Virtual cruise Lyon to Avignon and Arles

I love the way the reclining subject of the painting has the three essentials - cat, book dog in no particular order!
That’s an artist who understands “faire la grasse matinée”

I thought you'd like that one, Maw.

Another of Carl Larsson's. Nowt to do with France but epitomes me and anyone else who's supposed to be working but finds that what's going on outside far more interesting. I'm doing it right now!

Called Esbjorn Doing his Homework although I think the young man might actually be sleeping

Or contemplating what’s for dinner? Food is never far from my mind, unfortunately…
Aperitif anyone? ?

No, I don’t call lunch dinner - but he’s supposed to be doing his homework.

Anyone mind a chat about travel and holidays in general on this chill out Sunday?

Any other keen walkers here who have holidayed with Walking Women? The company has been going for many years now under different owners. I’ve taken several excellent holidays with them. It’s terrific holidaying in the company of like-minded women. I don’t have a vested interest in the company just wanted to mention it if other woman enjoy the same thing.

The Montreux Jazz Festival, is on in September so I’m planning to hike the Bernese Oberland from Lenk to Montreux to coincide. Anyone been to this area before even if not walking? It’s only 200km as crow flies from Monaco where we might be heading on this trip.

Any plans yourselves this year?

No plans here. Haven’t had a holiday for many years to avoid putting rescue dogs in kennels, but absolutely no complaints as they enrich my life all year. I live in a small village not far from the coast, so trips to the beach and countryside walks are easy. Retirement is one long holiday! But I enjoy hearing about others’ holidays.

That's glacier country isn't it CaravanSerai? Better pack your woolly hat! Brrrr. I walk a lot, my one year old dog is my companion. I'm thinking of getting him a passport for next year to travel abroad.
For now, it's Brittany, France in July and September and Vienna in December. ? will stay at his brother's house.

I had my first holiday on my own after Paw died 3 years ago, a Rail holiday to the Harz Mountains in Germany. There was a wonderful mix of people and not-what I had dreaded- at all “coupley”. Took a few deep breaths on the first evening going in to dinner, but thought, in the event of the worst case scenario, I would just pin a smile on my face and retreat to my room with my Kindle and a drink or two. But it wasn’t necessary.
I do think some sort of activity - even passive, if that’s not an oxymoron- helps to break the ice and give people something to talk about other than past cruises/holiday/countries they have visited.

GSM I love a bit of coastal path walking. Norfolk Coastal Path is lovely. People often talk about the big skies but they are, aren't they? Hunstanton to Hopton and that glorious beach at Holkham. Many happy memories of winter birdwatching hols to take in Snettisham and Titchwell to see overwintering birds.

Some of my family history is rooted in Norfolk, villages south of King's Lynn and around Downham Market and further east villages near Norwich. Lovely county to explore.

Joseanne September and fair bit of ascent and descent involved which will keep us warm. It's a collabaration with Swiss women hikers so a chance to practice French/German language skills too!

Maw I agree. I think some of the most interesting people I have met have been on activity holidays. I was waffling upthread about HF's activity holidays. One time, I was sandwiched room-wise between a concert pianist and a mountain rescuer both men in this case and both very interesting to talk to about their lives and work over a glass of wine or two in the country house garden.

HF ?

If I can escape my health issues for a couple of weeks in September/October my friend is planning my bloke and me a train trip down to montreux possibly then a bit of Italy and end up in Croatia which I have never visited.
Obviously normally it’s just Italy Italy Italy.

Agree about the activity thing. In 2019 I had a great week of tennis in Corfu for solos (not singles ). Non stop fun. I’d have gone again but for blasted covid.

Lucca HF started out as Holiday Fellowship founded by Thomas Arthur Leonard. He was one of the key figures in the British outdoor movement. He'd created the Co-operative Holidays Association and then founded the Holiday Fellowship. In the 1930s he helped create the Youth Hostels Association and was one of the founders of the Friends of the Lake District. He also chaired the first national meeting of the Ramblers Association in 1935.

Probably more history than anyone wanted but I do love this picture from their archives.

HF ? Hedonistic faragos? Healthy frolics ? Hidden fantasies ?

Healthy frolics I think Lucca. I'm just amazed at the ordinary clothes and footwear. It looks like they are quite high up and the terrain is shale - my least favourite surface and most likely to see me end up on my bum. Nowadays we're all clad in hi-tech jackets and boots costing hundreds of pounds.

CaravanSerai

Lucca HF started out as Holiday Fellowship founded by Thomas Arthur Leonard. He was one of the key figures in the British outdoor movement. He'd created the Co-operative Holidays Association and then founded the Holiday Fellowship. In the 1930s he helped create the Youth Hostels Association and was one of the founders of the Friends of the Lake District. He also chaired the first national meeting of the Ramblers Association in 1935.

Probably more history than anyone wanted but I do love this picture from their archives.

Some hilarious outfits ! Deeply unflattering

Autres temps.... I guess.
I mean look what George Mallory and companion wore for their fateful Everest attempt. (1924)

You will delighted to hear that all this rambling through the Holiday Fellowship archives has provided inspiration for this evening's lecture.

Ever wondered who’s to blame for Morris Dancing and why these pesky folk are always outside your favourite pub on a Sunday, clacking their sticks and jangling their bells when all you want is a quiet pint? Folk song revivalist, Cecil Sharp, that’s who.

Morris Dancing had become a latent practice (and quite right too imo) before he stuck his beak in and stirred it all up again.

To be honest, he doesn’t sound that nice a man and also bit of a prude and a bowdleriser. Is that even a word? I mean he took the saucy stuff out of English folk songs, couldn’t stomach erotic double entendres or anything bawdy. In other words, we can have a bit of fun with him.

Songs sheets with rude lyrics restored can be found in your rooms. Practice essential.

As always, orderly queue for 18:00. GSM’s confiscated duct tape will be returned at the door and use is encouraged.

I've had 3 requests to stop practising already, so I’ve shut the balcony windows. The verse about the yellow knight from the Fair are the Flowers in the Valley, has a different meaning from my schooldays!

Brilliant, Caravan. This is going to be excellent entertainment. And I shall be very pleased to have my duct tape back. I promise not to put it to that particular use again.?

Dare I ask, what’s for dinner and do we still have plenty of ?or should Brunhilde be dispatched for a few more kegs?

Eager to familiarise myself with the language despite being already a bit of a polyglot, I admit (“Who’s a pretty Poly “) I have been immersing myself in the fascinating terminology of what must seriously be considered as an Olympic Sport for the future.
For instance - “Budgie Bells”
This is a term of derision with reference to weak, or quiet sounding bell pads. There is a degree of machismo associated with the Morris, and the volume of one’s bells is thought to denote virility and manliness (this term is not to be confused with “Budgie smugglers” which refers to something entirely different).
Whoulda thunk.

Don't we need an ^ 'obby 'oss ^?
Anyone got any 'obbies? Go on, 'fess up, I bet you have.

If it means being touched with some sort of arboreal offering as a Fertility Symbol, you can count me out.

Yay.
Top of the Active List.

Well done everyone, you've all done very well
Who am I??

Young Mr Grace

I thought I spied a ‘obby ‘oss in amongst some lavender if that’s what it was, back a bit.

I’ve never had an ‘obby. My bloke has had all the er..”sad” ones. Train spotting and stamp collecting and now bird photography ( not twitching… although he does that due to a medical condition ?