Bonjour! You wouldn’t believe the number of times I started to write this blog while I was away in France, but luckily I did keep a record of all the places we visited and have taken as many photographs as possible to share with you. Thank you very much for writing to me last time, it was great to hear from you and I hope that your home renovations and holidays have all gone to plan?!
So it was literally two days, after I posted my last blog that Colin, my sister, Jenny, her partner, Linda and I headed to Heathrow Airport for a flight to Nice. The Sun was shining when we landed and our journey by car to Draguignan started on the motorway but then took us through the very verdant Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azure region of France. We were delighted to find that our hotel/gite was literally only five minutes away from the Château where my nephew James was to marry Emilia on Saturday and so we headed there as soon as we arrived to meet up with the family. It was the first time we had seen my niece’s children, Aggie and Maeve, and it had been over two years since we’d been with the rest of the family. It was so good to be together again; with so much to catch up on and such a beautiful venue for the wedding. Even though I really see my brother, as soon as we are together again it’s as though we’ve never been apart. And that was the same with my niece and nephew too – extra special to have Jenny and Linda there also. We made the best of our time leading up to the big day and visited Draguignan, Lorgues and Tourtour which was one of my favourite places. It’s made up of a maze of tiny streets with a fabulous collection of shops, restaurants, and cafés and they even have their own caves for you to explore! We ate croissants, drank coffee and a fair few glasses of the local rose wine, while enjoyed the stunning countryside blue skies and sunshine.
In spite of being crammed into my suitcase, my wedding outfit was almost crease- free, as was Colin’s suit, and grateful for a little bit of cloud cover we arrived at the Château on Saturday afternoon for the ceremony. Set into the rolling hillside and surrounded by vineyards, it was the perfect location for James and Emilia’s destination wedding. They had actually taken their vows in England before they travelled and so it was James’s sister Clare who led the service which was outside, under the trees, with the warm breeze gently moving the paper lanterns hanging from the branches. It was simple yet emotional, and all the more special for being able to share it with my brother Peter who made his life out in Australia over 40 years ago… After the service, we all enjoyed delicious canapés before moving into the garden area where there were two huge trestle tables laid out beautifully for our evening meal. It couldn’t have been more perfect, and as the sun set and the moon rose, we chatted, laughed and danced our way through the night.
Saying goodbye is never easy, and I’m not certain when I will see my brother again, but here are just a few memories of this very special occasion for you to enjoy.
My sister Jenny and Linda stayed for another couple of days and so we carried on with our sightseeing, visiting the town of Callas and also Les Salles-surVerdon, which is the most enormous and beautifully blue lake, somewhere I would definitely like to visit again. They flew home from Nice on Tuesday, and then Colin and I continued around the Cote D’Azur, making the very best of the glorious weather to explore this wonderful part of the world. We visited Cannes, Saint Tropez and Port Grimaud, stayed in Juan Les Pins right on the beach, and took the train to Antibes. So much history, so many beautiful buildings and so much to see in every one of these places, our days were full but fun. We also had a fabulous visit to a place called Hyeres near Toulon. Our friends Lorraine and Nalin (who we met in Crete last year) were staying there for a week, and we enjoyed a lovely lunch together and then time on the beach. Perfect! Those last six days flew, but we still had Nice to explore. Having left our hire car and luggage at the airport we took the tram into the port of Nice and loved every moment of our time in this busy historic town. Interestingly, it takes its name from the Greek word Nike that means victory! The old town is filled with art (Picasso notably), music and fabulous restaurants, but as we were limited for time, sadly we didn’t manage to see everything. Again another reason to return to this part of the world.
Having left England when the temperature was closer to winter than summer, we were delighted that the sun followed us home, and enabled me to mow the meadow that was our lawn and dry all my washing outdoors too. It was full speed ahead to try and get the bedrooms finished before my niece Clare, her husband Cale, Aggie and Maeve plus James and Amelia came to meet up with her cousins – my sister’s children, grandchildren and Sam and Jack – for a celebratory barbecue before Claire flew back to Australia. I’ll post the photographs of that and the completed decorations in my next blog.
Always, thank you for being a part of this network and for writing to me each time, I do appreciate it. Take care, enjoy this lovely weather, and keep in touch with me here, on Facebook and Instagram.
Love Ali xx
Sonia Hughes says
Wow. Not sure where to start.
Your bedroom and bathroom look stunning. So lovely to be coming to the end of your renovations and able to enjoy it all. Love the wallpaper and the colour of your guest room. Very pretty.
Very lucky guests.
You looked amazing for the wedding as did your lovely family. Gorgeous photos.🩷.
Looks liked you managed to fit it lots of site seeing while you were there. Be rude not too 🤣 it all looked fab.
I am hoping to book a trip late September with my friend.
I would love to go to Italy, my son has just got back from Lake Como. They loved it.
It will be their 1st anniversary 12th August. Don’t know where the time goes.
Lovely to read your blogs and see your lovely pics.
Take care and keep in touch. Xx😊
Alison Keenan says
Dear Sonia, how nice of you to get in touch. I’m very gratified to hear you like our choices of colour for our home renovations. It’s so difficult to know what to choose and you can’t really tell until it’s in place if it’s going to work! The wedding was amazing and it was so good to be together – if we can possibly manage it we hope to go back to the south of France in September. I do hope you manage to get time away with your friend. Lake Como, Lake Garda and Lake Maggiori are all spectacular and I’m sure you will enjoy anyone of them. So glad you’re enjoying the blogs – a little behind with at the moment, but hope to have a new one with you beginning of next week. Love Ali xx
Roz says
Hi Alison. Lovely time you spent in France and the wedding looked beautiful. We have never been to France but it looks very interesting with both being scenic and historical too. We return home soon to meet our renovations and choose our furniture etc. had a fab time away and the weather so good. Back to reality. Our little beautiful Cocker-pooh has had a glorious time too and turned 2 years old. She is adorable in every way and gives you so much love. Glad your outfit was the choice you made and not creased! Pictures fab! Bye for now.
Alison Keenan says
Dear Roz, is the first time we’ve been to France as well but we will definitely be returning. I think the weather made it even more special – such a shame it’s been so great to hear! I’m glad you’ve had a good time away and the weather was kind to you too. Fingers crossed you are happy with your renovations and I hope you enjoy choosing all your furniture. Are you home new you! Thanks for keeping in touch, Love Ali xx
Beryl says
Thank you Alison for your blog weddings are always special being with family is lovely,and your sightseeing trip later looks like you did a lot of touring.and enjoyed every minute.hope you and your family stay well.i always looked forward reading your blogs on qvc .
Alison Keenan says
Deborah, how nice to hear from you, and I’m so glad you enjoyed the blogs. We’ve been very lucky to get away twice already this year and it was particularly special to enjoy the wedding. I’m a little behind with my blogs this month that will have one with you hopefully by the middle of next week. I hope you’re enjoying the summer? Love Ali xxx
Loraine plumb says
Hi Alison I’m lost for words how much you crammed in makes me feel tired thinking about it. 🤣🤣 how lovely it all looks. We to seem to be busy with birthdays wedding anniversary’s etc. Les now has 4 weeks to go to retirement and we have already had some lovely gifts as his birthday and our anniversary is the 1st July. I thought of you and Colin on my birthday the 26th June. Will look forward to the next blog and photos. Best wishes love Loraine. Xx
Alison Keenan says
Hi there, Loraine, I must admit looking back I don’t know if we did manage to do so much but it was great fun. It made a difference to some of the holidays we’ve had more recently and I’m sure that once Les retires you too will have more time to enjoy travelling and being together. I hope you enjoyed your wedding anniversary on the 1st of July and Alice is looking forward to his retirement. It will be a change, before the best I’m certain. Love Ali xx
Mary Morphy says
My goodness Ali, the wedding, your holiday, the places you visited, the photos…what an amazing time and wonderful memories and celebrations with your family….thank you for sharing such special times. Your wedding outfit was stunning, you looked very elegant. Loved the hat, hatinator too?
I really enjoyed the video you shared of your almost finished house; the bathroom is incredibly opulent, I’ve never seen a ceiling like that and the copper looks stunning. I also loved the mustard theme in the bedroom and the very beautiful wall paper. I’m about to start decorating Arthur’s bedroom now that Chloe has moved out with a paired back, soft, jungle theme…not as opulent but perfect for a two and a half year old!
So Chlo and Tom finally moved in properly on Friday after two weeks of hard work from the both of them and the two mums!
It’s very odd not sering her in the morning and seeing her handbag abandoned at the bottom of the stairs each night and I’ve struggled a bit..I miss her terribly and its only been 3 days but its a new exciting chapter for her and Tom and I need to get my big girl pants on and deal with it!
Our dog Olly has gone for a sleepover tonight; Chloe has Monday afternoon and Tuesday off so Chloe can look after him like she did at home. I will go and get him on Tuesday after work and catch up with Chloe.
Last time I wrote my sister was having her shoulder surgery imminently after 4 cancelled attempts…this time after waiting for 4 hours all gowned up, stocking on etc, it was cancelled due to a complicated first operation. To say she was devastated is an understatement and she was in floods of tears when she called me at 4pm to collect her. So now, she’s first one in on the morning of Tuesday 9th July…..we have everything crossed!
I hope you are enjoying the sunny weather..although it was very shot lived and we are forecast rain tomorrow..I’m OK with that but I’m not a sun lover any more🤣
Much love Mary xx
Alison Keenan says
Oh Mary, it sounds as though you’ve been going through a lot just recently had a whole heap of emotions to deal with. I completely understand how you feel since Chloe left home and although you know it’s the right thing for her and she’s happy to be with Tom, it is still difficult for you to get used to not having her there. Secondly I’m keeping absolutely everything crossed that your sister did have a surgery on the 9th of July! I’m not surprised she was in tears what a nightmare! Particularly as has she been in pain with her shoulder too. Yes you’re right about the sunshine, it was very short lived here but we were spoilt with the weather in France so I can’t complain! I’m sure that Arthur’s bedroom will look lovely once you’ve finished decorating it with the jungle theme wallpaper – he will no doubt love it. Take care and thank you as always for keeping in touch. With love, Ali xxx
Karen Brooker says
Hi lovely Ali, fantastic pictures and lovely wedding. You looked stunning and elegant as ever. Knew you would love France. My first visit to the South of France in the 80s started my love affair with L’Occitane. My first purchase having discovered the brand there was a lavender bath product and i have loved the brand ever since and of course often treat myself from QVC!!. Thanks for another great blog xx
Alison Keenan says
Dear Karen, thank you so much for the compliments! So glad you enjoyed the blog and the pictures and thank you for sharing your memories of France. I can’t believe it’s taken me all these years before we’ve actually visited but I too love the L’Occitane products – I’m a fan of the Almond Oil though, although I do think the lavendar is also delightful. Take care, and I should have a new blog with you by the middle of next week. Love ALi xxx
Sue Radford says
Hi Ali,
Glad you had a fantastic time at the wedding with your family. What a beautiful picture of the bride and groom. You looked so elegant in your lovely outfit.
We enjoyed our holiday to Corfu – to say it was hot there is an understatement though. I haven’t ever experienced a holiday hotter than that one being 36C! Thankfully, it was followed by a cruise to Croatia and Italy, which was much cooler at around 26C. Croatia is so beautiful! Being so rich in history too – I enjoyed it far more than I thought I would.
Lovely to see you looking so happy and healthy.
Love, Sue Radford
Alison Keenan says
Hi Sue, thank you for your kind words – luckily my dress didn’t crease at all and my hat Anita stayed in one piece! It was such a lovely wedding. Delighted that you enjoyed Corfu – 36° is warm but the last time we were in Corfu it was mid 40s! I very much want to visit Croatia and maybe that’s another one for the bucket list. I am heading off next week to sunshine again for a long planned but finally organised holiday with my best friend and her daughters. Thank you for keeping in touch, and I do hope all is well with you and yours, love Ali xxx