2nd - 4th March 2007. St Cezaire sur Siagne.

3.30 am is not normally a good time for getting up. It's a good time for getting home drunk (unless you have to work the next day) but there has to be a bloody good reason to want to drag out of a warm bed on a cold morning at that time of the night. Fortunately, on this particular Friday morning we had every reason to leap out of bed like Gazelles on an Attenborough nature special; after all it's not every day you fly to the south of France.

However much Lynda and I dislike getting up very early we at least have the "benefit" of years of practice, having been commuters for ten years. Andy & Keli have not, so whatever we were suffering, double it, add on a load, double all of that and you're getting somewhere close to how impressed they were at being snatched prematurely from snoozy land. But they put on a brave face and were as keen as we were to get to St Cezaire, somewhere we'd told them about many times following our great trips there in the past.

We arrived at Nice Airport bang on time and were soon leaving it behind, speeding inland in the hire car. Our first stop was St Paul de Vence for a spot of breakfast - coffee and croissants naturally - and a stroll around the charmingly antiquated streets and passageways. It really is a lovely place, enhanced that day by the warm sunshine. From there we made for Gourdon, perched high above everywhere else for miles around. From previous experience we knew this place is worth a visit for two reasons; it's beautifully ancient look & feel and the fantastic views. However we soon found a third reason to visit - the food. Sadly I never got the name of the restaurant we fell into for lunch (I'll do that on another trip) but it's the closest place to the viewpoint and both the food and the staff were first class. A memorable "first meal of the trip" and the delicious chilled, crisp rose we enjoyed that day became the drink of the whole weekend.

The quaint streets of St Paul de Vence, and the views at Gourdon

From Gourdon we headed to St Cezaire and made ourselves at home. Bryan & Sandra had kindly given us the use of their wonderful French home for the weekend, and soon we were installed and settled. A quick snack that evening - ok, it was another meal - in the St Cezari Pizza restaurant finally finished us off. Bed beckoned. Walking back to the house though, Andy still sharp-eyed despite the gallons of wine we'd had, spotted a very large and quite fresh looking dog turd right in the mouth of Bryan & Sandra's road. Thankfully he pointed this out to us and we avoided sticking a foot in it. I'll shall return to said turd later.

A turd, similar to the one found in St Cezaire

The next morning was once again sunny and warm but still blowing the remnants of a gale that had got up in the night. Not enough though to prevent the market going ahead. We had a good nose round it as always, bought a carrier bag full of fresh fruit then jumped in the car and headed for Cannes for a big walk around the place and a look at the property prices. How hard can it be to choose six bloody numbers.....?!!

"We wish"

We'd promised ourselves a cocktail and a crepe but weren't fussed in which order. Naturally the cocktail came first and again naturally that made us decide to do something silly. This time to go to the Casino across the road to hit the roulette tables. Our cunning plan involved a complex system devised and it must be said, understood only by Andy. Sadly it fell down at the first hurdle when security wouldn't even let us in because we didn't all have our passports. Work that one out! I think they thought Keli looked dodgy in her big sunglasses. What the hell, their loss because I'm sure we would never had won a bean in there.

Posing on the red carpet at the Festival Hall, home of the Cannes Film Festival

After looking at the designer shops and snivelling because we hadn't got our Casino winnings to spend in them we looked for and found comfort in a marvelous crepe. Only a light meal you understand as we were heading that evening to the Chevre D'Or at Cabris. When we got back from Cannes Andy once again made sure we spotted the rogue poo in the road and once again we all avoided stepping in it.

Back to the house, quick wash and brush up, a champagne (rose) toast to our hosts for their hospitality and generosity and we jumped in a cab for Cabris. Fantastic meal again, as always, comme d'habitude, etc. We've now been to the Chevre D'Or a few times and it's never let us down. Nor were we disappointed by the fantastic views from the Chateau at Cabris looking down to Cannes and beyond.

And that's just for starters. Dinner at the wonderful Chevre D'Or, Cabris

Walking back to the house after being dropped off by the taxi, guess who stood right in the now famous dog turd. Correct, the look-out himself, Andy the seeker of the poo stepped right in it. Back home - shoes off for Andy outside Sandra - and a nightcap on the terrace. It was when going to bed though that I treated everyone to a glimpse of my genital sock - Keli still shudders at the thought.

Sunday morning we got up, tidied up and shot off to Nice. Not before I was bollocked by an irate Frenchman who I took to be a St Cezaire car-park attendant, for trying to put rubbish in the bin !! Mind you, in fairness it was a big bag of rubbish and a very little hole in the bin. He gestured wildly to his left and mumbled something about a bigger bin being vaguely in that direction. Well Andy and me couldn't see it so when he'd gone I just stuffed it into another equally small bin round the corner.

We took the scenic route to Nice. Ok when I say scenic I mean we were lost...a bit anyway, the intention had been to avoid the motorway and have a more picturesque trip. It was as it turned out a lovely route though, and equally lovely were the sea, sky and beach when we got there. Had a cruise down the Promenade Des Anglais then for a change decided to go and eat. This time I do remember the restaurant's name and it's just as well because it was top, top stuff - 'Koudou', 28 Promenade Des Anglais. Fantastic food and service in a lovely setting looking out to sea. Not cheap but boy was it worth it. From there it was back to the airport, drop off the car and fly back to a rainy, windswept Luton.

Keli with 'that dessert'. Koudou, Nice

It was a great trip and one that we could easily have endured for a fair bit longer. Once again, great company, great laughs, great food & drink and great location. Thanks to our travelling companions Keli & Andy, and a special thank you to Bryan & Sandra for making it possible. Cheers to everyone.