The 'Woman of the month' feature is about real women doing real things and on The Riviera Woman, we love to read stories that inspire us and motivate us. As we start a new year, we want to recall all of our women of the month featured during 2016 as they deserve to have a mention one more time.

As you know we usually have only women in this feature but there is someone that has played a very significant role in the history of The Riviera Woman without whom the website could not have existed... See below!

Susanne Batstone, Maria McLean, Kellie Delkeskamp, Berit Nielsen,
Birgitt Nordbrink, Eléonore Schoettel-Kuentz

Alessandra Zunino Tracy Rohan, Ines O'Donovan, Jill Pirdas, Maggy de Grés

The Riviera Woman started its journey very humbly back in 2007. Yes, we are celebrating 10 years this year! When I started I had no idea how I would develop the magazine and how I would be able to keep up a publication in a very challenging media world but I did and I believe that this was because I stayed true to myself and true to what I wanted The Riviera Woman to represent.

We have been pioneers on many levels and in many areas, by becoming the first online multi-media publication for English speaking women living and working on the French and Italian Rivieras. I have had many ups and downs, experienced trials and tribulations but always drawing inspiration and motivation from everyone I met. I remember one of the first things I said when I started The Riviera Woman and this was that The Riviera Woman could be anyone and everything. It could be me or you, it really didn't matter but if it helped one person, then it will have served its purpose.

I could not have achieved any of this if I did not have both moral and smart technical support. Lucky for me this talent came in the form of the protagonist Graham Trott who created the website platform which allows me to manage and develop the site all on my own. So in view of this, I thought it would be extremely fitting and fun for Graham to be our first honorary Riviera Woman... and to answer our famous 5 questions this month.

Our 5 Famous Questions

Answered by Graham Trott

1) What makes you smile?

The view from my terrace constantly changing with light and shade. It makes me feel very much at peace. Another thing that makes me smile is unexpected success!

2) What or who inspires you?

The late Douglas Adams, author, for the way he effortlessly found humour in any of life's situations and gently poked fun at human weakness without seeking to offend anyone.

3) Do you believe in gut instincts?

Yes, I believe the older you get, the more trustworthy they seem to become.

4) Your three essential things if you were stuck on a desert island would be what?

Toothbrush, hunting knife, strong pair of shoes. Alternatively a cyanide pill - I don't want to be stuck on a desert island...

5) If you are planning a day/night out, what do you enjoy doing the most?

Coming home!

Graham Trott