Hello all

We thought this would be the easiest way to update you all about our trip as the photo's are such huge files sending them to anyone would probably kill everyone's PC's and between us we are such technophobes we couldn't work out how to shrink the files.

So Corsica, wow, what an amazingly beautiful country. However, getting there wasn't simple. After spending a lovely night at the Sofitel @ Gatwick and toasting mum and dad over a Thai meal (we ate there with them before going to the Red Sea) we got up at 4am to make our way to check in. What a nightmare, we were flying with Thompson and as we were looking for the desk a member of staff ushered us outside where we had to join the back of the longest queue I have ever seen. They were queuing all Thompson flights together and it snaked around 3 times before we even got into the building. We were lucky and made it through with 20 mins to spare before the flight. Once we boarded we then sat on the run way for 45 mins waiting for people who hadn't been so lucky. Queue arrival of an elderly couple who hed run all the way from security and who looked like they might be about to have a heart attack and a family with two young children who hadn't had time to pick up milk or any thing for their baby. NIGHTMARE.

When we arrived Simon headed off to sort out the hire car while I waited for bags, and waited, and waited. 3 flights of baggage and ours hadn't arived. After checking with one of the reps it turned out there were 10 or so of us that hadn't had our bags from the Gatwick flight. Considering the chaos there no one was really surprised. We had been waiting about 1.5 hours and were filling in the forms to getthe bags sent over when the baggage belt started moving again and one by one our bags appeared. What a relief!! Simon was still trying to sort out the hire car, I think there were probably people still queuing for a car on the Tuesday. By this time it was howling a gale and pis*ing with rain.

We eventually got to the accommodation while was typical Simply, rustic and fine. There was a hotel next door which we were able to use the facilities and we ate in the restaurant on the first night. Aftre paying over the odds for an average meal I decided self catering was the way to go. We shopped the following day at the local supermarket and found the hugest most amazing prawns which we ended up eating most nights. We found a lovely walk locally which some of the photo's are of (sadly, in more ways than one, fly-tipping isn't confined to the UK).

We spent the first few days slobbing by the villa pool, the weather was mixed hot when the sun was out but interspersed with some storms. On the Tue we went for a scenic drive through the mountains which was amazing. I truely think it is the most beautiful country I have been to. The mountains were stunning with waterfalls and lakes and rivers, Simon even spotted a Go Ape site. We also saw some wild boar, see pic. On the way back we stopped off at one of the recommnded beaches which was beautiful for a swim. We stripped off and stuck our toes in but it was too cold. Although the old guy next to us went in no worries (Simon reckoned he needed a wee).

We also visited another beach that had been voted in the top 10 in Europe, it was lovely but a bit too crowded for us.

Best of all we had a TV so i could keep track of the French Open, tennis is probably the only thing I could follow with a French commentary. Actually very few people spoke English and so we did have to try and get by with our pidgeon French.

Porto Vecchio the town nearest to us was lovely with a very chic harbour and then the old town further up in the hills. There was so much more we wanted to do but made sue we left plenty of time for relaxing. It was an amazing holiday and would recommend Corsica to anyone (only don't fly with Thompson). Luckly the journey back was without event and we got to the car in time to listen to the final on Five Live. It's just a shame that Rafa made such short work of it it was over by the time we got back.

Anyway, huge love to everyone XXX