France et Moi interview with author Gayle Smith Padgett

Welcome to ‘France et Moi’ where this week I am talking to memoir author Gayle Smith Padgett about what France means to her. You can read my review of Passion for Provence, 22 Keys to La Belle Vie here.

 

Gayle Smith Padgett

Gayle Smith Padgett, a UCLA graduate, has two master’s degrees, neither in French. After studying in Mexico and South America, she worked as a language specialist in California and Virginia and later as a management analyst and US government liaison in Heidelberg, Germany. In 2011, she and her husband moved to Provence, where they continue to crack French codes.

To find out more, visit her website here.

Firstly, I think France is a special place and is famed for many things including its cheese, wine and diverse holiday locations plus, dare I say it strikes and dog poo littered streets. What do you think makes France so very unique and ‘French’?

Gayle: The top prize in the What-Makes-France-So-Very-Unique category has to go to the high priority given to quality time with friends and family— while still being incredibly productive. But a close second goes to the reverence for food—from the place it comes from to how it’s presented. 

2) When you first arrived in France what was the best thing about being immersed in French life and the scariest thing? 

Gayle: The relatively relaxed pace—compared to the United States—is such an alluring part of life here, which leads to the also very enticing occasional extended lunch. The scariest thing was that my husband had to have an operation to replace a cervical disc. It was a tense time, but the surgeon in Marseilles was fabulous and it all worked out extremely well. 

3) Having lived in Provence and spoken French for many years do you have any top tips for my readers on how to learn French? 

Gayle: Everyone is different, but for me, it’s a combination of study and practice. For the study part, I’ve had luck with the series of materials used to prepare students for the official diplomas recognized by the French Ministry of Education. Using these materials, I passed the first level called the DILF: Diplôme Initial de Langue Française, and now I’m chugging along through the next level called the DELF: Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française. For the practice part, joining groups and clubs is a fun, no-pressure way to chat with native French speakers in real-life scenarios.   

4) With plenty of space and lovely scenery Provence is a great place to explore. If you were to take a day off where would you head to?

Gayle: Outdoor markets are a big draw for me, so I’d head to the charming village of Lourmarin for the Friday market—sunny skies permitting. Isle-sur-la-Sorgue also has a terrific market— on Sunday—but I’d avoid high season. In July and August, it’s so crowded, you’ll never get out of waddle mode after ten o’clock. (The same advice goes for visiting Saint-Remy’s exceptional Wednesday market.) My husband Ralph, who is an avid birdwatcher, would head to the Camargue, that spectacular birding area south of Arles where the Rhône feeds into the Mediterranean Sea.

5) Every region in France has its own culinary specialty, do you have a favourite regional dish? 

Gayle: Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, where we live, is a distinctly agricultural area, and the local produce is outstanding. You can’t beat a house-prepared ratatouille, made from farm-fresh veggies and local olive oil. It’s a whole new world compared to the store-bought version. Oh, and when in Marseilles, it’d have to be bouillabaisse.  

6) France has many different cheeses, a silly question, but which French cheese are you? A hard and mature Tomme, a soft, fresh and lively goat cheese, the creamy and rich Camembert or maybe the salty and serious Roquefort? 

Gayle: Since I’m immature for my age, I guess that’d make me a fresh goat cheese. Incidentally, chevre is one of my absolute favourite cheeses, especially delightful in a salade au chevre chaud.

7) What is your favourite thing to buy in a Boulangerie/Patisserie? 

Gayle: So many delectable choices. On special “carb” days, a buttery croissant is stellar, but otherwise a crusty, rustic baguette is my standard choice. But, then I can’t help lathering on butter studded with salt crystals. I guess, it’s all in moderation!

 

Passion for Provence

8) Can you describe your perfect French apéro for us, including the drink, the nibbles, the location and the company?

Gayle: The location would be our terrace in nice weather, and for company, our local buddies, a mix of French neighbors and expats. We’d begin with some bubbly and then move on to crisp, pale rosé. Along with olives, (particularly les olives cassées from Mausanne or Mouriés), cherry tomatoes, nuts, cornichons (love the brand, Maison Marc), we’d have a charcuterie and cheese platter served with baguette slices. I’d also add my latest new nibble recipe, made with endive leaves. First, creamy Boursin goes on each leaf, (placed in circles on a platter), followed by walnut pieces and a slice of apple. A sprinkle of chopped fresh basil adds a colorful touch. 

9) France has some beautiful cities and there are a few that constantly battle to be my favourite, what is your favourite French city and why?

Gayle: I adore Aix-en-Provence, where we lived for eighteen months before moving to Saint-Rémy. I’ll be forever enthralled by its beauty and vibrancy. As a university town, it has a very spirited vibe. The plane tree-lined Cours Mirabeau, the charming squares, graceful fountains, stunning architecture, not to mention the fabulous art museums—the new Caumont Art Center is incredible—all combine to capture hearts easily. 

10) If money and commitments were no object where in France would you like to own a property and what sort of place would it be?

Gayle: After my Lotto win, I’d snap up a honey-colored stone mas—traditional farmhouse—with grey-blue shutters and a magnificent view of Mont Sainte-Victoire, near the plateau where Cezanne liked to paint in Aix. From there, it’d be an easy twenty-minute stroll downhill to town, but a tougher climb coming home, which is a distinct drawback to this location. But, since resources are no object, I could simply call my driver!

Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions about France and you.

If you’d like to read more about Gayle you can visit her website here and her fun memoir is available in ebook and paperback format. Links to Amazon can be found below. You can read my review here.

Book review of It Started with a Note by Victoria Cooke

It Started with a Note by Victoria Cooke

It Started With A Note

Synopsis

One lost letter. A chance to change her life!

Superhero single mum Cath always puts other people first. But now that she’s seen her son safely off to university (phew!), life seems a little, well…empty.

So when Cath unexpectedly discovers some letters written by her great-grandfather during the First World War, she decides to take herself on an adventure to France to retrace his footsteps.

Cath expects to spend her holiday visiting famous battlefields and testing out her French phrase book. What she doesn’t anticipate is that her tour guide, the handsome Olivier, will be quite so charming! Soon Cath isn’t simply unearthing the stories of the past – she’s writing a brand new one of her own, which might end up taking her in a very unexpected direction…

My Review

This book is a great mix of feel-good romance and history brought to life; an unusual combination, but one that I thought worked well.

Cath, a single mum whose son has just left for uni, stuck in a job she has had for years just to pay the bills and with a brother who deserves a kick up the backside, needs a change from the norm. With the discovery of a collection of letters written from the trenches by her great-grandfather, plus a bonus from work and a pushy younger colleague, and before she realises it Cath is on holiday in France, tracing her great-grandfather’s war journey.

Travel isn’t something Cath has much experience in, so travelling alone is a bit daunting at first, until she meets two older American couples in the hotel bar. This great fun group take her under their wing and invite her along on the battlefield tours they have booked. Tour guide Olivier is keen to share his local knowledge, especially with someone so interested in the history of the area and a friendship begins to develop. Despite enjoying being around Olivier, Cath knows that for two independent people with lives in two different countries, anything more than friendship would be impossible.

This is an emotional read, both as we follow Cath’s journey learning about life in the trenches for the young soldiers, and also as we witness her journey to discover what she wants out of life now her family are less reliant on her. Having visited many of the battlefield locations described in the book, I enjoyed going back, and having the personal letters interspersed throughout the book added an extra something. I also enjoyed the undeniable chemistry between Cath and Olivier that simmers away gently throughout the book. Despite quite a bit of encouragement from those around them, taking the required leap of faith to follow happiness, always seemed that one step too far. I became equally as convinced as they were that the happy every after we might all have wanted, was never going to be theirs. 

Author Bio

Victoria Cooke

Victoria Cooke grew up in the city of Manchester before crossing the Pennines in pursuit of her career in education. She now lives in Huddersfield with her husband and two young daughters and when she’s not at home writing by the fire with a cup of coffee in her hand, she loves working out in the gym and travelling. Victoria was first published at the tender age of eight by her classroom teacher who saw potential in a six-page story about an invisible man. Since then she’s always had a passion for reading and writing, undertaking several writers’ courses before completing her first romantic comedy novel, 'The Secret to Falling in Love,' in 2016. 

Cooke's third novel, Who Needs Men Anyway? became a digital bestseller in 2018.

Social Media Links

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16345710.Victoria_Cooke

https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaCookeAuthor/

https://twitter.com/VictoriaCooke10

https://www.instagram.com/victoriacookewriter/

Giveaway to Win a Signed copy of It Started With A Note (UK Only)

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Purchase Links 

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Started-Note-brand-new-uplifting-adventures-ebook/dp/B07D45VCSL

US -https://www.amazon.com/Started-Note-brand-new-uplifting-adventures-ebook/dp/B07D45VCSL

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Book review of Passion for Provence by Gayle Smith Padgett

Passion for Provence 22 keys to la belle vie
Gayle Smith Padgett

Review of Passion for Provence: 22 keys to la belle vie

Today I am reviewing Passion for Provence by Gayle Smith Padgett, a memoir of a new life in Provence for US retirees Gayle and Ralph.

A honeymoon in France and many years spent working in Germany sowed the seed of a retirement in Provence, and this book tells their story of how they made it happen. From the beginning I realized that the one thing Gayle and Ralph don’t seem to do is retire lazily into a sedentary Provencal life, although they are not averse to a lie-in or relaxing on their terrace and enjoying a view of the mountains. These two super-fit outdoorsy people regularly enjoy walking, hiking and playing tennis. I loved the energy they gave off and felt their hobbies truly enabled them to make most of all Provence has to offer. Expertly packing their days, there was still room for plenty of leisurely lunches, excursions further afield and a spot of bird watching too. They are an inspiration. 

Their dedication to getting it right, from using pet-sitting assignments to establish their ideal location, to ensuring they ticked the correct boxes of French bureaucracy came across clearly. Gayle was not merely content to learn the language but obtained an official qualification in it too – chapeau ! As a soon to be ex-EU citizen, I hung on her every word when she described the antics (and costs) involved in renewing the annual residency permit and the nail-biting wait to see if the golden ticket of a ten-year card would be forthcoming. 

 

Passion for Provence 22 keys to la belle vie
Gayle Smith Padgett

Gayle’s humorous writing style often made me smile and made following their journey very enjoyable. This book has something a bit different to other memoirs as added to the end of each chapter is a little key to make settling into French life easier. These often made me laugh, or nod in agreement, and I always looked forward to discovering the next one. 

If you love to read memoirs about life in France, take this one on your holiday this year, you won’t be disappointed.

Many thanks to Gayle for sending me a copy of her book. Links to Amazon can be found below.

Spring once again

Golden hazel catkins in the orchard

The change in the weather from winter to spring makes me very happy, so imagine my delight when this week all the signs of spring I eagerly look out for seem to have come at once. 

The wind and rain of last week have become frosty mornings that have given way to blue sky and warm sunshine, meaning wash load after wash load, day after day, have dried outside. This along with my super new washing machine, (who knew they had become so big, so fast and so quiet in the last 14 years) means I finally cleared the heap of non-essentials that have been festering in the laundry room since autumn. 

This week the goose, the ducks and the chickens have all started laying again, which for birds who are past their prime, (Brucie the goose will be ten this spring), is more than I could have expected at the first sign of warmer weather. Now I am flush with eggs once more, I’ve made my first quiche that I enjoyed with salad, on a little bistro table that I dusted off and set up outside the kitchen door.

The orchard is also coming to life; the hazel catkins are dangling like gold in the sun and the wild orchids are pushing through the grass. The first daffodils have ripe buds that will be in flower very soon and our resident Little Owls are busy (and noisy) day and night, preparing for the breeding season, I assume. Every trip out there reminds me of the work that needs tackling now the earth is warming up.

From a dog walk

Whenever I am outside, in the garden, walking the dog or out on my bike, my eyes are drawn up to the sky and my ears are listening for unmistakable sound of the migrating cranes. Yesterday, although not close enough to photograph, I heard and then spotted my first V of birds heading north, a sure sign spring really will be here soon.

Open skies on a bike ride

There is energy and new life to be felt everywhere making me feel more alive and that I must get out and enjoy it. I have now completed 300kms of my 2019kms cycling challenge, including 50kms this week out by myself. This might not seem like much, but to me it is a huge achievement. Not since 2014, when my epilepsy came back to kick me in the teeth, have I got on my bike without Adrian by my side (or rather somewhere out in front, but with me none the less). I’m not taking unnecessary risks, but I'm becoming bolder and refuse to let it beat me. 

Planning - cycling the canal de la Garonne

We are also busy planning (and training for) the first of our 2019 adventures that will not only give me an overnight stop in Bordeaux, something I have wanted for a long time, but also another cycling touring holiday and at last, my first visit to the city of Toulouse. I can’t wait, but I do hope the weather will be kind to us as everything seems so much easier to cope with if served with a generous helping of sunshine.

Book review of The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff

The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff

As part of the TLC Tour, my review today is for The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff, you can read an excerpt here.

SYNOPSIS:

From the author of the runaway bestseller The Orphan’s Tale comes a remarkable story of friendship and courage centered around three women and a ring of female secret agents during World War II.

1946, Manhattan

One morning while passing through Grand Central Terminal on her way to work, Grace Healey finds an abandoned suitcase tucked beneath a bench. Unable to resist her own curiosity, Grace opens the suitcase, where she discovers a dozen photographs—each of a different woman. In a moment of impulse, Grace takes the photographs and quickly leaves the station.

Grace soon learns that the suitcase belonged to a woman named Eleanor Trigg, leader of a network of female secret agents who were deployed out of London during the war. Twelve of these women were sent to Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they never returned home, their fates a mystery. Setting out to learn the truth behind the women in the photographs, Grace finds herself drawn to a young mother turned agent named Marie, whose daring mission overseas reveals a remarkable story of friendship, valor and betrayal.

Vividly rendered and inspired by true events, New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff shines a light on the incredible heroics of the brave women of the war and weaves a mesmerizing tale of courage, sisterhood and the great strength of women to survive in the hardest of circumstances.

MY REVIEW

Based on the real-life female agents sent into Occupied France to assist the underground network in the sabotage of German supply lines, this is a complex work of fiction that follows the incredible stories of three women; the mysterious London based Eleanor Trigg, SOE agent Marie, and Grace, who stumbles upon a snippet of their lives and is determined to uncover the truth.

These three women, while all very different, were all strong characters who had faced loss and sadness in their pasts, that served to give them the grit and determination to rise up to the challenges the war presented. Fighting for the right to be heard in an all-male environment, the fear of being sent into the unknown, the comradery between the agents and the dreadful situations they found themselves in, plus the grief at their losses, all came through in the detailed descriptions in this book.

With the three storylines running simultaneously, there is always something left hanging as we switch back and forth from New York to London to Occupied France, and while this can cause confusion, I found it added to the suspense and kept my interest as the book unfolded. In places, I struggled with the plausibility of the plot and one too many convenient coincidences, but as the author reminded me at the end of the novel, it is a work of fiction and I did enjoy discovering the final piece of the jigsaw at the end. 

This book will appeal to those who enjoy historical novels set during The Occupation, where the female characters show their many strengths in face of adversity.

 

Pam Jenoff

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Connect with Pam

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Lazy Sunday in France, to work, or not to work?

Farewell my friend

Life is all about balance, do I make the sensible choice or follow my heart, until sometimes, the decision is made for you. 

We awoke today with that warm fuzzy feeling that comes from seeing sunshine once more after a week of high winds and rain, but it left me with a dilemma. Should I crack on with the washing, in order to watch it billowing gently on the line as it dries, enjoying the fresh smell only line-dried laundry gives? Or, do we head out on the bikes?

Penultimate resting place

Sadly, this time decision was made for me. My trusty friend, who has been my laundry buddy for fourteen and a half years, finally hung up her spin today. It is true that she has been in the final stages of heart failure for many a month, but we still achieved a good wash, even if it did involve quite a bit of input from me as I manually moved the programme through the cycle. However, today, there was no drum movement, all was still. It would have been a peaceful and dignified end, if the process of getting her down the stairs hadn’t been so brutal.

This week I foresee shopping trips and washing machine pros and cons spreadsheets, followed by much puffing and swearing as we attempt to manhandle a new laundry buddy up the stairs, and then no doubt lots of head scratching as I attempt to work out the new instructions.

For today, you’ll find me out on Katie the Tiny Tourer!

 

#KTTinyTourer #BromptoninFrance

Book review of Are We French Yet by Keith Van Sickle

Are We French Yet by Keith Van Sickle

Are We French Yet? Keith & Val’s Adventures In Provence

(travel memoir) Release date: December 15, 2018 at Dresher Publishing ASIN: B07L6N3JK7 157 pages Author’s page | Goodreads  

SYNOPSIS

Can Two Americans Really Become French? Val and Keith turned their lives upside down when they quit their jobs and moved to Provence. But they wondered: Can we fit in? And maybe become French ourselves? Follow their adventures as they slowly unlock the mysteries of France… – Is it true that French people are like coconuts? – Can you learn to argue like a French person? – What books have changed French lives? – Most important of all, how do you keep your soup from exploding? There’s more to becoming French than just learning the language. If you want the inside scoop on la belle France, you won’t want to miss this delightful book!

MY REVIEW

I enjoyed the first memoir from Keith, One Sip at a Time, and even mentioned in my review how it left me wanting more, so I was keen to step back into Keith and Val’s part-time Provençal life in Are We French Yet? 

Keith and Val are doers not just dreamers. They wanted to experience more than just regular holidays in France, so they changed their work life to give them the flexibility to spend three months each year in Provence. They wanted to ensure they learned French and had French friends, so they got out and found language partners, who over time became friends. This ‘we can do it’ attitude is to be commended. They now enjoy the richness that mixing regularly with French friends gives you, even when back at home in the US. They have learned about the culture, politics, food and more, often around a table, where leisurely meals with wine ensure their learning method is enjoyable too. But they are not afraid of hard work and even their method takes plenty of effort. They avidly read the French newspapers every day, put their all into their homework assignments and are not afraid to pick up a French novel in one hand and a dictionary in the other. There are many of us Anglophones living in France who could take a leaf out of their book.

In this second book Keith takes us with him on vineyard picnics, theatre soirees, medical appointments and more. Each little window on their French life is written with his obvious love of France, lots of humour and every now and then a little frustration at the French way too. I enjoyed this book, a bit more than the first, and I’m sure that memoir lovers of all things French will also love it and hopefully learn something too. From places to visit in Provence, food to try and top tips for learning French, this book has it all.

Keith Van Sickle

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Keith Van Sickle is the author of the Amazon best-seller One Sip at a Time: Learning to Live in Provence. A lifelong traveler who got his first taste of overseas life as a university student in England, Keith later backpacked around the world on his own. But it was the expat assignment to Switzerland that made him fall in love with Europe. With his wife Val and their trusty dog Mica, he now splits his time between California and Provence, delving ever deeper into what makes France so endlessly fascinating. Find the author on Facebook and Twitter Visit his website Subscribe to his mailing list and get information about new releases.

Buy The Book On Amazon.Com or see below for links to Amazon UK

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You can read my review of One Sip at a Time here and my France et Moi interview with Keith here.

Lazy Sunday in France, 2019 cycling challenge

Katie the Tiny Tourer Brompton in France

Welcome to my first Lazy Sunday in France post for 2019. I still enjoy lazy days in France, but this year I have set myself a not-so-lazy challenge; to cycle 2019kms on Katie The Tiny Tourer, my new Brompton bicycle.

 

Out and about with Delilah 

Our Brompton journey started with a practical commuting bike for Adrian when in the UK, but quickly became so much more. As well as commuting, he took ‘Delilah’ for coffee (and posted pics), he took her out at weekends (and posted pics) and he even shared hotel rooms with her (and sadly shared these pics too). I can’t say I blame him, as having hired a Brompton in UK over Christmas 2017, it was fun, comfortable and a bit quirky, just like me. While I am not the jealous sort, the time had come for me to have my own slice of the Brompton action. 

 

Brompton bicycles in France

Why Brompton?

Here are the top five reasons I now prefer Brompton cycling to road bike cycling: 

1)   The Brompton is small and compact, a little like me, so it is a good fit for my small frame. 

2)   It is a comfortable ride, especially with the Brooks leather saddle, and despite the small wheels, the gearing and geometry is so good it isn’t more effort than the road bike with its big wheels and long stretch to the handlebars.

3)   The design. I may not be stylish, but I do like a well-designed object (which it is) and I also love the quirky, individuality you get with a Brompton. On a recent club ride in UK, with around 30 others, no two bikes were the same.

4)   Although an ideal commuting bike, the great luggage options mean the Brompton is good for cycle touring too. We have rear racks and front mounts, and bags of various sizes, giving us options for full tours as well as days out with a picnic.

5)   They certainly turn heads, especially when you are out with more than one, so we’ve already had plenty of admiring glances here in France.

 

Daisy in London

Do you choose your Brompton or does your Brompton choose you?

Initially, I thought I was heading to the UK for Christmas, and to meet ‘Daisy’, a white Brompton S6R that Adrian had bought second hand in October. She wasn’t a surprise, but the two day break he planned for us between Christmas and New Year, certainly was. Day one saw us touring the Regents Canal from West London to the Thames at Limehouse, before overnighting in Greenwich, then following the Thames path back west, covering 90kms in total. We had a blast; the weather was great and being out on the bikes together was bliss, but although Adrian gets on well with the flat, sporty S type handlebars, for me the more traditional M type (that I had on my hired Brompton in 2017) was more comfortable.

Which is where ‘Katie the Tiny Tourer’ came in. Sitting on a shelf in a west London bike shop, our paths mysteriously crossed on day one of our London adventure. Fate definitely had a hand as she was a perfect, stylish colour combination, had the M type handlebars I knew I needed, a Brooks leather saddle and to top it off, a promotional price tag. In a moment of madness, we paid for her, carried on to Greenwich as planned and then returned to collect her the following day.

 

Cycling the Marais Poitevin, Brompton bicycles in France

Adrian will continue to commute with Delilah in the UK but now also has Daisy to use when we are cycling together in France. This opens up the possibility for Brompton touring over here, especially as both Daisy and Katie have the additional luggage racks fitted, and Daisy came with a set of front and rear luggage. Everything seemed to be fitting into place perfectly, however, Daisy wasn’t very happy with Katie’s arrival. Having cycled over 3000kms in a year on Delilah and suffered no punctures, Adrian has now had to deal with 3 Daisy punctures in quick succession.

Then we then stumbled across this blog post here; a fun looks at what your choice of Brompton colour says about you, that I found to be spookily accurate. It would seem that Daisy and I were never meant to be together, as a white Brompton is for clean, neat people who are meticulous in their appearance and personality. I may strive for an orderly and uncluttered lifestyle, but it’s never going to happen. Katie is part Ivory, for honest and trustworthy people, who are good listeners, and part Tempest Blue for those of us with deep and brooding thoughts who spend a lot of time within our own minds. Well, what can I say except sometimes being inside my head is not the best place to be, but I do hope I am a good friend to those who need one.

 

Katie the Tiny Tourer, Brompton in France

Back to my 2019 challenge

There is nothing quite like a good bike ride to clear your head and calm your mind, and with 2019 being the year of the Brexit, I know that this year I will need cycling to be my head-clearing focus. This led to the crazy idea of cycling 2019kms in 2019, which is quite a jump from the 700kms I cycled last year, gulp. While we would love to set off touring once more, a lot will depend on what happens in the murky world of politics, as planning anything with the uncertainty we are living with isn’t easy. To meet my target, being more bike focussed is certainly the way forward: if the weather is good – get out for a quick blast on the bike, if we need a few bits from the shops – take the bike.

One day back in France, however, and my great plan of fitness for 2019 was in jeopardy. Dodging the patchy fog, we took the bikes out to test my quick and easy 6kms village loop. Planned to ensure I’m never too far from home when cycling without Adrian, keeping to tarmac surfaces, rather than gravel paths, and easy to complete within 20 mins, I was hoping to do it at least five times a week. I just hadn’t planned on the mud. Every surface in and around the village is used by farmers in tractors as they drive from one field to another. The mud flicked up from the wheels onto the frame, blocked the gap between the tyre and the mud guards and splattered itself everywhere. Adrian doesn’t do muddy bikes, in fact he has far more lotions and sprays, plus applicators, cloths and buffing rags for bike cleaning than he does for personal care. He says if I’m out by myself I’ll need to learn to clean the mud from Katie’s delicate areas, to prevent damage and rust. Eek, I thought he’d have realised by now, after more than 20 years of marriage, a cleaning fairy I am not.

Luckily by stretching my legs just a little further, we now have an 18kms route, where I’m never more than 10kms from home, that can be done within an hour and is on much clearer roads. 18kms twice a week, for 52 weeks, sees me well on the way to my 2019kms cycling challenge. With a few kms under my belt before we even returned to France and a fair effort since getting home, I am delighted to report that I have already cycled 166kms, so only another 1853kms to go. 

This increased off-season cycling is already working its magic and I’m feeling much better than I usually would in January. This has resulted in the house having had a good clean, clear out and reorganise; so onwards and upwards Katie, together you and I can conquer anything.