Desired Retreats

26/08/2026

A few more picture from Cat Ba. Even though we are away, it doesn't mean that Shell has stopped working. She even found time to check in with all of her clients while having lunch at the beach, then when we got back to the accommodation she had 3 hours of calls to carry out. Stu on the other hand. Lay by the pool and relaxed.

25/08/2026

Hotel number 2 please. At just £42 a night b&b you cant go wrong. Just arrived and straight away we feel more at home than the hustle and bustle of the city. We have a nice little bungalow overlooking the pool and lake. Surrounded by butterflies and dragonflies. Bliss

24/08/2026

24/08/2026

I'm sure growing up, we were all told never to play on the train tracks... they sort of encourage you here 😆 🤣 sat having a beer on Train street. Gets a little scary as it passes around 50cm from where you are sat.

23/08/2026

Hotel number 1 please. Our first day in Vietnam. Even though a storm has descended on Hanoi we still had a great day. A walk around the lake, a mooch around the old quarter and the obligatory stop to sample the local beer. A quick swim at the hotel then we are off out for dinner.
Definitely living our dream....

21/08/2026

What an emotional day today. After around 15 years of planning, building and living in our fantastic underground property we have just handed the keys over for the new owners. Such a strange feeling that we will never spend another night in it.
We are both so proud of what we have achieved and a massive thank you to the people that have helped us along the way. We made some great memories here but this part of our life is over. Now to build a new life in France.

08/08/2026

A picnic at our favourite little chateau. Wonderfully quiet and peaceful.

02/08/2026

Something tells me Shell enjoyed the beach and sunset.

01/08/2026

That's this week's shopping done. I hope we don't run out mid week.

01/05/2026

Luckily we have a local builder who has a yard in the village. He supplies us with our sand and cement etc and usually delivers the very same day. Talk about community. One day we asked him to call over to discuss buying around 30 tones of gravel to back fill around the pool. He asked why we weren't using the the stuff from when we dug out the pool, it was deposited 100m away at the bottom of the garden and we mentioned we had no way of moving it. He proceeded to let us use... free of charge one of his machines.
He left it in his empty yard, with the keys in it, I really felt like I had stolen it when I collected it. Driving it down the village high street with a big grin on my face.