Flash Tours

29/03/2024

Hello everybody
This is a sad post.
Violette has passed away.
We drove up to Paris last Friday, 22 March for a family reunion. Once we got there Violette was feeling very poorly. Called the hospital and an ambulance arrived at the hotel. There then followed 4 days of intensive care and an operation. The problem was an ischemic bowel. The operation revealed the damage to be too great and inoperable. She died on Wednesday 27th at 16h. I was with our two kids Jeremy and Lisa. They were a great help. I'm now back home with Lisa and the funeral is on Tuesday week
I wanted to say how much she had enjoyed having you guys down over the past 20 years, how much she loved the aperitifs in the orchard and what a great wife, partner in everything and best friend she has been to me for the past 56 years.
I feel totally lost.
I know you all fell under her spell and it was mutual. She loved you guys/gals
I can't see me doing any more weekends, I've no idea how I could without her
Love you all
Tony & Violette 29 March 2024

05/01/2024

Inspired by my witty albeit succinct prose, Violette wishes to take finger to keyboard.
And here she is!

"Hello Biker friends! This is Violette.
Beginning of A New Year and I hope it keeps you in good health and brings you strength and lots of smiles. I can imagine you all sitting in our orchard again, a glass of Rosé in your hand... Mmm...! That is how I think of you all.
We're still here in our house. Not moving, although strings of estate agents assure us that it'll happen any day now!
I miss you all. Take good care of yourselves.
Love, Violette"

Hugs all round to Flashistas everywhere!

05/01/2024

Hello everybody! Well, after a year of intensive and enthusiastic visits (4 to date) I'm pleased to report that the château remains unsold and that I'm currently sitting by a raging log fire (gas and electric far too expensive) sipping a rather pleasant single malt.
We've been very busy what with neutering the cat and supplementing the stocks of single malt and I have been, once again, remiss in keeping you up to date with developments.
Our one and only weekend in 2023 was in September and was a phenomenal success, with me winning the traditional race back to Melle on the last day by a good hour.
All boxes were ticked: Pinky Plonky, orchard, Road of Doom, Cognac roundabout, Twin Bends of Beelzebub, Devil's Drop. We even managed a stretch of dual carriageway on Day 1. Such larks!
I'm mulling over what we might do this year. Obviously the move is still massively on the cards which will have the effect of eating up a large chunk of the year, but if the market continues flat then I might plan a weekend or two in the Spring. I'll let you have as much prior warning as possible.
Thanks to those of you who made it down in September. That's : Dave n Lyn, Dee & Kimberley, Rob & Ros, James & Kathy, Glen Keith and Russell and Karen. Here's a few pics of the weekend.
Oh! And I mustn't forget the arrival of wee Jamie, born on the 6th October to proud (but exhausted) parents Laureline and Jeremy
😊😊😊
Happy New Year to you all. Hope to see you all again soon (just not aii at the same time)
Hugs all round!

19/11/2023

Coucou 🔵 C'est officiel. Signé à 12h53. C'est même passé à la télé.
Le mien est vraiment devenu bleu. N'oubliez pas que demain commence la nouvelle règle Facebook (alias... nouveau nom, META) où ils peuvent utiliser vos photos. N'oubliez pas la date limite c'est aujourd'hui !!! Je n'autorise pas Facebook ni aucune entité associée à Facebook à utiliser mes photos, informations, messages ou publications, passés et futurs.
Avec cette déclaration, j'avise Facebook qu'il est strictement interdit de divulguer, copier, distribuer ou prendre toute autre mesure contre moi sur la base de ce profil et/ou de son contenu. La violation de la vie privée peut être punie par la loi.
REMARQUE : Facebook est désormais une entité publique. Tous les membres doivent publier une note comme celle-ci.
Si vous préférez, vous pouvez copier et coller cette version. Si vous ne publiez pas une déclaration au moins une fois, cela autorisera tacitement l'utilisation de vos photos, ainsi que les informations contenues dans les mises à jour de profil et de statut.
NE PARTAGER PAS. Copier et coller.
Voici comment procéder :
Maintenez votre doigt enfoncé n'importe où dans ce message et "copier" apparaîtra. Cliquez sur "copier". Ensuite, allez sur votre page, créez un nouveau message et placez votre doigt n'importe où dans le champ vide. "Coller" apparaîtra et cliquez sur Coller.
Cela contournera le système….
Qui ne fait rien conscent !

28/07/2023

Hello all. Been a strange year so far. House went on the market in November and we've had TWO (count 'em) visits which amounted to naught. Just changed estate agents, so that's all right then.
Very odd not having you lot down here to share the Spring-fired weeks of craziness in the garden where the upward thrust of the agapanthus meets the plaintive beeping of the midwife toads during their summer-long search for love.
Been out on the bikes with some local mates, to keep my hand and eye in. Got summoned to the local cop-shop to put the finishing touches to their "findings" following my (acrobatic) off last June. They were most impressed by my not remembering a thing about it and my ongoing narcolepsy.
Weekends
There were some poor souls who were unable to attend over the last two years and as we haven't moved yet I've put on one weekend in September to accommodate them. When combined with those who've been annoying me for the past 8 months with offers of a place in the House of Lords and/or sundry emoluments, the slots were filled in 24 hours. Sorry! There will be other opportunities
That's us pretty much up to date.
More news as it's occurrin'
Pip Pip, Dear Peeps

26/03/2023

Thought you might like to know that the violence in France this weekend in protest at the building of a massive reservoir fir irrigation use, took place just outside the village of Sainte Soline. This is where we stop for coffee on a Sunday when returning from Cognac. It's the little bar , run by volunteers, at the fishing lake.
The violence was incredible and down to a thousand of so hard-core rioters known as "black blocks". They infiltrate genuine protests G as the ones we've seen in Paris and elsewhere and they sin is to cause a much destruction of property and injury to the police as they can. At Ste Soline they were hiding in a crowd of between 6 to 10,000 protesters. The gendarmes être expecting trouble and there were 3000 riot police on site.
Coincidentally the mayor of Melle declared the town open to the demonstrators and supplied camping sites, parking, field kitchens, an infirmary and a rock concert. There were debates on the ecological impact of the reservoirs and round table discussions on possible crop evolution due to climate change.
Many of the protesters left Saturday evening, totally disgusted by the violence
There was no trouble in Melle itself

12/02/2023

Hello all.
House remains unsold so you're still in with a chance. Get in quick!
Here are a couple of news flashes for you.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S1GA3uV_qzg -sheet

Oradour sur Glane

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/obituaries/article/2023/02/12/robert-hebras-the-last-survivor-of-the-oradour-sur-glane-massacre-has-died_6015353_15.html

02/02/2023

It's Groundhog Day, again

13/12/2022

Yes, yes, I know, I know...
But here I am now! So sit back, this might be a long one.
First off all a big up to those who attended the last weekend of the year back in... September. It was a real blast except for the fact that, following my off in June, I lost pretty much the use of my right arm. No strength at all, which explains why I dropped the GS when it was parked at the restaurant in Cognac 🙄, and when pulling away I was either at tick-over or 4K rpm. Made for some interesting take-offs. Good news is that it's all back to normal now,
The main news, that some of you are already aware of, is that we've put the house on the market. We've been here for 22 great years and have decided it's time to move on, find somewhere smaller and less expensive to run. It's a wrench and downsizing is a nightmare! Where to put all our stuff? We haven't decided where we're moving to yet but will be looking for a place with room for at least 8 of you. So watch this space and we'll update it as we go along. We're hoping to be able to move in the first half of 2023. We'll let you know.
There's lots more to be said about all of you, the weekends, the evenings and the rideouts, but I'll keep that under wraps until the launch of My Book...,😂😂 it might still happen!
Just let me say thanks to all of you for the past 20 (!) years of pleasure and mayhem, we've loved every one of them.
I'll be writing more in the New Year to keep you up to speed with the move.
From the two of us down here, to all of you up there, have a great Christmas and don't hesitate to drop us a line if you want a recipe or some advice on cornering techniques 😂
All the best
Tony & Violette

22/09/2022

Thursday 23rd September 2022 - 18h15

Miss you guys!

10/09/2022

Miss you guys !

07/09/2022

Hello all
Waved goodbye yesterday to the first group of September.
Dragged the mattresses put for the customary bonfire and found this solitary ear bud. Anybody?

19/06/2022

Ah yes... Now where was I? That's right "Team Gimp Suit". Not really earned this trip I grant you, but the image of Lee in his "figure-hugging" racing wets from a few years ago has stayed with me, unfortunately and now extends to embrace the whole group. Sorry guys.
So, first morning and I fall off. Not just a stumble but a full blown 50m slide with accompanying tumbles and pirouettes. An impressive display but I have no memory of it at all. By all accounts I got off lightly with just a broken collarbone and a 30min technical knockout. Woke up in the hospital. Rest of the weekend is a bit vague but I know that I got home on the Sunday.
Thanks to all of the Gimpers for ignoring my plight completely and for getting on with having a good time. Thanks also to Lee (yes, him again) for gifting me his Aprilia Mille which for some unknown reason is to this day parked up in the orangery.
This weekend Team Cholesterol is down and riding out every day. Good stuff. It's been very hot.
I'm due to see my surgeon on Thursday and am considering having the damn thing pinned.
Time to get back in the saddle
Pip pip all

16/06/2022

Well, I realise that it's been a while since the Boys from Shetland were down and since then I've been uncharacteristically quiet.
Sorry about that.
There have been occurrences, events, nocturnal bumpy things... but more of that later.
So we've had the stalwarts of Team Wobbly down, sharing the weekend with the Boxertrix Rebellion and a fine time was had by all, except... Chubby. Who experienced a litany of breakdowns, two of which were self-imposed. Anyway, nothing a pair of needle nose pliers couldn't sort out and we soon had him back on the road. Nobody in Paul's Boxer team got lost. Which is worthy of note.
Then we had Team Gimp Suit...
(more to follow)

09/05/2022

Just a few more pics, courtesy of our friends from North Gluss.
(it really was a superlative weekend...)

08/05/2022

Hi all. First weekend of 2022 completed last Tuesday and an enormous thank you to the boys from Shetland who, once again, set the bar high as far as riding, speaking in tongues and keeping themselves hydrated, was concerned. An epic trip for them, taking in two continents, 12 countries and 14k miles, all on one set of tyres and two tankfuls of unleaded. Old friendships with the Pinky-Plonky were rekindled in the orchard, and the weather remained dry and sunny for their whole stay. A few technical glitches were overcome (although I was down to only one operational bike by the time they left). Riding was exemplary and a total hoot. Just what I needed after the best part of three years of idleness. Thanks guys 😊 Hope to see you soonest up in your part of the world

28/01/2022

Morning all
Day 3 of our 7 day confinement period after I tested positive for Covid on Tuesday. Mme Flash already positive since last week.
It's been unpleasant but not debilitating, more like a lightning bout of flu than anything. No doubt in my mind that we've been shielded from the worst by being double vaxxed and boosted.
So we'll just run the clock down and get on with our lives.
Happy Friday everybody 😊

31/12/2021

Just to let you all know that I'm still in a state of euphoric optimism vis-a-vis the 2022 season. 😳
Euphoric. Optimism.
Please take note.
Which brings us to the next item which is to wish you all a very pleasant evening this New Year's Eve. Stay clear of the omnishamblescron and don't forget to gargle your martinis.
Think of sunny evenings in the orchard, waiting for me to announce that once again dinner is saved and think of the gastric butterflies as you approach Devil's Drop and can't remember if the first hairpin goes left or right...

Happy New Year, people. God knows we're due one.
Hugs all round and "Cheers!"
Me & Mme Flash

02/12/2021

Hello all, greetings from a rather chilly Paradise. So chilly that I confess to not having ridden out recently and have instead turned my attention to negotiating the installation of a heat pump to replace our gas boiler. I'll let you know how we get on.
I have been swamped by messages of concern following my fall from my bicycle last August (see previous posts). I finally found time to see a specialist about six weeks after my off who confirmed that my thumb was/is well and truly broken and that we'd have to wait now until January when the bones will have consolidated before exploring surgical options.
Although movement is a bit limited it's now much better than it was and I may forego the scalpel altogether. Ho-hum, just another example, if one was needed, of the selfless heroism shown by all members of the FLASH coven.

Will the Evil Omicron steal Christmas? I've no idea but cling to the notion that it may well Save Every One Of Us (I like the sound of that) providing its very high infection rate is accompanied by a milder form of the disease, thus achieving the herd immunity we crave but without massive hospitalisations. In the interim get vaxxed and wear your mask. It's no big deal and it could save my life which, after all, is the most important thing.
Have a happy Christmas everybody! See you all in 2022
🤞🤞

19/10/2021

I'm not sure how relevant this petition is, the rules seem to change on a daily basis. I think you're OK bringing the bikes down in a van if they belong to you. You're only going to get taxed if you give your bike to a 3rd party to transport (eg for a Spanish trackday) as it then becomes "goods" as opposed to "personal belongings"
Brexit eh? Got to chuckle

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/598889

The Government must make an agreement with the EU to allow third parties to transport motorcycles, used for tourism, to and from the EU duty & tax free and agree with the EU that only a letter of authority from the motorcycle owners will be needed to transport motorcycles through the EU border.

12/10/2021

Dates for 2022

Well this is a bit embarrassing...
After two seasons of almost zero activity and a massive backlog of disappointed and deposit-paid-up Flashistas, I attempted 3 days ago to make some sense out of my 2022 bookings. Three hectic and fraught days later I finally brought it to a conclusion and was at last ready to post the remaining dates on our website... (Www.flashtours.co.uk)...only to realise that there weren't any left 😳😳
Of those who had paid deposits I've managed to accommodate all but a handful and have placed those on our previously non-existent standby list. If they can be patient I'm confident that I'll be able to squeeze them in once the natural attrition rate, due to "unforeseen" birthdays, holidays and weddings, kicks in.
To all others I can only apologise. On the website the dates are all still showing and are showing ONE slot remaining; this is just so the date doesn't drop off the page, there are in fact NO slots remaining.
I know you're all desperate to come, I would be too 🤔, so send me a request and I'll put you on the bucket list.
Of course, this might all be moot. Covid is still with us and I remember feeling optimistic about 2021 twelve months ago. That didn't end well.
But my natural boyish optimism will out and trust me you will all eventually get to the ball. Cinders

23/09/2021

Hello all. Typing this from deepest Hertfordshire. Got here this afternoon after braving the pile of red tape designed to keep me out. Ha!
Last weekend we had the last group of the year down at the Chateau. Team Damp but Happy experienced some truly dreadful weather on three of their mornings but which turned into bright, dry and sunny once we'd got to the really important sections of the circuits.
The run through the vineyards on the Sunday was one of the best I've seen, a real cracker.
Well done Dave 'n Lyn, Rob and Ros, Tom and Jasper. Two punctures, one malfunctioning rear master cylinder, split wets, zero visibility, one "fussy eater" who surprised himself by eating everything we threw at him... An absolute hoot. Blinding 😊
See you all next year

10/09/2021

Well! That was excellent!
Had that Team Aquaphobe from 2019 down here last weekend (at least those that braved the current slew of covid regs)
It was hot, one of the hottest of the year and the riding was very good indeed.
Hats off to Dee, Kim, Ally, Paul and Matt and also to Howard and Mark who, between them form the entirety of Team 2020 as they were the only ones we got a glimpse of last year.
Thanks to Howard for supplying the light relief by shooting up the conveniently placed escape route on the Quarry Road. You're in good company.
Thanks to Matt for bursting into "song" every time he took his helmet off.
Special mention for Nigel who turned up on Saturday and joined us for Oradour. Crazy kid.
All home safe, all negative for Covid. Result. And an absolute hoot
Thanks all, see you next year ☺️☺️

23/08/2021

God but the porridge is good this year!

August 2021
Team Genesis, small but perfectly small, has been making inroads into both the bitumescence of our local circuits and our oaty, hearty, breakfast. Both fit for Kings
First group down here since September 2019 when Team Aquaphobe ripped off their wets and learned to embrace their inner deluge.
Welcome back boys. Take a bow Fraser, Robin, Simon, Ian, Nigel and Russell. Thierry was supposed to join us but his RC8 had sprung a fuel leak.
It's been a hoot and it's not over yet.
My recent, indecently rushed, descent from my MTB has meant that every mile this weekend has been agony but I carry on nonetheless, waving at grannies and small children and strange people riding stranger 3-wheeled contraptions (a bit "Delboy meets Star Trek" )
Weather's been great all weekend and they announce more for today.
Onwards!

14/08/2021

Latest on documentation required to enter FRANCE from UK under covid restrictions

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements

These are the most up to date I've found. Oh! Except for the new circumcision requirement.
We can do that here

Latest travel advice for France, including how to stay safe during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and information on returning to the UK.

06/08/2021

We're going ahead with a weekend!

My god, I'd almost given up on ever writing those words this year...

So the 19th Aug is back on. We've got 5 slots available. I'm not expecting a stampede as those of you who cancelled have probably found something else outside France, but it is what it is. So it is

And, unless things change again ("That'll never happen!" I hear you say) the two weekends in September are still on. We've had some cancellations over the last month so there are some spaces available. Contact us if you're interested
Pip pip

16/07/2021

Hello everybody.
I know... I've been quiet...
I have been out on the road though and the circuits are as enjoyable as ever. All our cafés and restaurants are now open and keen to see us turn up with our strange demands for gravy on our chips, milk in our coffee and pineapple on our pizza.
If I haven't been posting much it's because there hasn't been much to say as long as we were in the dark as to the LATEST round of regulations covering your arrival and stay.
The next planned weekend is the 19th August and the current situation is as follows:

https://www.france24.com/en/france/20210714-france-s-new-health-pass-rules-raise-questions-as-many-scramble-to-adapt

In order to eat at a restaurant or stop for a coffee or, indeed, stay at ours, you're going to need a "health pass". If you've had your double vax you should have either a QR code on your covid app on your phone or a certificate. What I'm unsure of is whether your UK pass is valid in the EU. I think it is but you might want to check.
We're still a month away and I'm hearing grumblings that the UK might put France on its red list. By mid August the UK could be looking at 100k cases per day so that could also change things.
My advice is to check with the UK govt website to see what you need in order to get in and out of France and make sure that you can comply.
I really thought last year that we'd be OK by now... Best to ignore any Grand National or stock market tips I might try to force on you.
More to follow as it deteriorates/improves 🙄

21/05/2021

While we're waiting for you all to turn up we thought we'd freshen up the Raffles Room in order for you to benefit fully from our famous 1920s colonial vibe, a period most faithfully reproduced through the unassailable performance of the Red Dwarf.
Pip pip, tally ho, gin slings all round

16/05/2021

Hello all. Independent of any Covid restrictions covering entry into France this year, here are the rules that govern a holiday visit to France since 1 Jan 2021.
I'm checking which category we fall under for the purposes of your stay ("Hotel" or private accommodation) I'll let you know.

I believe this is accurate for current travel.

TRAVEL TO FRANCE FOR A SHORT HOLIDAY

How will British nationals be able to travel in France after the end of the transition period ?

From 1 January 2021, British nationals will be subject to more extensive checks. Travellers from the United Kingdom should carry a passport and arrive in good time at border posts for onward travel to the European Union. At border control they will have to take a separate lane from EU, EEA or Swiss citizens.

British nationals not having resident status in an EU Member State and who wish to visit France for a short stay or who are in transit to another Member State or from the Schengen area will not need a visa after 31 December 2020.
They will have to:

Show their passport, which will be stamped on entry and exit from the Schengen area. The maximum period for a short stay will be 90 days in any 180-day period.

Be able to prove that they have enough money for their stay. Normally, the minimum amount required for France will be 65 euros per day. [1]

Carry a certificate of insurance covering any expenses relating to medical/hospital treatment and death that might be incurred at any point during the stay in France, including medical repatriation costs.

The supporting documents needed to verify fulfilment of entry conditions are listed in Annex I of the Schengen Borders Code, available here.

[1] If a hotel booking is not produced as proof of accommodation, the minimum daily amount for staying in France will be 120 euros. If a hotel is booked for only part of a stay, the daily amount required will be 65 euros for the period covered by the booking and 120 euros for the remainder. For travellers with proof of private accommodation this sum will be 32.50 euros per day.

06/05/2021

Hello all. Here's the latest on the "déconfinement" in France

19 May
1) Curfew reduced to between 21h00 and 06h00
2) Non-essential shops allowed to open again
3) Bars, restaurants & cafés allowed to receive customers again but ONLY seated at tables outside and with a max of 6 per table
4) Museums, théâtres, cinemas reopen

09 June

1) Restaurants etc allowed to serve indoors with tables of 6 max

2) Foreign tourists (that's you lot) allowed into the country for holidays. Some form of "health document" required (to be defined)

So that's it. It means that we can get things moving from the 9th June, providing things don't change in the interim and that UK travel regs align with the French. What I don't know yet is whether you'll need to quarantine on arrival and /or on departure.

I suspect it's going to be "down to the wire" as far as getting over here with as little hassle as possible is concerned and I'll try to accommodate you by shifting dates to fit wherever possible.

More to come as the fog (slowly) lifts