France for Freebooters

 

An Independent Traveller's View of 

France and its History

 

by Mike Kingdom-Hockings 





   

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I have a huge 'to-do' list, as you can see from the '* * *' entries below. Please help me prioritise this list with your requests by sending me e-mail.  Feel free to add categories you don't see below - my goal is to provide what people feel they need most.

 

ITEM REMARKS

 About This Site

Privacy, who I am, the Site Name
Etape 1 The first of a regular editorial column
Etape 2 Just a quick note
Etape 3 I'm back!
Etape 4 Places to stay
Etape 5 Friends of the Flea, a gîte and a web site
Etape 6 How long do visitors stay? Tidying up the site. 
Etape 7 Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
Etape 8 Advance, Friend, and be recognised
Etape 9 Pictures and words
Etape 10 Photo quiz answer. What's in store.
Etape 11 Autumn in the Limousin. Our home, chestnuts and mushrooms 
MKH bio Who am I?
KK bio Who is Keith Kellett?
Why Freebooters? How did the site get its name?
Privacy Statement What I won't do with your details
L'Olonnais  A French Freebooter

Events

Schedules and booking information. Reports on past events.
Bentley at Le Mans This famous marque is on schedule for a full scale attack in 2003.
Tall Ships Race ...and a little French fishing boat.
Normandy Markets in UK And French trains for enthusiasts.
Dakar 2003 A strong South African challenge in the world's greatest off-road rally
Dakar Stage 2 S Africans in second places
Dakar so far S Africans pleased with progress in Libya
Dakar Accidents Alfie Cox was among those out of the race after serious accidents
This isn't Formula 1 You couldn't call the Dakar boring and predictable
Giniel's Driving Lesson "I now know why he was going so quickly..."
Dakar Final Stages "....until the fat lady sings."

People and Books

Each person has a French connection
Home and Dry in France 1 Author George East - the Mill of the Flea, Normandy
Alan Biggins Author Alan Biggins - this little piggy went back home to England
L'Olonnais A French Freebooter
Petite Pululu A reluctant retreat from Zambia
Petite Pululu Pix Now you can see what I mean
France, re-conquered Alf B Meier reviews George East's latest book, French Cricket
The American Woman Abroad An excerpt from an out-of-print book by writer and illustrator Blanche McManus
The Old Man of the Trees André Montluçon passes on his passion
Buying the Bar 1 First episode in a serialised diary of an Englishman who bought his village bar
Buying the Bar 2 Filling in some gaps, and the man who had trouble following the van.
Buying the Bar 3 Re-marrying to avoid problems with French Bureacracy. And a car problem.
Buying the Bar 4 Problems with moving house, and memories of the stag party for the first wedding..
Buying the Bar 5 Problems cutting the ties
Buying the Bar 6 Lucy goes to school in France
Buying the Bar 7 Making holes in walls
Buying the Bar 8 Taking stock
Buying the Bar 9 Explaining the divorce. And a feline phantom pregnancy.
Buying the Bar 10 Helping out at the village Christmas party.
Buying the Bar 11 In the groove
Buying the Bar 12 The point of no return
Buying the Bar 13 A history of pleasure - and problems with lead
Running the Bar 1 First Night
An American View A West Coast American tells what it feels like to live in France
Buying the Bar 13 Pleasures of the night - and lead in the paint
Menopausal Women Behaving Badly - 1 Episode 1 of Aussie Janni Oldham's diary of a trip round northern Italy and southern France - with tips and recipes.
Menopausal Women Behaving Badly - 2 Episode 2 of Aussie Janni Oldham's diary of a trip round northern Italy and southern France - with tips and recipes.
Menopausal Women Behaving Badly - 3 Episode 3 of Aussie Janni Oldham's diary of a trip round northern Italy and southern France - with tips and recipes.
Review - French Kisses Keith Kellett looks at George East's recent book. Is this the Last Flea Bite?
Review - Happy Trails Magazine Keith Kellett looks at a magazine for travellers who don't fly

Coastlines

Focus on the French coast
Spice and Ivory Photographer Keith Kellett takes you along the cliffs of Normandy
Les Sables d'Olonne  Golden sands, round-the-world-yacht races - and someone they don't talk about 

Waterways

Explore the canals and rivers of France
Canal du Midi History of Pierre-Paul Riquet's masterpiece - and a walk towards the source of its water
Throwaway Boats History of the barges of the Dordogne - and trips in modern replicas
Midi Muddle Kay and Dave in a small boat  
Luxury Barges Canals and rivers, gourmet style

Land Routes

Ancient routes across France. Some are now roads, but most are walking trails
Grandes Randonnees

 

A comprehensive system of walking routes throughout France and into neighboring countries
La Régordane

 

Running from the Auvergne to the edge of the Camargue, parts of this path predate mankind. It was the main commercial and a pilgrimage route along the east of France in mediaeval times.
Vélo-rails Pedal power on rails
Cherchez la Balise Sometimes trail markers are hard to find.
The Hill from Hell and the sugarloaf Walk GR36 through Suisse Normande
The Gorge d'Aveyron Kim Knopp goes meandering
La Costa Brava Kim Knopp crosses the Spanish border

Parks & Museums

Education and entertainment
Hell's Valley and the Wolves -  The Parc à Loups du Gévaudan, and some autumn photos
Giverny A stroll through Monet's garden, and a poster gallery

Humour

Anecdotes and cartoons
French Dressing and HorsePlay... Peter Clayton swears this story is true..
News From Home Keith McIntyre's idea of reassuring me that my wife is well
Is a computer 'le' or 'la'?- (27 Nov 2002) A light-hearted look at the how the French choose the gender of imported words 

Music & Art

With a French connection, ancient or modern.
Mediaeval Protest Songs 'OC' sings 13th century songs from the Pays d'Oc -  history, MP3 samples and concert schedules
Giverny A stroll through Monet's garden, and a poster gallery
Digital Editing 1 Even simple, inexpensive digital editing can give professional results
Digital Editing 2 Keith's turn. Thumbelina & friends.

Winter Sports

Ski-ing, Boarding, Ice Climbing...
Chamonix photos Winter scenes and action shots by Joce Hockings
   

Travel Packages

Specifically for independent travellers
Discover France Leading the Tour de France? A challenging holiday.
Silver City Airways Crossing the Channel in the 1950s

Food

Regional dishes, famous names, history

French Regional Cooking A culinary tour 
Jack's Croque-Monsieur An Englishman's recipe for a French snack
Potato History And two modern recipes
Not Just Food Paul Bocuse provides music, too
Soaking it Up More recipes from Jack Gilpin
Brittany Oysters Like wines, they vary with location and method of production.
Buche de Noël A French Yule Log recipe .
Classy Potatoes Bored with roadside cafe hash browns?
Galette des Rois An Epiphany cake like a giant biscuit
Man in Greasy Shirt 1 Mike K-H describes the omelette he made for lunch
Pumpkin Soup Cooked in its own skin

Accommodation - B&B and Gites

Staying in people's homes as a paying guest.
Petit Pululu A delightful base for mountain biking and walking in the Haute Languedoc

Accommodation - Tourist Hotel Chains

Both French and international chains, from 1 to 4 star
Our-Paris.com Book Paris hotels online

Trains, Buses 

Getting around France and neighboring countries by train or bus. 
Eurostar Keith Kellett takes the train from London to Paris
Scotland to Paris Keith Kellett discovers a through  ticket from Scotalnd to Paris by train.

Living in France

Buying property, taxation, utilities and services

Want to leave Britain?

 A look at a recent newspaper poll

Something Completely Different

Stories and pictures from other parts of the world
A Close Shave Pictures of an incident in the Toyota 1000Km Desert Race 2002. Botswana.
Dust and Wreckage Action and post-mortem pictures of the Toyota 1000Km Desert Race 2002
World Gliding Championships 2001 A Frenchman won Standard Class in Mafikeng
Raindrops A short story set in northern Botswana, with a sci-fi theme.
Grand' Place, Brussels A sample of the events which take place in 'the most beautiful square in the world'. And a Frenchman lights it up. 
Off to School I Go Childhood memories of an eventful trip to boarding school in East Africa
Rough Dip in Downtown Joburg A not-too-violent encounter with pickpockets 
Life in Botswana A whimsy look at local goings-on 
Trains in the Rain Luxury steam train engine shed in a thunderstorm 
Not France - but Freebooting Keith Kellett sails the Greek Islands 
QUIZLET
RECOMMEND-IT
 
My Normandy chef friend Luc uses this English translation of Paul Bocuse's book. The English names and measures made it easier when he ran a restaurant in Henley-on-Thames. Plenty of 'why' and 'how' as well as superb recipes. 
Bocuse's Regional French Cookingcover