Year 15 in France: From Sydney to Paris via Dubai, with Disco Naps & Rosé

Well, mes amis, I’m back. For the fifteenth year in a row, it’s time again to swap the Harbour Bridge for baguettes, and honestly? My heart does a little backflip every time. Landing at Charles de Gaulle still always gives me a little shiver (in a very good way).

With Andrew now partially based in France, it will be wonderful to see him which means less FaceTime, more rosé time. And of course, catching up with our beautiful friends who make this place feel like home.

Let me take you back to where it all started… 4am Thursday.

Act I: Sydney to Dubai

Early Thursday morning, Sydney Airport. The familiar Emirates A380 check-in, as seamless as always. Lounge, chill, champagne? Maybe. Takeoff for Dubai, and I was already in holiday mode.

Dubai, you air-conditioned oasis. Like last year, my layover was a little longer due to a delayed departure for Paris. I’m actually thinking of taking this option going forward as it’s nice to stop and have a break and make it all part of your time away. I think the Qantas Project Sunrise direct flights are fantastic, but Sydney to Paris in 22 hours, compared to 24 with a stop isn’t much of a game changer for me personally. Like I did this year and last, there’s something relaxing about stretching it out to 30 hours on the way over, and enjoying Emirates amazing Dubai Connect complimentary experience. Returning is still a short 3 hour transit, time for a shower and a reality check of what’s ahead.

Emirates whisked me away to Le Méridien for a little intermission, a proper freshen up, a decent gym session to kick start my metabolism again, an hour poolside, dinner, a mini disco nap later and it was back to DXB like Cinderella before midnight.

The new Business Class check-in at Dubai is stupidly seamless. You barely notice you’ve even been through immigration. The lounge in Concourse B is under renovation but still lovely, as always. I always however secretly pray for Concourse A, for the direct boarding from the lounge, very A-list vibes, but hey, first world problems, right?

Truth be told, I was just grateful to have gotten out of Sydney and to see my Paris flight was on time, given everything going on in the Middle East at the moment. Dubai very was BAU, no issues at all, in fact people I chatted too reminded me not to watch too much news, as all is fine in Dubai!

And unlike my half-empty chariot from Sydney, the Paris leg was full. I settled in, pressed play on Fuze, a high-octane 2026 British action thriller directed by David Mackenzie. Fast, gritty, crime-y goodness. Highly recommend if you’re like me and live for edge-of-your-seat energy and cartel vibes.

Got any recommendations for me? Drop them in the comments, I need a new watch list. Cartel, crime, thrillers, if it makes my heart race, I want it. Haha.

Managed another cheeky 3-hour sleep, woke up for breakfast, and bam — Charles de Gaulle. Bag already waiting, chauffeur at the ready, and we were off like a French pastry in the wind to Montparnasse to catch the TGV to Angoulême.

1 hour 40 minutes. The express trains are so much faster these days, which is why after years of white-knuckle drives up and down the A10, we always opt for the train now. Santé to that.

Act II: Home is Where The Farm House Is

Meeting Andrew in Angoulême is always marvellous. Instead of heading straight to Cognac, we did the 1-hour drive to our farmhouse near Abzac. Our first home in France, the Farmhouse holds such a special place in our hearts.

We’d arranged to meet our fabulous friends Kaye and Tony for a long, lazy lunch in Verteuil-sur-Charente. If you haven’t been, add it to your list. It’s dreamy. Fairytale like. The kind of village where you expect a princess to cycle past with a baguette.

Kaye and Tony have a home not too far from us, so we get the best of both worlds, seeing them here and back in Sydney. We lunched by the river at Restaurant Jeux de Pots with a fabulous 3-course menu, and of course, rosé from Provence. Always Provence for me. Always.

Act III: The Art of Doing Nothing, Perfectly

At the farm, I can cook. And I actually have time to cook, which makes it even more satisfying.

There’s gardening, there’s buying beautiful local produce, there’s making a complete mess with my chip-making machine [refer to Instagram Story for evidence, haha], and there’s listening to the birds and wildlife. Even over Kylie, Taylor, and Confessions II, you can still hear them!

The next three days were pure tranquility. Literally, all you can hear are the birds and the other little animals pottering about. It’s a breath of fresh air. Literally.

We bumped into our neighbours Kat and Karl in Confolens, our local village town, and I can’t wait to properly catch up. Maybe a little pétanque? Maybe some tunes? Let’s go Kylie and Taylor!

Act IV: Bonjour, Cognac

Today we headed back to Cognac for the next few days. Oh, Cognac.

She’s special, you know. Not just home to all the world’s famous Cognac houses, but also where the first King of France was born. Sophisticated, sun-kissed, and her people, the Cognaçais, are just fabulous. It’s the kind of town that is Instagram-worthy no matter where you walk, or cruise on the river. No bad angles. Like me after a disco nap.

I’m here for a month. As always, I wish it could be longer, but I’m so grateful for this much-needed break from Sydney after what has been a hectic 12 months. I dream of one day making these stays much, much longer… but let’s not go there yet. I’ve still got a whole month to enjoy.

We have a few little adventures planned, Bordeaux, Menton, San Remo, Nice, Monte Carlo, a little Flirt sur la Côte d’Azur! But most of all? I’m most looking forward to recharging. To taking time out. To enjoying each and every day, slowly.

Over To You

Do you have a favourite place in France? Have you ever been to the Charente department? I’d love to hear from you.

If you have any questions about travelling this route, about the farm life, Cognac, my favourite rosé, or anything else — please comment below. And as always, feel free to share your experiences with me. I love hearing your stories.

Fifteen years in, and the love affair with France is still going strong.

I still can’t access my original instagram, however you can follow along if you wish on my new account here or Facebook here.

À très vite,

Mike