Hot summer

We returned to Switzerland again on our way back to England as negotiations to purchase a plot and build a chalet were advanced. The first time we saw the land it was covered in two feet of snow but we liked the location above Sion. It is close enough to the city for easy access and seven minutes drive to the nearest lift station, or we can set off walking right outside the front door. The views are gorgeous.

After a short time in Somerset we returned to spend 3 weeks in Bermuda, spring is lovely, not too hot or humid and the greens are in good shape!
By the time we arrived back in the UK the weather had improved significantly and it was the beginning  
of the best summer for many years and we played quite a few rounds locally, in Herefordshire and with the Bermuda Seniors Tour to Surrey and Norfolk.

Our friends The MacLeods have taken to sailing in a big way and for the second season we were invited onboard, this time in Turkey. Marmaris is not the cheapest place to fly to so the decision was made to incorporate Rhodes into the itinerary. The city of Rhodes is a hectic place in the summer but we enjoyed the Old Town and visiting the rest of the island by quad bike.

Travelling to Marmaris on the ferry is interesting. First one must by a ticket, then queue up for a boarding pass in the sun and once this has been achieved you queue all over again for passport control,
there must be a better way! All this was quickly forgotten when we arrived in Orhaniye to board the Aquila. Sailing in the Aegean south of the Datca Peninsula we found good wind and lovely places to spend the evenings: Bozburun, Bozukkale, Sarsala Bay and this little gem, known simply as the Buzbuku Yacht Club. A more tranquil and stunning setting would be hard to find, the water is crystal clear and provides welcome relief from temperatures over 40 celsius.

In contrast to these more remote landings the writer spent his 61st birthday at Yacht Classic, a beautiful marina in Fethiye, our hosts could not have chosen a better place to wine and dine. We returned to Marmaris for an overnight before catching the return ferry to Rhodes, Saturday night there is quite something, it's warm, it's colorful and busy and you will hear more foreign languages than anywhere we have been, including London.
The central and southern parts of Rhodes are very different to the north, big hills, pine forests and empty beaches are a stark contrast to the masses around the city. Our hotel was just around the corner from Lindos, a 'must visit' town on the island. Yes it is busy and hot but a walk to the acropolis is worth  
the effort. Throughout our time, with few exceptions, we found both the Greeks and the Turks to be very hospitable people, why don't they like each other?

    

Winter in France

After the dramatic time in India and Bhutan we returned to the UK for the month of December, to recharge the batteries, pay the bills and spend the Christmas season with family and friends. The long range weather forecast for our ferry to France was not promising, with winds over 50 knots predicted, so we opted for Le Shuttle and a drive to Switzerland instead. This gave us a few days together with both our girls, a rare opportunity these days, and we made the most of it over New Year before driving down to our rented accommodation in Neffies, Languedoc.

This part of France was blessed with a very mild, warm winter and we were thankful not to be in the floods in Britain during January and February. From our location there is much to do and over the 3 months we covered a large area, usually on day trips but in some cases for longer.

The first of these excursions was to Font Romeu in The Pyrenees, leaving bright sunshine at sea level we found ourselves in a heavy snowstorm which is interesting without snow tyres but we crawled into town and stayed the night as planned, the following day revealed a stunning landscape.

We played a few rounds of golf and took daily walks through the vineyards, up in the hills or along the Canal du Midi.

We also ventured into Spain, just a 2 hour drive to Cadeques on the Costa Brava, The Dali Museum
(highly recommended) in Figueres, various medieval towns in the region and Girona, well worth visiting.

Besalu is one of the old Catalan towns just north of Girona.

We were fortunate to have a number of friends visit for varying lengths of stay and we were able to show them a variety of places including: Carcassonne, Nimes, Montpellier, the caves at Roquefort,
Pezenas, Bezier and this little jewel at the border, Collioure. Famous for anchovies and Banyuls red wine  we liked it so much we went twice.

Neffies is conveniently located at the foothills of the Herault within a 30 minute drive of the Etang de Thau.  Perhaps our favourite circuit was to start in Meze for coffee and a walk around the port before a seafood lunch in Bouzigues overlooking the oyster beds, followed by a drive to Sete and the spectacular viewpoint of Saint Clair from where one can see down the coast towards Spain, up to Montpellier and across the Etang to the mountains of the Herault and the Pyrenees.

Every time we went the skies were blue and clear and you could see for miles.

Our French has improved, our appreciation of the food, wine and people of France has grown and we plan to return again soon. Special thanks to our hosts at Maison Dix, Erica and John. You won't find a better place to stay than at their house in Neffies.