I love France.

My first experience of France was when I was 15. My parents agreed that I could take part in an exchange organised by my school and the Educational Interchange Council. The plan was that we would host a French girl for three weeks, then I’d go back with her and stay in her home for three weeks. Well… she was a chain smoker with a heaving bosom, aimed right at my brother. He swiftly went to stay with a friend 😉 We coped – she wasn’t impressed by London or Cambridge, or our caravan. So worried were my parents that, since we didn’t have a phone, an emergency recovery plan was set up where my father worked and someone would come and rescue me. Thankfully that wasn’t needed and I’ve lived to tell the tale! ‘O’levels, ‘A’ levels, College and marriage happened and the French Government Tourist Office published a little book of cottages to rent – “Gites”. So we took my parents and had our first holiday in Normandy, sampling bootleg Calvados while chatting about the Turin Shroud – me translating everyone’s comments. You couldn’t make it up, could you? Since then we’ve stayed in so many Gites that I’ve lost count. We love it and it’s the only country I’ve ever wanted to live in and still would, given the chance. So we’re just back from the Vendee in Western France, bringing more happy memories and several recipe ideas which you’ll see in the coming weeks. x