From Rat Race to Road Trip: Overlanding With Four Dogs!
Wrapped around the Mediterranean coast, from Provence to the Pyrenees, lies the French region of Languedoc.
Translated literally, the Languedoc – le langue d’oc – means ‘the language of yes’. In the southern French Occitan language, Oc was the word for ‘yes’, distinguishing it from the northern old French affirmative oil – prounounced ‘oh-ee’ – which eventually evolved into the modern French, oui.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We’re just evacuating ‘the brick’ – the farmhouse in southern France, where we enjoyed 3 months’ down time from travelling, after a hectic and disaster-prone year.
We started 2025 with our usual ski break in beautiful Monte Rosa – break being the operative word. The disasters started happening when our friend’s friend broke her leg – then our friend slipped on some ice and broke his elbow. Then, at the beginning of February, on my birthday, no less, Mark skied off a mountain and was airlifted to hospital. I thought it was a bit rich that he got the helicopter ride on MY birthday – and felt it was an extreme way of getting out of buying me a birthday dinner.
Have a very, very Merry Christmas everyone!
With the festive season upon us, I would like to send my most heartfelt thanks to all you lovely people for following our adventures, reading my blogs, buying or recommending my books, and for all your lovely comments, feedback, and reviews.
It really does mean the world to me.
In the meantime, have a happy and peaceful Christmas, and we hope Santa Paws brings your heart’s desire!
What are you looking forward to in 2025? Please share in the comments.
The blog tour for More Manchester Than Mongolia: An Unexpected Road Trip Through Back Road Britain is officially in full swing — even if my posting schedule took a tiny, furry-related wobble. Our lovely Ruby needed an unexpected vet visit on launch day, 5th December, which knocked me sideways for a bit. She’s fine at the moment, so I’m catching up and finally sharing a roundup of the wonderful reviews that have come in so far.
Before I dive into them, a little good news: the book launch went brilliantly, and Manchester has even hit the bestseller lists on Amazon. I’m still a bit stunned, to be honest — and incredibly grateful to everyone who bought, downloaded, reviewed, or cheered from the sidelines. I cannot thank you enough!
And honestly? These early blog tour reviews have really lifted my spirits this week.
Here’s what readers and reviewers have been saying:
FIVE STARS 5★ on Goodreads
“A Moon With A View had me in tears of laughter… Just brilliant.”
Kelly @readabookandlearnaword
World Wide Walkies