Walking on Water

Matilda on a lake in Provence

The French Alps and Beyond .....

A snap from our summer camping trip in the French Alps. What this photo doesn't show is the sibling anguish and boredom of having to walk in such beautiful surrounding. Thankfully, the lure of yet another ice-cream got them to the submit. Every picture tells a story ...

The views around the small ski resort of Pralognan la Vanoise were breath taking. I wasn't prepared for other campers to spend 8 hours walking every day. How naive of me. There we were in our flip flops, not a spot of lycra or base layer garb between us, feeling just a little out of place sunbathing in our swimwear. 

We did take our cycles so we could look a little active but the only other bikes we saw were mountain bikes with thrill-seeking campers on them. Our one bike ride (other than the short trips into town) involved driving up hairpin bends, offloading the bikes and free-wheeling for 15 mins all the way back to camp. 

View from tent

The following week we headed for the sun. The location we decided on, just 30 minutes prior to leaving the Alps was Esparron De Verdon. After a 6 hour scorching hot ride in our ex AA, VW van with no rear opening windows, no air conditioning but two very hot and fed up daughters, we arrived to this. We smiled. Until we were shown to almost the worst pitch on the site. That said, after two days we decided not to move. The noisy early morning bottle collection and our immediate view of a mobile home was perfectly perfect. But we will defiantly book before arriving next time and there will be a next time. Camping Le Soleil is excellent. Talking as a happy camper, this site ticks the boxes especially if watersports are your thing. Perhaps not so good for the beach lizard, no real sand just terraced rock formations to lounge on but stunning scenery because of it.

The jetty and beach at Camping le Soleil  

Ridiculously beautiful Provencal town which I've forgotten the name of

Banana Cake

I like to hide a few bananas until the fruit flies remind me where I stashed them. This is what I make with the slimy re-discoveries.

• 150g unsalted butter 
• 150g soft or dark sugar 2 eggs 3 large brown squishy bananas, mashed 
• 170g Plain flour 
• 1/2 tsp salt 
• 1/2 tsp baking powder 
• 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda 2 tbsp ground flax seed 
• 60g chopped high cocoa content chocolate 60g pecans or walnuts -slightly toasted
•  100g shredded coconut 

1. Melt butter 
2. Mix sugar and eggs in large bowl 
3. Add melted butter to eggs and sugar mix
4. In another bowl, add all dry ingredients and mix with a balloon whisk. 
5. Add nuts etc if you haven’t already
6. Pour into lined loaf tin
7. Bake for approx 1 hr at 160º
8. Cover with baking paper if it’s browning too fast.