I used to make scrapbooks after my holidays. I still always intend to make a scrapbook after my holidays. I never get around to making it. Instead, I have accumulated random piles of leaflets, ticket stubs, matchbooks, restaurant cards, city maps and sugar sachets. I’ll blog about them one day – “Bookish Brunette and the scrapbooks that never happened”.   In the meantime, here’s a selection of pictures from my recent holiday to Bergerac in Dordogne, France. I didn’t have much opportunity to pose for “proper” pictures. In fact, I spent most days wearing no make-up, tatty M&S flip-flops, denim shorts and a green vest. I have no idea what it was about that vest, but I developed a strange fixation with it that meant I had to wash it four times whilst I was there.   The Dordogne region is such a beautiful place. Pebble the dog really liked it too, though that could have something to with all the rabbits she got to chase. I got wine and macarons, the dog got small and furry playmates/snacks.   BBxx      

This is turning into an obsession. A worrying and expensive obsession.   Two weeks in France was an ideal opportunity to eat two of my favourite things: cheese and macarons.   Thankfully, I didn’t feel any urge to take loads of photos of cheese, instead I channelled all of my photographic energy into documenting macarons in their numerous guises.   From the rustic “Macaron de St-Emilion” through to the exquisite sparkling macaroons from the trendy “M le Macaron” on a Bordeaux back street, I’ve eaten and snapped them all. I even had my first ever savoury macaron, flavoured with dark chocolate and foie gras; it was interesting.   I spent the journey home daydreaming about future macaron related career options: 1) A luxury coffee table book all about macarons, exploring their history and the craft of making them (publishers, please get in touch, seriously). 2) Opening a macaron shop with my sister (investors in such a venture, please get in touch, seriously).     [/caption] 

I’m not going to show off, but I’m going on holiday. While I’m gone, my sister is going to be looking after the world of Bookish Brunette. You’ll like her. She’s like me but funnier and she was on telly last week, so that makes her kind of famous. I have no idea what she is going to write about. Knowing my sister, it isn’t even worth guessing. She has a complete free rein – so apologies if you get daily crochet updates. Above, you will see a picture of her pet shih-tzu, Megan. Megan likes to eat poo, a fact which reduces her cuteness quotient quite considerably. I’ll be back in a week or so. In the meantime, be nice to my sister or her puppy will come round and give you ‘kisses’. BBxxx

English tourist attractions are, in the main, naff. Any destination that feels the need to mention toilets and free parking in their promotional materials is clearly scraping the barrel of fun. The thing is, I wouldn’t want it any other way. Our attractions are naff, but it is all part of their charm. I love an on-site tearoom and gift shop (normally flogging over priced shortbread, lavender sachets and rubber tipped pencils). I love the way all the leaflets claim to be ‘fun for all the family, come rain or shine!’. Give me a donkey sanctuary,  model village or cider farm over Disneyland any day. Here is the Bookish Brunette guide to some of the finest examples of English (and a bit rubbish/weird) tourist attractions Bakelite museum and tea room – Williton, Somerset Did you know they have a museum dedicated to ‘Bakelite and vintage plastics’? Here’s proof. The promotional leaflet contains one of my favourite ever visitor testimonials: “I felt I had lost my memory until today” M & G Cooke, Swindon Cool. A museum that cures memory loss. Forget about Lourdes, Williton in Somerset is the new miracle must-go destination. Also scores extra points for including the tearoom in the attraction name, no mucking about here. Bunnyland and guinea pig paradise – Yorkshire Take me there. Now. Cumberland Pencil Museum – Keswick, Lake District You get to see the world’s first ever pencil. Cool, huh? I’ve been twice. It is that good. The first time I went, they claimed to have the world’s longest pencil but they now claim to have the world’s longest ever coloured pencil (7.91m long). Hmm…a subtle yet telling change me thinks.  Another “perfect all-weather attraction”. And yes, it does have a coffee shop. Dudley Zoo and Castle Included out of fierce local loyalty. Some decent art deco animal enclosures[.....]