La Ciotat
Ride out to La Ciotat, the small-scale Mediterranean port between Toulon and Marseille. My ride and then walk around the town’s modest Provencal market on the quayside in the winter sunshine was a minor delight before setting off for the plane back to the grey winter gloom of London. My bike stays garaged in Marseille for the winter, nearly empty of fuel as the Gilets jaunes protests continue.
Gilets jaunes
Yellow jackets (gilets jaunes) displayed in protest on one of Marseille’s housing blocks, particularly visible as you arrive on the autoroute from Lyon. This particular gilets jaunes protest is about the poor housing standard of this block. Gilets jaunes are everywhere, most cars and almost all commercial vehicles are displaying theirs prominently.
Pont de Caronte, Martigues
Pause in my afternoon’s ride out from Marseille along the Côte Bleu and back along the Étang de Berre,
Charlie Hides as Judy Garland at the RVT
Charlie Hides as Judy Garland performing “All I want for Christmas” the Royal Vauxhall Tavern. Her Christmas set this year also includes items as Cher, Abba and (bizarrely) Delia Smith.
GPN ‘Looking the Other Way’
GPN ‘Looking the Other Way’
The annual exhibition of the Gay Photographers Network
Art to Wildlife; large-format high-gloss photography to intense abstraction, GPN’s exhibition showcases the huge diversity of talent in this group. 30 photographers are exhibiting this year. GPN’s show is part of Photomonth, the East London Photography Festival.
Clos René 1995, Pomerol
As sublime a bottle of fine old claret as anyone has a right to taste. Aged to a perfect balance between intensity of taste and smoothness. A great colour, still a very full red with no hint of turning tawny. A hint of liquorice to the palate of one of my friends within an exceptionally full and rewarding quaff.
I enjoyed the bottle with friends here at home in London, right above my cellar where it has aged to such a graceful result. We shared a leg of lamb which I had roasted slowly with sprigs of rosemary from my garden, preceded by steamed globe artichokes fresh from France, with clarified butter and garden herbs.
Menton
Menton on the French Riviera, known for its sandy beaches, palm and lemon trees and the artist Jean Cocteau.
Square Top Mountain summit, 3564 m. (11,695 ft.) - July 1991
Backpacking to the summit of Square Top Mountain, Wyoming, 3564 m. (11,695 ft.) - wading the Green River. July 1991.
More photos: Square Top Mountain summit, 3564 m. (11,695 ft.) - July 1991
