le touquet/amiens

After another depressing week of bad weather, Yasser and I decided on the spur of the moment to pop across the Channel for the weekend. We went via the tunnel to le Touquet, which we've visited before and spent a delightful afternoon on the beach. However the whole coast was booked out according to the tourist board, and we ended up going to Amiens to stay for the night. There in the main square we discovered there was an orchestral concert followed by an amazing son et lumiere using the cathedral's facade as a prop. So we fell on opur feet and had a great evening, pootling back through the countryside the next day, taking in moules frites by the coast.

paris

We were in Paris for le quattorze Juillet, the holiday that celebrates the storming of the Bastille. I was there to meet my old pen pal from school days and my oldest friend, Joel, his wife Paula and son Kenny. Also there, Yasser from London. Somehow in this miserable summer I've managed to get all the best bits. The weather was superb all weekend. On the Friday evening we met up and went to Bofinger, the old brasserie just near the Bastille, where the food was tradiitonal and very good.

Needs no introduction!

Next day we saw the big public military parade in the Champs Elysees and then went up to Montmartre. Paula managed to pick up a few paintings and we had a relaxed lunch outdoors in the main square. Although it's such a tourist haunt, a bottle of wine and the dappled sunshine soon makes you feel like you are in a Renoir painting.

It was great to spend so much time with Joel and family, and they seemed to enjoy it immensely. They were on a rapid tour of Europe, taking in Vienna and Berlin before Paris.

Joel, Kenny, Paula and Montmartre

On Sunday they left early for home and Yasser and I just had a lazy day in the shadow of Eiffel Tower. Main memories are of lots of food and lots of laughter.

OBN Norfolk

Another little break. A weekend away in June with all our old friends in Norkfolk. The weather was superb - probably the only good weather between April and September in the wettest summer on record. We stayed in the old rectory and travelled as far as the local pub, with a few walks, good food and the best company.

amsterdam

Life goes on... and so do my holidays. In April I was in Amsterdam with my friend Yasser for Koninginnedag* - the Queen's birthday celebration. The Dutch are almost up as good as the Thais in using any excuse for a party. The whole country gets out on the streets and oranjegekte ('orange madness') takes over as everyone dances and gets drunk.