. He is a “bouilleur ambulant” or a peripatetic distiller; a bringer of joy and a creator … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015, apples, Art photography, Drinks, Eau de vie, Excellence, Food photographer, France, French countryside, Fruit, Humour, lifestyle, Memory, Pears, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 32 Comments

I’m glad the rain does not raineth every day..

Posted on April 26, 2015 by

…but I stifled a cry of pleasure as I awoke to the welcome drumbeat of heavy rain which sounded like a heavenly annunciation that I would not be spending my day, as a latter day Sisyphus, endlessly filling and emptying a wheelbarrow with … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015, Art photography, Breakfast, Childhood memories, Digital photography, Eggs, Emotion, food, Food and Photography, Food photographer, Fried eggs, Humour, lifestyle, Memory, Photographic Prints, Photography, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 56 Comments

A puree of Gorgons’ heads…

Posted on January 18, 2015 by

“Cheap” is a much maligned word. Cheap skate, cheap shot, dirt cheap and on the cheap are terms that denigrate, that define something or someone as less than it or they should be. In our wealth driven society a divide has appeared. … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015, apples, Apricot jam, Baking, bananas, Caroline Conran, Cookery Writers, Cooking, Cuisine bourgeoise, desserts, Digital photography, food, Food and Photography, Food photographer, France, friendship, Fruit, Garden, Gardening, leeks, Leeks in red wine, lifestyle, Mary Cadogan, Pear Sponge tart, Pears, Photography, photography course, tart, Uncategorized, Vegetables, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 36 Comments

buzzing….

Posted on October 17, 2014 by

I remember reading, in a book whose name I have now forgotten, of how the human voice resembles the senseless buzzing of an insect to the ear of a cat. Whether this opinion was gleaned from a cat or from … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014, Art photography, Digital photography, France, French countryside, harmony, Landscapes, lifestyle, Photographic Prints, Photography, photography course, Uncategorized, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 43 Comments