Been away....now I'm back part 1

Hi everyone. Apologise for the HUGE absence, and thanks for the comments on the pics. I tried not to post too many, despite taking hundreds during the week.

But anyway, back to the present reality. I'll be popping by you all to see what's the gossip. Apologies once more for not being about this week much. I don't know if you've ever found this, but you go away. Have a fantastic holiday. Come back to find two nightmares. Big Brother is back on, and work has so piled up that I can't even see my desk anymore. Not good. So spent the last few days trying to burn, correct, pacify or disregard all of the shit that wasn't done in my absence.

However the holiday was great. Went to the Haute-Provence region in Southern France. Sort of in the region of Cannes for non-Europeans. About an hour from Avignon for those who have been to the area. I've been through it before, but never stopped enough to have a look around. And the area is fantastic. I can't recommend it enough. I was staying on the high plateau area (about 1000m/3000ft) above sea level so it was relatively cool (about 25-30 celcius), and very pleasant. Also meant you got a tan quicker! Down by the coast it gets pretty stifling even this time of year.

The area feels really like old rural France. There is plenty of rolling unspoilt countryside, with little farms dotted about. Many are deserted and just crying for someone to come in and do some renovation. They're not so expensive either and the concept is severely tempting I have to say. Even to the extent of investigating the subject with some estate agents locally! There are also many small fortified villages around, all perched on the tops of hills. They all still operate as normal villages and many are not touristy at all. When you walk around them it feels like time has not moved from the Middle Ages.

Where I stayed is the Lavender growing region so there are these slightly bizarre lined fields everywhere. At the moment they're green, but in July they go purple and smell incredible. As long as you like Lavender. In the background the whole time was Mont Ventoux. This 2000m/6000ft mountain with it's lunar-like peak. And a weather station on the top! It's an epic drive to the top and huge fun if you like switchback roads and death-defying drops. And the views from the top really take your breath away. See the pics below.