Blogs from Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany , France, Europe

THE EARLY YEARS IN INDONESIA There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing as simply messing around in boats. Was that not from The Wind in the Willows? My first boating experience started with a sailing dinghy moored at Tandjung Priok, the harbour of Djakarta in Indonesia. Those sailing trips to the small coral islands in the Java Sea, I will forever remember. Our little sailing boats left port early in the morning. The sea is usually calm, with just enough wind to make 3 knots. After a 2 or 3 hour sail a small island appears and soon we drag the boat on shore. Coral is very sharp and we all wear old tennis shoes for protection. The servants arrived before us in a motor launch and chairs and tables have been set ... read more

I started out the day by going to the Marche de Lices in Rennes, which is an immense outdoor market that's held every saturday, to sample some cider. Just a note to you readers: the cider here is amazing, so take advantage of any future opportunities to try Breton Cider. Meanwhile, I'll be researching US Customs laws concerning the personal importing of alcoholic beverages. Afterwards, I met up with some friends and took an afternoon trip to Fougeres, which is a small village on the border of Bretagne, about an hour north-east of Rennes by bus, and also happens to have one of the largest chateaus in France (so I am told). This chateau was first constructed around the year 1000 in order to defend the region (an independant state at the time) from outside aggressors. ... read more

Welcome to St Just, the only continuous building in my life since I was five years old and hence my only home and source of many, many happy memories. It was here that I wanted to get married (but let it be clear that I am so grateful for that wonderful day in Port Fairy) simply because it symbolises almost everything about me. Cherry orchards, coffee and fresh baked croissants, frisbees lost in hedge, swimming in ‘leech-infested’ lakes and great, amazing, wonderful, fattening food. It has not all been roses; many poor family dynamics reared their ugly heads almost instantly but I am grateful that my wife has lent me new eyes. Now I can see myself doing stupid things and others doing the same and hopefully that is the first step to change. A ... read more