Vale Squadron Leader Alan Newham Dawson MBE, BEM.

Roger's father died in the early hours of this morning aged 94... a much travelled life.

Vale Alan Newham Dawson MBE, BEM.
(1.4.1922-10.10.2016) York, UK .... RIP.

Ventimiglia

Our home exchange in Menton was only 15 minutes from Monaco and from Ventimiglia, Italy.   Amazing!  Everyone told us to go to the Friday fruit market in Ventimiglia because everything was so fresh and cheap.  And they were right!

MMMM... think we got carried away with all the wonderful fresh food.   We devoured the wonderful panini and cappuccini.  The local's laughed at our accents and urged us to come back for Venerdì mercato (The Friday Market) which was even bigger and better!

The following week we set off by train, having been warned there was no parking... but no one warned us how busy the train would be!  As crowded as the Bullet Train in Japan and nearly as late as the "Express" in Tanzania!

Luckily only a fifteen minute ride and when we arrived the friendly and snazzily dressed Italian police kept everything calm.

It was indeed an incredible market, everything you could possibly want or need, clothes, shoes, hats, local delicacies, cakes, bread, meat, cheese, olives, conserves.... I could go on and on.  An hour and we were done... time for some pasta and then a  much more comfortable journey home.

Lovely memories of a gorgeous, cultured town.  

How distressing to come home a few weeks later, to see images of our horrendous refugee problem, where Ventimiglia is being swamped by desperate people.... 

So sad, my heart goes out to all of them. 

Bulles Soufflage

Yet another lovely moment in France, sitting having lunch in the town square entertained by madame here blowing bubbles on the balcony!  Seems a long way from our busy days!