Southbound is quietly becoming the most personal thing I've ever written. It's a road trip across Europe, but it's really about learning that healing doesn't arrive all at once. It happens one village, one stranger, one wrong turn, one beer, one laugh and one sunrise at a time. COMING SOON #booksky

Roasting a chicken in leftover chorizo grease and a lemon tainted bath to keep it moist. No point in fighting the hungry hordes for food when knock off drinks are needed as thunderstorms are incoming. #vichy Gotta love Airbnb to keep it real on the road 🌶🇫🇷

This tree is propped up.

Sunset around Zuma Beach in Malibu was nice on occasion. The south rim of the Grand Canyon with snow on the ground comes to mind, too. 😀 Madonna and Chirac riverside?

@karlchengermany.bsky.social This was posted by @lucasxs1000 on Insta. Not your better half, I am sure, because he wouldn't swear to Neptune over the humidity driving around in Northern Italy, or would he? 😅

Good morning #bluesky Despite feeling off after drinking copious amounts of alcohol supporting the Three Lions #england we went for a run along the Allier River in Vichy France. Stopping at the natural spring "Celestines" I had a gulp of the saltiest crap water ever! Have a great day. Here is a tree

Just for you mate 😀🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

We are in Vichy. It was the de facto capital of the French rump state during World War II. It was established as a result of the German victory in the Battle of France. Enough of the history! In the here and now, we are keen to watch England destroy Argentina tonight #worldcup #ENGvARG

Using up our produce before getting down the road further into France 🇫🇷 at lunch. Spring onions and cayenne pepper 🌶 on the lastt of the eggs drowned in butter. The heat dome passed. I for one am looking forward to a long sweaty run before beers tonight. #worldcup baby. C'mon England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 😀

England v France We can only hope! 😅

We bought goods from Lidl France 🇫🇷 The highlights: Whole chicken 1.3kg 4.89€ into the oven it goes. Then a stock for the Pipe Rigate. Ground beef mince 5% fat 500g 5.57€ for our cheeseburger making competition. Lidl Plus gave us some stuff for free. It's fun hunting the goods down. Kong says Santé

Good morning #bluesky It will be a boiling day in regional France. The only activity planned is to lounge around in the air-conditioned apartment once the posh boy wakes up after #worldcup goodness. Most everything on Sunday shuts down by 12:30 PM. A much-needed break, 17 days into this road trip ❤️

The pool at Margival, FR, was built as part of the Nazi bunker complex. Hitler didn't swim in it, since he spent only a few hours at Wolfsschlucht II on 17 June 1944. During that visit, he had lunch in a nearby Bavarian-style teahouse overlooking the pool before meeting Rommel and von Rundstedt #ww2

Today we toured the Margival bunker complex, known as Wolfsschlucht II. It is one of the most remarkable and surprisingly little-known German military sites in France. Following France's defeat in 1940, Hitler wanted a secure HQ in northern France from which he could command the invasion of Britain.

Some journeys change you one quiet mile at a time. In Chapter 5 of Southbound, Oscar crosses the Somme, discovers the Lochnagar Crater, and finds unexpected hope in a place shaped by unimaginable loss where wildflowers, rare bees, and memory quietly coexist. bio.site/chezdon #BookSky chezdon.co.uk

Good morning #bluesky Perusing the news in France whilst listening to a supplier partner bang on with the tech update, I was presented with a lovely ad. I mean... really... does this pair with the story about Trump's latest Greenland threat? 😅

The hardest border to cross isn't on a map. In Ch 4 of Southbound, Oscar leaves Britain behind and arrives in France, where rough seas, ordinary strangers and a simple "Bonjour" become quiet reminders that the world is far kinder and far bigger than he'd begun to believe. bio.site/chezdon #BookSky

Getting pushed the French ads as I peruse the France 24 "news" Here is how long "normal" sexual intercourse lasts. Maybe I would be interested in an incredible dessert instead?

I used posh boy's @ashbym.bsky.social women's legs shaving foam on my face. It now feels as soft as a cloud. He uses it to shave his legs to help improve his tan. Can't have hair impede the sun's duty 🤣⛱️

The most important miles aren't driven. In Ch 3 of Southbound, Oscar leaves his Golf behind and spends an evening wandering Manchester's Canal Street, where observations and simple acts of kindness begin to show him that belonging doesn't always arrive with fanfare. bio.site/chezdon #booksky #lgbt

Southbound Chapter 2 is available! As Oscar continues south through England, the miles become less about leaving home and more about noticing the ordinary kindness of strangers. The journey has already started to change him, even if he cannot yet see it. bio.site/chezdon / chezdon.co.uk

😀 The monument for Duke William crossing at Saint-Vallery-sur-Somme to fight the Battle of Hastings against that awful Harold.

Sexual intercourse in the spa is strictly prohibited. Any suspicious presence or evidence of sexual activity will result in financial compensation being charged via the booking platform. 🤣 Don't leave any evidence if you do it. Gotcha 🤣

Two years after the Bull Shark Trilogy, eighteen-year-old Oscar leaves Scotland with everything he owns packed into an ageing Volkswagen Golf. He isn't running away. He isn't searching for answers. He's simply heading south. Get the first chapter here: bio.site/chezdon #booksky chezdon.co.uk

Get it in me!

Bottles of cherry and berry Rosé were in the frig as welcome gifts. 10% lolly water. One reason why I like #aurbnb always pleasant surprises. Hilton likes to leave apples and chocolate. Never any alcohol unless it is the Executive Lounge for 2 hours 🤣 Good times at Bay of Somme, France.

Met the owner of the #airbnb who gave us a tour of the gaff. This is how to operate the oven, air con, washing machine, etc. Here is the bedroom. He looks at us. Voulez-vous que je prépare le canapé-lit? Prepare the sofa bed? 😅 No. A prompt "Bon soir!" Now to get Amazon Prime Video working #worldcup

More canned goodness 😅

Good morning #bluesky We beat the tourist hordes and found parking! Étretat is a town on the north coast of France. It’s known for the striking rock formations carved out of its white cliffs, including the Porte d'Aval arch and L'Aiguille (the Needle), a pillar rising up from the sea.