A day in Provence

Spent the morning driving on fabulous roads from Cap Ferrat to Biot, near Antibes, in the south of France. The reason: testing a new Toyota Verso, with a BMW-sourced 1.6 litre diesel engine under the bonnet. Destination: Toyota's ED2 European design centre, where the designers soak up local light and colour to inspire their creativity.

We had a coffee stop at Restaurant Alain Llorca, La Colle sur Loup, where a cappuccino on the sun-baked terrace overlooking Saint Paul de Vence was a welcome change from being in the sodden south of England. The restaurant is famed for its food and also known for its art, which includes this fabulously vivid giant bug-like creation made by local Biot glassblowers.