The Canary Islands Re-opens for Tourism. Our visit to La Palma
Several years ago we spent an interesting week on La Palma, which is re-opening in a week’s time for Tourism. After booking in to our hotel on La Palma,...
In these tough times, let me put a VW eBulli smile on your face!
IAIN ROBERTSON While hardly a money-no-object exercise, writes Iain Robertson, sourcing a clean, original VW campervan, notably of the rare 20-window type, and then converting it from flat-four to...
Glenfiddich comes to the aid of the Speyside community – World Meanderings (n°88)
By Annick Dournes Frédéric de Poligny Due to the Covid-19 epidemic the 2020 edition of the Spirit of Speyside Festival had to be cancelled. To support the local...
Politics, funnelling, ‘1984’ and Volvo’s electric XC40
IAIN ROBERTSON Volvo, a Swedish accented Chinese carmaker, is set to introduce the Recharge P8 version of its compact-ish and very stylish XC40 in early-2021, highlights Iain Robertson, as...
Welsh Witterings: Simply Good Food
In these strange times I must confess I have lamented the inability to get out for a coffee or a spot of lunch. I love cooking for my family,...
5 star glamping on the French Riviera – Meanderings through France n° 217
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny “Esterel Caravaning” one of the most classy camping site of the French Riviera was finally able to reopen on June...
PDSA Pay Tribute to our Animal Heroes
Photos courtesy of the PDSA As we celebrated the 75th anniversary of VE Day last Thursday, it’s good to remember the many animal heroes also on the front line....
Dream trip with Robert Louis Stevenson in the French Cevennes
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny It all began with a broken heart in 1878. That autumn 28 years old Scottish author R. L. Stevenson decided to go...
MALTA DIARY: Were the stones magically or divinely transported – or is it just Old Wives’ Tales?
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: With time hanging heavy on my hands, I browsed through some well-known fairy and folklore tales...
Malta Diary Entering the Lenten period – a time for sackcloth and ashes? It used to be – but no longer … memories of the past
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: Today is Ash Wednesday. Carnival activities of boisterous merriment came to an abrupt end at midnight...
New Audi RS4 could be an admirable ‘dinosaur’ from the Bronze Age
IAIN ROBERTSON It is a strictly limited-edition model, of just 25 examples, priced from a whopping £82,395, but Iain Robertson is tickled pink that Audi is adopting a defiant...
Dacia, whether pronounced ‘Dacier’, or ‘Datcher’, is an automotive gift
IAIN ROBERTSON Every industry needs its ‘Poundstretcher’, its entry-level to whichever, to gain market traction and to provide a perception of good value, where none may exist, and Iain...
GLA completes the ‘compact’ circle for Mercedes-Benz
IAIN ROBERTSON In a new car market now predominated by SUVs, writes Iain Robertson, Mercedes-Benz is well entrenched with models in every relevant class and the latest GLA model...
Malta Diary Were space aliens present in Malta – are elongated skulls the proof?
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: Malta overflows with myths and mysteries. One theory is that Malta was the ‘nerve control centre’...
Christmas’ Magic in French iconic chateaux, part two: Château de Cheverny – Meanderings through France n° 205
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny Welcome back to French chateaux’ festivities! This year for Christmas time we invite you in three different wonderful French chateaux, Vaux-le-Vicomte,...
The fine art of car retailing; in how many ways can a cat be skinned?
IAIN ROBERTSON Polestar, Volvo’s EV technology partner and producer of an ‘interesting’ new range of own-branded models, has decided to ‘change the face of vehicle retailing’, reports Iain Robertson,...
THE LANTERN OF ARDEN
Photos by Rob Tysall, Tysall’s Photography Ann Evans takes a closer look at Astley’s St Mary the Virgin Church, once known as The Lantern of Arden. ...
The rarity of a decent estate car is served by Volvo’s excellent V90
IAIN ROBERTSON Market shift is epitomised by Volvo’s development of the estate car genre, writes Iain Robertson, an up-market exercise that re-gauges quality control, supreme comfort and trim detailing,...
Loaded DS3 Crossback takes avant-garde route to compact car sector
IAIN ROBERTSON If you were moved by the swan-like DS7, as Iain Robertson was, then you will fall in love with the ‘ugly duckling’ DS3, as much for its...
Volvo’s roller-coaster ride rolls on with new XC90
IAIN ROBERTSON To be frank, Iain Robertson believes that ‘roller-coaster’ is inappropriate for Volvo Cars’ current and inexorable rise to the top, registrations of which are outstripping every luxury...
Malta Diary Were beds as we know them today first used in Malta and Egypt? Could well be! The association between Malta and beds is lengthy and varied.
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: The Maltese Islands have a history that is latent with its connections to beds, bedding...
To prove that car fans can never get enough of what they want, the ‘new’ Bentley Blower…
IAIN ROBERTSON Aston Martin, Jaguar Land Rover and a couple of other carmakers have been dabbling in the classic car scene, reports Iain Robertson, by revisiting their pasts and...
Taycan takes technology to new peaks for Porsche
IAIN ROBERTSON When considering that Porsche has never done things by convention, states long-time fan Iain Robertson, you can comprehend that its all-electric Taycan offering is likely to...
Gareth Butterfield reviews Lexus’s new entry into the small SUV market, the UX
IF you’re in the market for a small SUV – and, let’s face it, the world and his wife seems to be at the moment, then you’ve got a...
Bordeaux, an appealing town between vineyards and ocean – Meanderings through France n° 192
By Annick Dournes & Frederic de Poligny In less than 25 years Bordeaux has been going through huge works of renovation and innovation, turning this old...
Malta Diary Fancy a loaf of bread that’s 2,120 years old? It may be a trifle hard – but it’s not stale!
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: Malta must stand as the longest most colonised country in the world –...
Gourmet trip in Alsace
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny When travelling in Alsace one could think that Alsatians mainly focus on food and drinks. Without being completely true this is not...
Cutesy Fiat 500 receives revived ‘EsseEsse’ model and celebratory elements
IAIN ROBERTSON While it is easy to regard Fiat as stuck in a 500 rut, Iain Robertson reiterates that the company has always been Europe’s ‘small car specialist’ and...
Fiat’s 500X is a great example of how the jacked-up look can be made more attractive than ground-hugging hatches.
WHILE I’ll never understand the collective lure of the “crossover”, a style of car that’s slowly killing off the once mighty hatchback, Fiat’s 500X is a great example of...
Malta Diary Malta and its walls and bastions – “For sheer concentration and majesty quite unmatched”
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: Man and walls. They have worked together since the start of recorded history. Some walls...
The “Lot”, a bewitching French department (Part two) – Meanderings through France n° 186
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny After last week discovery of Rocamadour and the L’Ouysse Valley let’s go back to beautiful Lot and wander along...
Chunky, punky Ford Fiesta Active proves to be a praiseworthy package
IAIN ROBERTSON Were it to wear a large safety-pin through its grille, Ford’s growingly popular crossover model could not be less of a disruptive vehicle than it is and...
Highland fling for final page in Volvo’s ’60-Series’, the S60 saloon
IAIN ROBERTSON Launched in T5 front-wheel drive R-Design Edition form, reports Iain Robertson, fresh from an excellent Scottish Highlands driving exercise, Volvo has turned the final page in its...
Malta Diary The lure of the salt and the sea – Malta’s lengthy history in saline culture
ALBERT FENECH e/mail – Facebook: My Blog: “Sapore di sale, sapore di mare” is the much loved Italian song by popular...
Midfield Volvo XC40 cannot conceal high-price route to market
IAIN ROBERTSON Understanding the tremendous growth in consumer interest in Volvo demands a cool head and Iain Robertson hopes that by testing its most popular model, in its most...
EASTER FAMILY FUN
Looking for somewhere to take the family over the Easter holiday? Ann Evans has some suggestions. If you’re looking for family activities this Easter, then the...
Ranjit’s Recommendations: Mumbai comes to London
When a restaurant menu says that a little extra time might be taken to cook the food, I have now learnt to accept it for good reason. This is...
Ségala, a land of contrasts – Meanderings through France n° 180
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Set at the foot of the Massif Central in between Rodez and Albi the Ségala has been a tough...
“Pech Merle cave”, an authentic prehistoric treasure – Meanderings through France n° 179
By Annick Dournes & Frédéric de Poligny Pech Merle cave is part of a group of 13 adorned caves in Southwest France in the Lot Valley. 29,000...
Ford cranks up the power for ST versions of its Focus
IAIN ROBERTSON The return of the ST is something in which Ford-lovers can revel, suggests Iain Robertson, especially as the power is up, in a car that is unflawed...