2011

Making Plans for next year.
Have thought about where to go on holidays next year. A few years ago went to the South of France and hired a car. Thinking of flying to either Carcassione or Gerona, Gerona is in Spain but near enough for France. Last time in that area we were looking at houses and sites for a possible holiday/retirement home. This time it would be to travel around the little villages, mountain sides and little beaches. In 2005 I went as far as Montpellier but didnt have enough time to see the city properly. The plan might be to fly to Carcasione then on east ward towards Gruissan, Narbonne and Montpellier. Possibly on as far as Nimes. Then back via Sete and take in some of the Canal de Midi.
The other possibility is flying to Gerona then up North to France, taking in Collioure, Argeles, Languedoc and numerous places dotted about the place. In that part of france very few speak english so I have to try and make do with my 'pigeon' French, much pointing at things, getting lost and driving around roundabouts several time.
Last time I got lost in Southern France, ended up back in Spain and only got back on track thanks to a kind man at a Spanish Toll Gate who let me through quickly as a mad Spanish Truck Driver behind me had got out of his cab and was running towards my car. He had previously attempted to ram me as he reckoned I was driving too slowly and I had given him the international sign by sticking up a finger at him. For some reason he took offense at this. Once past the toll gate he was unable to keep up as I floored the accelerator of my little SEAT Ibiza Diesel as far away from the nut case as possible.
My Mum is a great help with being the navigator pointing out the obvious as we drive about France. For another odd reason the French authorities love roundabouts and they often have such oddities as windmills or small boats which Mum points out as I circle some roundabout looking for the right direction, sometimes having to circle several times looking for the missing signpost. Or Mum points out some rare flower we have never seen before while I am trying to navigate some impossible road while being lost up in the Mountains.
We always end up somewhere, eventually. it doesnt really matter as the journey itself is the real reward and theres always somewhere different just around the corner.

later on in 2011 I have no real plans but possibly go to Canada, Wales is also due a visit and finally Portugal.