About Us
Finding Inspiration in Every Turn
Introducing an exceptionally talented collective of individuals bound by their shared passion for France, travel, and the art of expression. This remarkable group of friends has seamlessly united their distinctive writing styles, forming a captivating ensemble that is sure to captivate and engage audiences. Prepare to be enthralled as their collective works take you on an enchanting journey through the realms of literature, effortlessly blending entertainment with profound insights into life itself.
Meet The Team
Donna Jones Holland
Donna is a popular professional blogger, editor, lifestyle writer, keen gluten free home cook and recipe writer, loves to faff with interiors.
Donna has been married for over 30 years and is mother to 3 grown up children. The family have travelled widely, living in Germany, Australia, Dubai, Canada and of course France. She’s a keen advocate for mental health issues.
Donna and her husband have a wreck in Mayenne France, which they are renovating and they’ve also just bought a 1999 American camper van!
Donna also has her own blog:
Diana phillips
My name is Di Phillips, known as Diana if you are cross with me (please don’t be cross) I am knocking on the door of 70, eek, and will become this great age in July, a date I share with our new queen Camilla and also our beloved other queen, Donna!
I live in Winchester, Hampshire (UK), married to Mr P for nearly 48 years , we are both retired thank goodness. I was a special needs teacher for many years and ended my career working in a children’s hospice. We have a daughter, (Rowena) the single but proud mum of our two grandchildren Maisie (13) and George (9), they live about 7 miles away from us so we see them very regularly.
We don’t live in France but try to head over every summer for two weeks in the Dordogne, we hire a gite in the tiny hilltop village of Domme, which is near Sarlat Le Canada. George has started the countdown to this years holiday 71 days and counting ! It’s a real joy to be able to introduce the grandchildren to France a place I have loved since my first visit in 1965.
I have been part of Donna's team for a few years now, we have never met but have become great pals and hope to meet up this summer when we will both be in France, keep your fingers crossed please.
Tina Malcolm
I’m Tina — a Brit who swapped predictability for French paperwork sixteen years ago and never quite looked back.
I’ve lived in four different corners of western France (87530 briefly, 37120 for nine years, 86530 for six, and now Deux-Sérves, 79800, since December 2025), collecting stories, renovations, chickens, and cultural misunderstandings along the way.
This blog is my warts-and-all account of life here: the bureaucracy battles, market mornings, small wins, business ventures, family chaos, and the quiet magic of building a life in another language.
If there’s a lesson after sixteen years, it’s this: nothing is ever simple — but it’s rarely dull.