ラボンバは、プライベートプール付きの華やかな田園地帯のすばらしい農家です。

Francophile and former TV executive-turned-chef, I first bought the house as a wreck back in 2001. After 4 fraught but rewarding years, La Bomba was finally habitable and fit for guests in the summer of 2005.

The following year my wife and I got married in the village church and we held the reception in the house and grounds. Without a doubt the happiest day of my life and you can see some photos on the website - details below.

After 15 years in London we now live in the bustling port city of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands where we run a catering business.

I fell in love with the area when visiting my sister who was living there for a few months on an exchange back in 2001. The area is known locally as the Lauragais and it is a truly undiscovered gem of a region.

Fantastically fertile, in the summer it is a riot of colour with wonderful vistas of sunflowers, wheat, and poppies in every direction. Though there's masses of good wine produced locally (Minervois, Corbieres, Fitou) the soil of the Lauragais is far too good for grapes!

If there's one thing lacking it is immediate proximity to the sea but there's a fantastic pool at the property and there's even a beach just 15 minutes away at Lac Saint Ferreol.

Once you've come once you will want to come again and again. It is one of the most delightful spots on earth.