(The picture is at the bottom of the page).

We had a very good holiday and some nice warm weather in France. After a warm Spring the weather in England has deteriorated and now very grey and not really warm. It's not raining today but we have had some very heavy rain in the last few weeks. I hope it improves soon.

We spent a couple of days driving down to our friends' house in the Ariege region of France, which is in the South West. As usual we stayed in B&Bs and although it was a long drive we didn't find it too tiring. I have enclosed details about some of the places that we stayed, it's good to be able to recommend good accomodation.

Our friends have built their house themselves (with the help of several friends) and have been living in it since last September. They still have some work to do on it but it's very comfortable inside. It's situated in a small village about 10 minutes from the nearest town which is Foix. The house has wonderful views of the Pyreneen mountains and to make the most of this they have full length sliding windows in the main living room. It was so nice to get up in the morning and take a cup of coffee and just gaze at the mountains. In the early moring there is a mist covering the valleys and this lifts as soon as the sun comes up. Some mornings it looked just like a river. They have quite a lot of land which they haven't had time to do anything with, except to make a small vegetable garden near the house. The rest of it is just meadow but there are some old apple trees. Near the house there is an old barn and Philippe is renovating this and hopes to rent it out in the Summer or to offer Bed & Breakfast. It will need quite a lot of work spent on it and at the moment he is renewing the roof. The people in the village are all very friendly and when we were there their neighbours kept bringing in bowls of freshly picked raspberries from their garden - delicious!

The mountains were very close and we drove up into them several times to enjoy the views and go for walks In the mountains near where we stayed there are many deep forests and we were fascinated to see many different birds of prey, often flying in front of the car as we drove up on the twisting roads. The meadows are full of wild flowers and they look quite stunning, I suppose they don't use so many herbicides. All the cows and sheep looked very content munching on the flowers. Many of the animals wear large bells round their necks and hearing them clanking it made me think of Austria. Up in the mountains there are horses which roam free - they are Marens horses and I have only seen them in this region. They are very solid looking horses like smaller carthorses and I suppose they have developed like this to withstand the harsh conditions in the winter.

We were able to eat out most days on a table under the trees. This was so pleasant - we haven't been able to eat out much in England this Summer! Now our holiday is over and it's back to work but we have a short trip to France planned for the end of the Summer when we will be attending the wedding of a friend in the Loire region. We haven't been to a French wedding before - it should be interesting. After the wedding thre will be "Cocktails and Dinner" in a nearby restaurant .... I'll send you photos !!

Here is a list of the places we have stayed when driving across France:- Bed & Breakfast Information France (1997 prices)

Jay and Richard CLAY

La Ferme de l'Eglise

50250 Saint Nicolas de Pierrepont

(On the Cherbourg peninsula, about 45 minutes drive from the ferry)

Telephone (0)2 33 45 53 40

e-mail Theclays@wanadoo.fr

The Clays are a very friendly English couple who have lived in France for 8 years. They have a lovely house in a tiny village, next to the church. They charge F180 for B&B - this is for two people and is outstanding value. The rooms are extremely comfortable with private shower and toilet. They do not do other meals but there are many good restaurants nearby.

As well as B&B they have two cottages to rent.

Le Relais de la Vignette

Route du Crouay

14400 Tour en Bessin

(In Normandy, near Bayeux)

Telephone (0)2 31 21 52 83

F250 for two people. Both Catherine and her husband speak good English and like to chat to their guests. The house is in the country about 10 minutes drive from Bayeux. The bedrooms are quite large and all have private shower and toilet. Catherine is a good cook and will provide dinner for F100 - this includes wine.

(Access for wheelchairs)

Le Moulin de Bignon

35580 Lassy

(In Brittany, not far from Rennes)

Telephone (0)2 99 42 10 04

Fax (0)2 99 42 10 04

F250 for two people. A lovely garden with a stream surrounds the house which is a converted water mill. Bedrooms are not very big but they all have private shower and toilet and it's very peaceful with just the sound of the water wheel to send you to sleep. Beatrice speaks good English and the meals (at F100 including wine) are excellent.

Le Moulin de la Quine

17350 Saint-Savinien

(In the Charente region, near Saintes)

Telephone (0)5 46 90 19 31

Fax (0)5 46 90 19 31

An English couple who have restored a typical Charentais farmhouse. The large garden is beautifully landscaped and has its own windmill which is available to rent. Rooms are very comfortable and all have private shower and toilet - B&B is F260 for two people. Dinner (at F70 including wine) is good value and John and Jenny like to dine and chat with their guests.

(Access for wheelchairs)

Gill and Richard