I first visited France aged 13. A school trip to Calais, by bus and ferry from Cambridge. It was very exciting and the first thing I did on arrival in Calais was to find a boulangerie. I’d been practising for the duration of the ferry crossing but was still anxiously twiddling with my hands and running the phrase over and over in my head as I queued. Finally it was my turn. “Bonjour mademoiselle! Je voudrais une baguette s’il vous plait!” I was so proud of myself! There was however a slight pause and then ‘Mademoiselle’ said, in a distinctly Portsmouth accent, “Sorry, I’ve just started and I don’t speak any French.’
Some of these images are currently being exhibited with in the Postcards From Europe, Shutter Hub Exhibition, 12th January to 25th February 2022, Art at the ARB, University of Cambridge,Alison Richard Building, 7 West Road,Cambridge CB3 9DT
