Faire sonner le tocsin

Our village church bell

Faire sonner le tocsin, to ring the alarm bells.

This is a public information post for Friday 1^st August 2014.

The Prefect of Deux-Sèvres has given permission to all the Maires in the department to ring their church bells to commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the general mobilisation of troops for the First World War. I’m sure that this will apply to other departments too, so do not be alarmed if you are in France on Friday 1^st August and hear a cacophony of church bells ringing at 16h. Just take a moment to stop and think about the events that were about to unfurl one hundred years ago. 

Book review of A French Renaissance? by Eamon O'Hara

My review today is for A French Renaissance?: An Irish Family Moves to France by Eamon O’Hara. I really enjoyed this gentle and amusing memoir about an Irish couple, Eamon and Tanya, who move to Brussels for work, become a family with the arrival of Ned and Astrid and decide to make a new rural home in The Lot, France.

With their hearts set on the full fairytale French life, they find their modest chateau, with two towers and plenty of acreage, but even in the early stages their journey was not without a bit of heartache. I could almost hear Eamon’s lilting Irish accent as he took me with him to follow their dream, holding my hand to guide me through some of the more difficult situations they found themselves in. Their first few months of settling two young children into a new life, while coordinating building works to get the B&B up and running, and welcoming their first guests in the gîte, were more the stuff nightmares are made of, but an essential phase in the relocation process. As someone who has house-hunted in France with a pre-schooler, has experienced ear-splitting storms that come with rain so fierce it forces its way indoors and has had fun and games with local trades people, I could commiserate and/or laugh along. For those still in the dreaming period, hoping one day an idyllic life in rural France could be theirs; read this book, take notes and remember what you’ve read – you have been warned.

I might envy him having a tower to write in, but knowing how much time and effort goes into mowing and maintaining our modest acre of orchard, he can keep his forty acres and his tractor, although I can honestly say I have never read such an emotional chapter about tractors. Ever!

This is one of those memoirs where I have to ask – where did you find the time or energy to write it? Although, it was nice to read that they still made time, every now and again, to sit back and enjoy the beauty of their new environment. The Lot region really shines from his descriptions, so much so it made me want to plan a visit. You can see more information on staying with Eamon and Tanya at Laborie here.

A French Renaissance?: An Irish Family Moves to France is published by Orpen Press and is available in ebook and paperback. Links to Amazon are below. You can read more from Eamon on Facebook and on his website.

Cycling in the Pays Basques

Hotel Bellevue Cambo-les-Bains

After Biarritz it was only a short drive to our hotel in Cambo-les-Bains, the very pretty Hotel Bellevue, and our view over the mountains was indeed beautiful. There was off road parking for the car, a quiet swimming pool and a clean, bright and fresh smelling room (with a well equipped kitchen area) and balcony for our glass of rosé in the evening sun. However we needed to earn our apero so set off to explore on the bikes. 

The balcony Hotel Bellevue

I will admit at this point that after five minutes on the bike I lost the plot attempting to cycle the downhill ski runs that were masquerading as roads heading down to the river. I’m not great at climbing up hills on the bike, but a slow plod and lots of rasping breathes and I eventually arrive to crash out on the grass in a sweaty heap, it is difficult, sometimes it feels impossible but it isn’t scary. Fast descents whether on skis or wheels freak me out. I have no sense of exhilaration in freewheeling downhill, I don’t feel in control and I’m scared of falling off. Ade reckons I was born without a fully functioning adrenal gland and he may well be right.

We made the ten kilometres to Hasparren for a refreshing beer, but by sticking to the slightly flatter main road rather than the route we had planned. This made the cycling easier for me, but we had more traffic to deal with than when out and about at home. Cycling here took far more thought and planning than I was used to. Clipping out for junctions on slopes, setting off, clipping in, turning a corner and finding a steep incline, getting in the correct gear, all with a huge truck bearing down behind made me realise my skills, bike handling and confidence need quite a bit of work. It was as much a mental exercise for my brain as it was a physical exercise for my legs.

I was rested, relaxed, refuelled (having eaten a tart Basquaise and a delicious Gateau Basque) and feeling better about our full day on the bikes, until I spoke to the owner of the restaurant. She laughed when she heard of our plans saying she had once cycled the five kilometres to Espelette and would never do it again. This didn’t fill me with the confidence I needed to complete the 50km route we had plotted for the following day.

Hanging peppers in Espelette

Day two didn’t start as planned as Ade’s bike gave us a moment of de ja vu – an hour spent on the road side fiddling with mechanics and dislodging a foreign body from the gear selector, but we made it to Espelette for a late morning coffee. Despite the hundreds of other tourists who had flocked to this small but very pretty village, we found a shady terrace for coffee that was only 1.30€ a cup. It had even hung out its dried piment d’Espelette peppers on the walls in the traditional way, a sight I had been looking forward to seeing and wasn’t disappointed. Leaving Espelette we climbed the steepest climb I had ever climbed. Until I reached the top, I wasn’t sure that I would make it, but the compact gear on my new bike did me proud. 

Top of the world

We lunched in Ainhoa, a Plus Beaux Villages de France and just as pretty as Espelette but without the crowds. Our afternoon was spent meandering up and down hills, into and out of villages and enjoying the scenery of the area. 

Pepper plantations

We cycled through pepper plantations on the hillsides and enjoyed the scent of the hydrangeas that are as prolific there as hollyhocks are at home. The Basque people we met were very friendly and obviously as proud of their region as they are of their culture. We rarely saw a run down looking house and have never seen so many people out hedge cutting and house painting. 

A beer and a gateau Basque

My treat for the day was a cherry gateau Basque to go with my beer, yum yum!

Big mountains

On our last morning we followed the Nive river towards Itxassou and found ourselves a beautiful spot for morning coffee with eagles circling over head. Unfortunately we only managed about 16km as I hadn’t slept too well (the bed was comfy but the room too hot) and the hills were making me wobble.

The River Nive

It was lovely to experience an area of France I had wanted to visit, but just as lovely to be back in the gently undulating and curvaceous Poitou-Charentes. I’m not sure my spiritual home is in the mountains.

Lunch in Biarritz

The perfect spot for lunch in Biarritz

The same day that the Tour de France boys were leaving Carcassonne and heading to the Pyrenees, we were pounding the tarmac of the dual carriageways for the four-hour journey by car to the same mountains. Our paths were not destined to cross however as we were off to the Basque country with our bikes, to tackle our own mini mountain stage. With friends organised to look after the animals the bikes were loaded into the car and the remaining space filled with muesli bars, walnuts, chocolate, bananas and pasta pots. Despite looking forward to sampling the regional delights of Basque gastronomy, I couldn’t possibly leave home without any provisions; I’m funny like that.

We set off through the sunflower fields that gave way to the Cognac vineyards and that by the time we stopped for coffee had become Bordeaux vineyards. From Bordeaux to Biarritz we drove through the flat forested Landes; baby trees, big trees, fern covered forest floors with pretty purple flowering heather, asparagus fields and huge maize plantations. So different from where we live and where we were headed. Just north of Bayonne we got our first glimpse of the mountains. Huge, looming mountains. Steep, pointy mountains. Mountains that made my short, stubby legs feel weak just looking at them.

The old fishing port Biarritz

With Ade desperate to stretch his legs in the mountains and me pleased to be visiting an area I’ve had on my wish list for a while this was a trip designed to please us both, but lunch in Biarritz was an added bonus for me and a bargain at only 1.60€. We seemed to drive forever on dual carriageways interrupted by roundabouts, through uninspiring out of town areas. Something that seemed even more difficult on empty stomachs, although to be honest wasn’t much easier on our way out of town later. We even found ourselves on the same stretch of road going in the same direction on both journeys.

The promenade Biarritz

We parked in the Bellevue underground car park and emerged into the sun, to see the sea and all was forgiven until we saw the crowds. After a pretty stroll through terraced gardens we made our way to a waterfront terrace where lunch was served without delay - as I unpacked the homemade quiche and we ate with just the sparrows paying us any attention. A walk along the promenade to see the old fishing port, the rocky outcrops and pretty beach tents and we were happy to leave, although we may return out of season one day. Without the crowds it may be more our sort of place.

The beach tents Biarritz

Book review of The Hairy Hikers by David Le Vay

My review today is for The Hairy Hikers: A Coast-to-Coast Trek along the French Pyrenees by David Le Vay.

David and his mate Rob decide to set out on the GR10 hiking trail to walk off their mid-life crisis by crossing the Pyrenees from Atlantic coast to Mediterranean coast. We are planning a short trip to the western Pyrenees, taking our bikes, and this book gave me plenty of ideas of places I want to visit.

It would be easy to lose interest in a book where every day the narrative was - got up, had breakfast, booted up, walked mountains, arrived at overnight gite, ate dinner, etc. but there is always a little something of interest or an amusing tale to keep this book a lively read. One of my favourite funnies was set in the dingy broom cupboard of the Internet café trying to find the @ sign on a French keyboard. Much of the humour comes from him being a self-confessed Mr Grumpy, an insomniac and a social numpty, who spent two months, day and night, in close proximity to his mate, often staying in shared gite accommodation with strangers. I would have found it very difficult and he did struggle at times, but it made a very funny read, especially his description of the orchestra of sleeping sounds from his travelling companion.

As you would expect from two blokes alone in the mountains, proudly growing their beards and turning a little feral, talk often turned to farts and with a spot of wild camping, pooing in the woods got a mention too. While some may find this distasteful it amused me no end. It was one of those books I read with a grin.

The writing gave me the impression they were a likable duo who had fun on their adventure, despite the pains and issues they faced, and came out the other side of their mountains appreciating not only what they had achieved, but also the things that are important in life.

The Hairy Hikers: A Coast-to-Coast Trek along the French Pyrenees is published by Summersdale and available in ebook and paperback versions. From now until the 1^st September 2014 the ebook is only 99p on Amazon UK. David also has a new book out this summer, A Tour of Mont Blanc: And other circuitous adventures in Italy, France and Switzerland  that I'm looking forward to reading.

The Pendleton Initial Ladies Road Bike from Halfords

We have a new addition to our family who is stylish, sleek and sporty. I’m very excited as she is my first brand new bike since the mint green mountain bike I bought when I was 18 and that I still have, looking sad and neglected in the barn.

I give you the Pendleton Initial ladies road bike from Halfords, funnily enough, the same store I bought my mountain bike from twenty-five years ago.

Pendleton Initial Ladies Road Bike

Cycling has always been important in our French life and even when Ed was only four he was happily riding five km routes with us on the farm tracks, having learned to ride without stabilizers shortly after we moved here. In 2011 we became a family of road bike cyclists, a totally new experience for me. We all started off with second hand bikes and I fell in love with Bluebelle, my 1980’s Mercier bike. Together she and I covered about 2000km a year cycling the back roads of rural France and having fun. We’ve seen fields of all colours, storks, deer, monuments, churches, abbeys, chateaux, forgotten villages, rivers, the Atlantic and more. We even took part in a local event with real cyclists, see here. The decision to upgrade was not an easy one, especially as, until I found the Pendleton nothing had stirred my heart like my old Bluebelle, but for the sake of comfort the time is right to move on. I really hope I have found my forever replacement. I won’t be getting rid of Bluebelle but I think she has earned a quiet retirement.

I have ridden my first couple of hundred kilometres on my new bike and so far, so good. The handlebars are much more comfortable and changing gear is more straightforward, slicker and smoother. Her small frame is just right for my small frame. Ade reckons I have increased my average cruising speed by a couple of kilometres an hour, but I will never be speedy like the real Victoria Pendleton. For me cycling is more about the journey than personal bests.

With my new Pendleton Initial

This post is not sponsored by Halfords, but I spoke to them about their new Pendleton range and Victoria’s input in its design, and they gave me the following information:

"The Pendleton Initial road bike is the first road bike to be added to the Pendleton Collection. The specification, geometry, and design have all been chosen to perfectly suit the female cyclist. The smaller frame sizes were chosen so that the model caters for younger riders too, but the bike has been aimed at any female cyclist who is looking to get into road cycling, or to further their love for the sport.

Victoria played an integral part in the design process; right from the very first meeting her experience as a female cyclist has influenced every decision. As a result, everyone involved is extremely pleased with the final product, and we all hope that the new model inspires more women to start, and to continue, cycling."

I have to admit that although the white saddle it came with is beautiful, I have decided to keep the saddle I bought earlier in the year, see here. I have also taken the big step to progress to cycling shoes that attach to the pedals; something Bluebelle was too old to be compatible with. So far, I have managed not to fall off, but I’m sure that won’t last forever.

I will certainly be putting her through her paces this summer, including lots of cycling in Poitou-Charentes and short breaks in Normandy and the Pyrenees, where I hope her compact gear will help me glide effortlessly up the hills of the Basque Country. She is my little bit of British heritage who, like me, is very much at home cruising in France.

Pendleton Initial Road Bike in France

One of my reads this summer has been Victoria’s autobiography, Between the Lines. I was instantly hit by the drive, determination and emotion flowing through the book that left me gripped and page turning. I also learned a lot about the world of track cycling and what it takes to be a champion and my head was awash with emotions and adrenalin after reading this book.

Hot deals for summer Kindle reading

The French Village Bookworm

With the UK Kindle summer sale in full swing there are hundreds of great reductions and it seems books set in France are very well represented. I have done a bit of sharing on Facebook, but thought a post where they are all listed would also be a good idea. Many of these books are only 99p and most offers will be available until 1st September 2014, but please do check the prices before downloading.

To make the most of these offers why not treat yourself to a Kindle Paperweight. By using the code KINDLE4SUN at the checkout you will receive a £20 discount if you buy before Tuesday 22nd July. I hope you have a great summer reading about France, there is certainly enough here to keep even the most greedy bookworm very happy - even I've not read them all, yet!

In no particular order, here are the TWENTY-ONE books I've found on offer:

The President's Hat by Antoine Laurain, the story of a hat that belongs to President Mitterrand that finds itself in different hands and where we share snippets of the life of those new owners and the strange effect owning the hat has on their lives. I really enjoyed this book.



The People in the Photo by Helene Gestern, a relationship that unfolds between strangers who meet when one of them attempts to identify the people in an old family photograph. There journey leads them along a path with lots of family secrets that need to be unravelled if they want discover the truth. I really enjoyed this book.



Hot Sun, Cool Shadow by Angela Murrills, a book about the food of the Languedoc region in France. I've downloaded this and am looking forward to reading it soon.



Dark Summer in Bordeaux by Allan Massie, part of the Bordeaux Trilogy that I've downloaded and will be reading soon.



Cold Winter in Bordeaux by Allan Massie, part of the Bordeaux Trilogy that I've downloaded and will be reading soon.



Grape Expectation by Caro Feely, a book I very much enjoyed reading about a family move to a French vineyard and the hard work involved in setting up an organic wine making business.



Serge Bastarde Ate My Baguette by John Dummer, a funny look at life working the brocantes of south west France. John is helped and led astray by loveable rogue Serge. A very funny read.



Son of Serge Bastarde by John Dummer, more from John's life in France, more fun and being led astray by Serge, who is back with a son in tow. I really enjoyed this book.



The Dress Thief by Natalie Meg Evans, espionage and romance in the world of Paris haute couture. I've not yet read this book.



Toute Allure by Karen Wheeler, a lovely memoir of falling in love with a new life in rural France. I'm a big fan of all of Karen's books.



Bon Courage! by Richard Wiles, a book following the renovation project of a property in the Limousin region of France. This book is on my book shelf and I will be reading it soon.



Bon Chance! by Richard Wiles, following on from his first memoir this book is about settling into his new life and is also waiting on my book shelf.



Downhill all the Way by Edward Enfield, the journey of a bike ride from the Channel to the Mediterranean. Cycling and France - I'm looking forward to reading this one.



Ten Trees and a Truffle Dog by Jamie Ivey. I really enjoyed this book about a family looking to put down roots in Provence, raise their young children, train their puppy and try to sniff out truffles from the trees on their land.



Midnight Train to Paris by Juliette Sobanet, love, Paris, France and bit of time travel. I have enjoyed all of Juliette's romantic novels set in France.



Paris Requiem by Lisa Appignanesi a book I haven't yet read, but it's an historical novel set in Paris, 1899.



A House in the Sunflowers by Ruth Silvestre, one of my favourite memoirs about life in France. Different from the others as her family bought their holiday home in the 1970's when rural France was a very different place.



Two Lipsticks and a Lover by Helena Frith Powell, another one on my reading list. A witty look at French chic and that very French je ne sais quoi.



The Hairy Hikers by Davie Le Vay, a funny account of two middle aged men walking off their mid-life crisis by crossing the Pyrenees on foot. I really enjoyed this book.



The Girl you Left Behind by Jojo Moyes. I've not yet read this romantic story, where two women, separated by a century, are united in their determination to fight for the thing they love the most. There is a short story prequel to this book Honeymoon in Paris.

Book review of Follow My Heart by Frances Lawson

My review today is for Follow My Heart: Risking it all for a life in France by Frances Lawson.

Frances feels she must follow her heart and against all the odds make a new life for herself in France. She doesn’t ask for much, just the chance to live and work in France, a modest house, a small garden to grow vegetables, an income to keep her solvent and if possible someone special to share it with. I can understand the feeling in her bones that France is the country of her soul. I now also understand how much more complicated this move is for a single woman from New Zealand, with a daughter almost ready to fly the nest and a very limited budget. It was never going to be an easy journey.

With such a gorgeous front cover I couldn’t wait to dive in, but in keeping with her journey, things were slow to start. Unfortunately not everything went to plan and in the first few chapters we meet Nicolas the Parisian, an internet find who she hoped would help ease her move to France. It was obvious from the tone of the writing that things were not going to work out between them and I certainly tired of him and his antics long before Frances did. However, her determination was her strength and she picked herself up and made another plan that this time put her in France as a student at a language school. Despite her hard work doors were slow to open and obstacles were placed in her way, but eventually France became her place of work and although she hasn’t quite ticked off everything on her list, what she has managed to do is quite an achievement.

This is not an uplifting book, but it does show true grit and resolve and highlights lots of issues that expats (especially those from non-EU countries) have to face when settling in France. Many in her shoes would have given up, but she is still here in France and I salute her.

Follow My Heart: Risking it all for a life in France is available in ebook and paperback and links to Amazon can be found below. If your ebook reader shows colour pictures you will enjoy the photos of France that Frances includes with each chapter. The paperback version contains black and white pictures. I was sent a copy of this book by the author.

Le Tour Up North

This summer is turning out to be a year to remember the Tour de France, from when it exploded into life at it's grand depart in the UK to watching with despair as some of our British hopefuls crashed out spectacularly. My author friend and Tour de France fan Julia Stagg was in Yorkshire to experience the start and shares her day with us here.

No Wiggo, no Cav and now no Froome!

It was like inviting an exotic friend from much warmer climes to come and have a barbeque in your back garden. The whole of Yorkshire watched the weather for weeks ahead, an anxious eye on the nightly forecast, fingers, toes, arms crossed in hope. We were about to host the Tour de France and what those of us living in this beautiful county wanted above all else was sunshine. And a chance to impress.

The morning didn’t start off auspiciously. Low mist hugged the hills, a cold breeze tugged at cycling jerseys and goosebumps rippled flesh as we rode down into Hawes. Then the climb up Buttertubs, the heart pounding, the breath ragged as legs turned pedals, weaving in and out amongst the walkers. So many walkers. And all of us traversing the newly laid tarmac that the peloton would soon be cycling over.

We were in position by nine thirty, blanket on a bit of hillside, bikes stowed behind us, and by ten o’clock, what had been a fairly steady stream of people climbing the hill became a deluge. Families, couples, cycling clubs, people dressed as onion sellers, people dressed as sheep, people with flags and the children, so many children. If anything marked this stage of Le Tour as different to all the stages I’ve seen in the Pyrenees, it was the children.

They were all ages. Young teens on proper road bikes, in full kit, thin legs pumping furiously as they cycled uphill to roars of approval. Youngsters on small bikes, pedalling hard, a firm hand reaching out from the crowd every now and then to push them for a few paces as klaxons sounded. And the little ones, the tiny ones on bikes being towed along by dads, waving like chauffeur-driven royalty as cow bells heralded their approach. ‘I have to tell you son,’ said one cycling father to his beaming child who was riding alongside him, the tumultuous approval of the watching hordes giving him a taste of being a professional rouleur, ‘it won’t always be like this!’

Gendarmes on UK roads

By the time the helicopter sounded overhead, we’d forgotten to worry about the weather. We were too busy having a party. The publicity caravan went through in a blur of festivity and then they were here, the men of Le Tour, bronzed legs, colourful lycra, a tunnel of noise welcoming them onto Cote de Buttertubs. Allez allez called out the crowd. And the sun burst from behind the clouds and the Dales looked magnificent.

The peloton 

Within minutes they’d passed and a collective sigh eased out from the thousands gathered on the hillside. We’d done it. We’d invited them here and we’d given them a day to remember. We’d even made the sun shine. The only question left to ask is when can we do it all again?

Thanks for sharing and the great photos Julia. I was lucky enough to be in London to see them arrive on day three and I will share my day with you soon.

Julia Stagg writes fiction set in the Ariège region of the French Pyrenees, an area she discovered through her passion for cycling. Her latest novel, A Fête to Remember, is available now (Hodder & Stoughton £7.99).

www.jstagg.com

@juliastagg

https://www.facebook.com/staggjulia

Book review and giveaway of A Fete to Remember by Julia Stagg

Today I'm reviewing A Fête to Remember (Fogas Chronicles 4) by Julia Stagg, the fourth book in Julia's series of tales from the Pyrenean commune of Fogas. Over the years I've become a big fan of Julia's work and the anticipation and excitement to once again feast my eyes on the goings on of this community had me all tingly inside and from the first sentence I knew I wasn't going to be disappointed as I was already laughing. The ease at which the mind slips back into Fogas is testament to Julia's skill as a writer, as despite it being a year since I read the last book I was immediately back and feeling very much at home. Although I do recommend reading the previous books this book could be enjoyed with no prior knowledge of the commune.

We join the residents as they try to fight the bigger boys in order to keep the village independent, but whatever the outcome things look set to change for everyone and more than one character gets more than they were hoping for. There is love, but not quite romance, mysterious appearances, disappearances and an anonymous supporter whose identity leads to suspicion and trouble. We find ourselves in a community fighting together but at the same time where friends and family members were often at odds and emotions were running high. The intense passions often had my heart racing and my mind screaming at the pages. The food, the mountain scenery and village life were described to perfection making me laugh, cry and hungry. Knowing a bit about village life in France and now dipping my toes into local politics I can't fault Julia's research into the French bureaucracy facts that make her fiction so plausible.

I reached the end with a huge grin on my face, but did suffer an end of book hangover - after finishing on a high I quickly experienced the gloomy doldrums when the reality of having to wait a year for the next book sunk in. There will be trouble ahead I'm sure, but I can't wait to see what will happen next. So far in Fogas we've had fetes, fires and fights. New arrivals, new births and new bears. Deaths, dangers, drama and even the Tour de France. I'm really hoping the last book will give us a wedding!

If you haven't read the other books yet, do go and check them out as they are all humorous, fun and exciting and make perfect holiday reading, especially if you're not lucky enough to be holidaying in France this year. Here are my reviews of the other books:

L'Auberge

The Parisian's Return

The French Postmistress

The Fogas Chronicles are published by Hodder and Stoughton, who kindly sent me a copy to review, and are available in paperback and ebook format. Links to Amazon are below.

I am delighted to have a brand new paperback copy of A Fete to Remember to giveaway to one lucky reader, although because of postage costs I will have to limit this giveaway to Europe only, sorry. Just email me at frenchvillagediaries@gmail.com with A Fete to Remember as the email subject. Don't forget to include your postal address. The winner will be the first name drawn out of the hat next Tuesday 8th July.

Book review of The Church of Tango by Cherie Magnus

My review today is for The Church of Tango: a Memoir by Cherie Magnus. This book is sad, steamy, full of hope, honest and heart warming.

Cherie loses her husband and childhood sweetheart to cancer and her life changes forever. The first decision she makes is to head to Paris, alone, and learn French for a fortnight. Something in Paris reawakens her heart and she learns to live again, but there are challenges to face. Life throws many nasty shots her way, from cheating friends, love rats and her own health issues. But Cherie is a fighter. She finds tango and feeds off the incredible energy of this dance of passion. Forced to sell the family home where they had raised their children, she tries Paris, Los Angeles and Mexico before settling in her spiritual home of Buenos Aires. Here she finds peace in the hot, smoky, crowded tango halls where, like an addict, she must attend and dance the night away. Her life now is very different to when her husband was with her and the strength, courage, energy and passion she shares is nothing short of amazing.

This is an emotional read, life isn’t always easy but this shows how far you can take yourself if you really try. Throughout the book she stirred my emotions, I felt angry at the way some people treated her and in other places I shed a tear or two.

Keep on dancing Cherie and thank you for sharing your story.

The Church of Tango: a Memoir is available in ebook and paperback and links to Amazon are below.