WELCOME to Mike's place on the edge of the New Forest. He's lived in West Wellow long enough to be at one with the village and have more than a nodding acquaintance with rural life.
Certainly, Wellow is a tranquil spot and cheek by jowl with the National Park, has a uniquely relaxed atmosphere. Yet midway between the cities of Southampton and Salisbury, and just two and a half miles from the motorway, it is a village of contrasts.
The proximity of two major cities and with the village sitting astride the A36 Southampton to Bath road, puts it at the hub of a convenient communications network.
That's how Mike now devotes his time thanks to the use of high tech communications and the Internet, running web sites, editing emailed news bulletins, compiling press releases, editing a sailing magazine in print for the Royal Southampton Yacht Club and as a contributor to sailing magazines.
Retirement from the cut and thrust of daily newspaper journalism was expected to bring a complete change of life for Mike. Certainly perspectives have changed and he now enjoys the freedom of being able to pursue the interests which he enjoys.
His wife Jill maybe not quite so sure. She agrees that life has changed radically in four years, but says the demands on time are as critical as ever.
But then, one of those new passions is an interest in a family restaurant on the sunny Mediterranean Coast in the south west corner of France.
Mike Ford has spent a lifetime in journalism, retiring four years ago as southern region business editor of the Southern Daily Echo and associated publications within the parent group Newsquest Media in the southern region of the UK.
For more than 20 years he has been hon treasurer of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and is a member of its main committee and its executive committee.
He is also Club Editor to the Royal Southampton Yacht Club, a member of its main executive and house committees.
He is also a committee member of the Yachting Journalists' Association and its web editor.
THE FRENCH CONNECTION
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