Moving on.........

My Summer in France is over and I decided to sell my car. It's time to move on! I have virtually visited every corner of Brittany with it's gorgeous villages and breathtaking scenery. France has soaked into my skin and I j'adore her!

Time was spent with my buddy Michelle who flew over from Oz to visit Paris and indulge in France's delights. We had a great time together as usual and explored the famous "rose granite" coast of northern Brittany, ate a seafood feast in Paimpol, "ooohed and aaaahed" at stunning chateaus and just had fun watching "knights" jousting and fencing. (see extremely gorgeous spunky knight below! Oh to be young again!!!) We rented a country cottage near a fishing village and indulged in the sights. I look forward to my next adventure with Michelle..........My Becky also visited which I have already written in a previous post and that time was just unbelievably special and loving. What travelers we have all become!

I also trekked up to Normandy for a few days on my own and visited some very famous landmarks. The D-Day beaches stirred my heart. I had NO IDEA how much planning went into that huge invasion. Did you know that the USA soldiers were training in the UK nearly 2 years before the invasion? I visited cemetries with a sea of white crosses marking the graves of the fallen, I listened to museum stories about the soldiers whilst pushing back the tears that stung my eyes. The coastline is stunning and dotted with old chateaus and villages all occupied during this trying time. It is extremely moving and definitely worth a visit if you get to this region.

On a lighter note I spent some fabulous hours examining the Bayeaux Tapestry, it is some 1000 years old and the colours are still visible in the story of 1066 - William the Conqueror. Bayeaux is an amazing town with ancient cathedrals and wonderful stores. I know I will return, the lure of France is simply too strong. I could go on but will post some photos below that tell their own story.


I am now spending some wonderful weeks with my Dad and Margaret in Munich, visiting friends and enjoying some super lunches in quaint Bavarian guest houses before heading back to the Caribbean for some needed maintenance work. My work list is growing and aside the work I will be doing there, I can't wait to catch up with some dear friends there.
There is no doubt that I will miss the cobblestoned streets of ancient french villages where I shopped for my weekly vegetables; there is no doubt I will miss the delicious french red wine for about 1 euro a bottle or my mouth drooling "meille feuille" - the original french version of our "vanilla slice" - my friend Adina likes to travel down to Sorrento to a cafe that has the best but I HAVE to tell you, those vanilla slices in Sorrento are a mere SHADOW of the french ones.......Adina, you must try one in France one day! I will miss my awesome little Renault Clio that faithfully drove me around Brittany and I will sorely miss my passionately favourite city in the world - Paris! How well I know Paris now, its Metros, its twenty arrondissements, the markets, the museums, the sidewalk cafe's. I have visited so many corners, hours in cemetries, from the top of the Tour D'Eiffel to the catacombs and sewers! - the ambience of the most romantic and beautiful city in the world. The city of lights. I will miss her sorely!



But I will return, once you have experienced Paris and France in the true sense, (not just a fly through tourist visit) you are hooked.....truly hooked for life. It's time to move on now, for now though there are new countries to explore and places to see!

Bastille Day

Until yesterday I had no idea what a great celebration Bastille Day was in France! It commemorates the 1790 "Fête de la Fédération", held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789; the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern nation, and of the reconciliation of all the French inside the constitutional monarchy which preceded the First Republic, during the French Revolution.

And what a day it was!!! I wasn't in Paris where they hold a huge parade down the Champs Elyees and then fireworks at the Tour de Eiffel. But I was HERE, in France in Brittany and went to two fabulous nights of celebration and fireworks. The first was held the night before by the huge Lac au Duc, the lake that separates Ploermel and Taupont. There was a giant sound stage with a disco. I estimate there would have been 2000 people there, many with their children. The music was a mix of fabulous toe tapping Celtic type and familiar rock songs I knew the words to. I stood there smiling and bought a glass of vin rouge at 1 Euro a glass. Yes, not a typo, they charged 1 Euro for wine, just for the people at cost. Now would that happen at home I wonder? As the beat and the crowd danced away I found myself joining them and losing myself in the magic of it all. It stopped after dark which was about 11.15pm and the fireworks with music on the lake started.
It was AWESOME! I wished my buddies were here to share it with me. I wished Becky was here to dance with me but I was on my own and still could not wipe the smile off my happy face!
The actual Bastille Day celebration that I went to was in Josselin. Josselin is the town with the large imposing chateau surrounded by thick walls and large gateway on the river. The fireworks were over the river with the crowd arriving from every tiny village and hamlet sitting on the embankments. I estimate some 5,000 people were there. There was a live band which played until the fireworks started. And WHEN it started it was phenomenal, music from hidden speakers dominated the air, smoke from the fireworks slowly thickened making the atmosphere even more magic. The river reflected the grand display giving it a double appearance whilst the ancient house on the river lit up like a theatre prop! We all stood there in awe............




Afterwards I wandered into the town I knew so well but it seeemed more magic and special at night. The cafe I like to visit and all the surrounding buildings looked like from a fairytale book. And it was like being part of that history.

Back in Europe

May came and went! June is almost over so I sit here after weeks of "blog neglect" to write a much needed update. I realise that constant internet connection is a vital part of blogging, so one needs to go with the flow when it's just not available. I have decided to break this post into 2 lots as there is just too much to share with you, so look out for the next one with my Bec and fabby photos in a few days time......

The last two weeks of my Australian stay was filled with last minute chores and hugs with dear friends. Annie and I made a delicious Easter lunch and the get together with our old group was very special.


Family meals were spent with my Pumpkin Jen and our hearts ached when we said good-bye. It felt so special to be included in their family time and see her gorgeous parents from Mildura. I miss her smiling face so much!
I had a month in Melbourne which my Becky said would be too long, but the time flew and my many chores were ticked off the “to do” list one by one. The last night in Melbourne was a great get together in Mornington with those I hadn’t seen yet or very little of, and I can only Thank everyone who made the time to come and join us. It was a joyous get together! Wozza, how great to see your smiling face and Frank & Susie, I hope you were not too late to the dinner you were going to! Loading these pictures above made me realise how important it is to remember to take photos. My memory stirs with many of the faces I love and spent time with but we forgot to capture those moments.....

11th May started with the long flight back to Europe! Unfortunately there were refuelling issues with the plane and some 3 hours later we were still sitting on the tarmac. The rest was pretty uneventful, a smooth flight with great food and lots of room on fantastic Emirates airline. Arriving into Munich was blessed with the smiling face and waving arms of my father who was standing at the front of the arrival door, Margret was next to him and we all hugged, happy to see each other again. We enjoyed a truly mouth-watering Bavarian lunch and each weekend there was spent in the glorious Austrian Alps. The snow has gone now and the meadows are green as green filled with wild flowers.
I am back in France now! Spending another summer here was not a difficult decision. Brittany is close to my beloved Paris and full of chateaus, quaint villages, white beaches and dramatic cliff faces. The villages are definitely out of fairy-tale books, the fresh produce better than any food I have ever come across. Most homes have a vegetable patch to be proud of and forest walks offer wild berries. Here where I am staying now there are cherry trees and it will not be long until the apples are in abundance. What you cannot grow is available at the local market and it smells and feels like it just came out of the ground. The French are educated to grow organically and unlike in Australia it’s easily affordable. Unfortunatley I was not able to return to the cute cottage. My landlords turned out to be the most unscrupulous beings that ever walked the earth. With Becky coming to visit me and then Michelle some weeks later I was rather concerned where we would all sleep. But life is strange! Just when something awful happens and a door shuts.... another opens and warm kind people are just around the corner. People I only met ONE afternoon when visiting Jersey (Channel Islands) last year bought a gorgeous old Breton farm house last year and offered me to stay there. Its a large rambling home on 3 levels, it reeks of history and is surrounded by old gardens filled with fragrant flowers. They are planning to renovate it, but for now it is very comfortable. This photo was taken yesterday on a hot french afternoon from the front gate. My "lodgings" are the 2 attic windows on the left side up top.........quite roomy and cute with a double brass bed and patchwork quilt.

Bec's visit was very special and we spent wonderful days together. I will add a post before the end of June with super pics she is in and took. The next few weeks brings lovely Michelle here to experience the wonders of France. Can't wait to see her again too! I may be leaving France at the end of this summer to come home, but I will be back someday! That's the thing about France, once you have really experienced it, you are hooked for life! Viva la France!

December so far...........

December has been a wonderful month filled with new friends and places visited! The best part of all was that my Becky arrived exhausted but well from her long journey from some town in the Himalayas, India to Delhi and then onwards to Paris. I haven't seen her all year since my visit to support her in Singapore with that awful TB....which I am SO happy to report has totally cleared and my pup is healthy again!

I have to tell you its been FREEZING here. Why wasn't I told!!! LOL.... Everyone says that Brittany doesn't get this sort of weather with loads of snow! They lied! The picture is of my car outside my cottage in late November. Luckily I found a FABULOUS brand new thick sailing jacket and coats, jumpers at a car boot sale for coins.......so I look like big fat yeti, but am warm!

End of November was spent visiting the Channel Islands for a few days, I have a friend who is living in Jersey for the present and offered to show me around. Graham normally lives in Spain and can you believe we met in a supermarket here in France. He has turned out to be a real buddy and is full of that wonderful English humour. (yes, we are friends, so don't get excited folks!) I have to write a post of Jersey as its a beautiful island full of history and quaint English buildings.

After that I met another, yes, "friend" named Barrie in St Malo. He flew in from the Midlands before embarking on a 4 month South American adventure making a film of the area deep into the Amazon. Yep, the whole enchilada; anacondas, piranhas, strange tribes not that familiar to white man and as he says, awful bugs. Barrie specializes in making films of areas less traveled by man. A brave soul and a delightful gentleman! We drove around Dinard and enjoyed the sights for 2 days. That is another post...........Boy, I am going to have to catch up!!!

Early December is when my Becky arrived. I drove to Rennes and picked her up at the train station and what a wonderful time we had. It wasn't long enough as she and her partner AJ had commitments in London but the sadness of leaving her is short lived as we should all be meeting (snowfalls allowing) at 5pm on Tuesday when our flights all come into Munich around the same time. After a long time our family is spending Christmas together in Munich. My father is still on kidney dialysis 3 X week and will be for the rest of his life, so it is wonderful to share this special time of the year together.

Becky and I had such a special time together. Cooking delicious meals in my tiny cottage, snuggling in front of the fire, watching a good movie or playing a fun board game, jumping into bed to wake each other in the mornings, driving around on day trips to show her the magic area I live in, lunches and dinners at far too delicious french restaurants and 2 days driving up to St Malo and Mount Saint Michel. St Malo is a totally walled city built about 1100AD. This shot is of Bec standing within the old town. It has been a dream of mine to see this wonder of ancient architecture for years and I was "saving" it to see with my girl. We also drove up around Cancale and ate HUGE oysters on the rock wall. You can see on the photo the size and a DOZEN are 4 Euros, (about $5) The area is famous for them! This is a photo of us drinking HOT spiced red wine, like Gluhwein and boy was it good. We did a small "bar hop" and enjoyed a few of these before going to dinner in St Malo.
It was a super mini trip and my little old Renault Clio just hummed along! Going up there and staying at a B&B was part of my Christmas present to her!
There is something so incredible as our children grow up and we can share quiet time with them alone. There is SUCH a bond, it fills your heart with abundant love. It is difficult to find the right words.........

It is incredibly windy here today, I can hear it blowing furiously outside my cottage. I have to pack and sort things out today but wanted to send you all this update to say "Merry Christmas" with love from France!

Being happy!

It's been a wonderful week catching up with loved friends on Skype and actually "seeing" them as well as speaking to them! I always love to keep in contact and feel close to you when you email me. Friendship like any relationship needs to be nurtured - it doesn't just "happen".

After reading a loving email from a dear friend and speaking to another I realised that my last post had made some of you feel sad on my behalf. So I needed to write this so you feel happy; for me and for yourself. What I wrote was a "good" sadness dearest ones, not a lonely miserable sadness. I am dealing with the loss of my closest family including my loyal loving pups and some other huge challenges. I MISS my mother SO much, I miss her little face smiling at me.

So I am mourning my friends and I have picked one of the most beautiful places in the world to do it. I needed to be alone for a while! I feel blessed to be able to do it, (no matter how much debt I come home to! LOL...) So often we humans bury our emotions deep within and that affects our whole life and future. I am not suppressing my emotions but talk to my old and new friends, talk to the trees and the cows and write and GIVE myself time to be ME. It's a good and happy time, one of self discovery and new adventures! Does that make sense?

So my nearest and dearest please do not be sad for me, I am happy, I am on a wonderful path to a new life! I am smiling at you from France and miss you all dearly. Hugs and kisses!

Losing August and finding Paris

Where did August go? I suddenly found myself with an email from my dear friend Ed asking me why there was no blog post for August! Whilst I was happy he was following my travels I questioned my own consistency. I sat quietly by my computer looking stupidly at the screen and the answer was obvious!
I was entrenched in France! The peaceful countryside and the land had bewitched me. My days were filled with magical walks through historical villages & legendary forests, the dark shadowy statuesque trees alluring and cool. The undergrowth of ferns softening the scene and the climbing ivy, twisting up those grand trunks. I walked past fields, endless fields of corn growing taller by the week; fields of wheat, now long cut down and the earth lying fallow, regaining it's strength for next Spring. I borrowed a wheel barrow and spent a day collecting kindling for my open fire place. I can't wait to sit with my Becky in front of it, warm and cosy munching on her favourite 'bits and pieces'! And the berries..........wild big fat luscious plump black berries filling my tummy for either breakfast or lunch. I know all the spots now, some secretive and hidden, others nondescript but laden with the delicious fruit on the country roadside.
I drove my little old Renault around Brittany, visiting coastal towns and nearby chateaus and forests filled with legends of King Arthur. I visited Vannes, an ancient wonderful port full of character. In the summertime some chateaus host open air plays full of life and fascination. The audience sat on the earth and laughed at the artists at work. Their make-up was superb! I visited Merlin's tomb and stood by the fountain of youth. My camera took endless photos of french scenery. I am full of wonder for this great land. France is magnificent. J'adore living here! There is something VERY special about France. The whole lifestyle here is different from anywhere I have been to.

I also spent a week in Paris! August is a good time to go, Parisians leave the city for their summer holidays and the hotels are dirt cheap. You CAN travel cheaply if you don't need 5 Star - I don't! Especially alone, you can be very frugal!
I took the Metro all over town, to ancient cemeteries and visited the graves of Chopin, Piaf, Oscar Wilde, Sartre & Jim Morrison. I went underground through the Paris sewers. Now that is an amazing adventure. My dear friend Amanda told me about that one. Churches and gardens were in abundance, breathtaking, and one night I sat in the Eglise Madeleine to listen to Vivaldi's "Quartro Saisons". The violins echoed throughout the church. The soaring ceilings perfect architecture for the acoustics. Sitting there I felt blessed to be able to experience such culture and my eyes filled with the emotion of it all. I looked at the empty seat beside me and wished someone special was there to share it with me!

I was also lucky enough to visit the "Life of Yves St Laurent" exhibition literally in its last 2 days. People actually lined up for over 3 hours at the Petit Palais to view the story and costumes of this amazing man. Over 300 mannequins displayed his designs and his life story was fascinating.
I climbed the 207 steps up to the top of the Pantheon, an awesome building that is a "must" to visit. I visiting the home of Victor Hugo and admired his talent of decoration and artwork. It was almost an overload of culture and sights.

I did walk down the Champs Elysee's again, I sat and had coffee, as one does, but this visit mainly consisted of the "out of the way" places. Not the usual tourist haunts - I knew them from previous years. I remembered St Michel across from Notre Dame and its quaint narrow streets bulging with cheap eats and wonderful restaurants. Memories of previous visits flooded my heart - of being there with Becky. I wandered along the Seine and sat on the grass under the Tour de Eiffel and still wondered at its incredible architecture. With each visit I feel I know Paris more intimately; feel its magic in my bones and will always be enthralled by this city of lights. There is NO doubt in my mind you could spend a lifetime in Paris and never see it all.

Reflection and beauty

It was a quiet day today! I cycled to the next village named Loyat and enjoyed lunch at the local cafe there. I am leaving tomorrow for some two weeks or more to spend time with my Dad & Margret. I can't wait to see them and share times together!
The lunch was simple good french home cooking! In times gone by, the french had an old tradition where they decreed that all the peasants and poor people should have at least one good meal a day! It should be cheap and wholesome! Hence the name "Plat de Jour" - plate of the day! They have retained that very tradition and Plat de Jours are available all around the country! They consist of buffet entree's, a main course of no choice, a cheese platter, dessert and coffee. The table is set with bottles of red wine, water and cider, not forgetting the basket of crusty bread. All that is included for around 9-11 Euros! Incredibly cheap and fabulous! I sat there studying my french book and eating in peace and then cycled home through the forests and fields along the main road connecting our villages.

I missed my mum so much today! I thought of how she would have loved it here. I miss her little face and her funny smile. I just miss her. I cried whilst cycling along and the wind kissed my tears away. I know she is at peace now but there is a little empty space now that she filled for so long.

When I got back I read the beautiful cards my Becky and Jenny "Pumpkin" gave me when I left. They were full of support and love. They sit on the buffet near the front door and I look at them every day. Becky's card has a beautiful poem on the front written by a Charles Daniels. His words are touching..........

"A brief candle, both ends burning
An endless mile, a bus wheel turning
A friend to share the lonesome times
A handshake and a sip of wine
So say it loud and let it ring
We are all part of everything
The future, present and the past
Fly on proud bird, you're free at last."

It was a day of reflection and beauty!

Meeting Henri & more

The strangest thing has happened! In the ten days I have been here now I seem to have developed a special relationship! His name is Henri. I named him and just adore him! He is very handsome, attentive and hangs around me ALL the time. Unfortunately he does have a girlfriend named Henrietta but she doesn't seem to care and does her own thing. Here is a photo of Henri and I must tell you what he does! Henri belongs to my landlords and therefore lives next door wandering around their large garden pecking the lush green grass and looking VERY lordly. We are separated by a quaint garden gate and now every morning I am woken by his constant crowing and running back and forth along the small gate. I was astounded when this first happened! Today I got up and called out to him out of my bedroom window and he kept crowing and crowing. I went out and he again was anxiously strutting along the gate. As I came up to the gate he did a little sidewards "dance" back and forwards as if happy to see me. Of course I am telling him off what a "pain in the butt" he is as I am laughing! He's just adorable. He looks at me and just hangs around, sometimes lets me pat him. Thank goodness his crowing does not start early, he usually decides he needs to see me around 8AM which is just fine! I have started to bring him a slice of rye bread today which he pecks and loves. It may not be wise to start this but we have our morning liaisons already. After that he settles down! I am touched to have such a romantic morning meeting with my fervent admirer!! Ah, only in France!!

Here are some more photos of my cottage! Remember if you wish to see a photo in a larger size you only need to "click" on it and it opens full screen! There is a better lighter pic of my lounge room, the bathroom, kitchen/dining, my alfresco eating porch and the first one is in 2nd bedroom showing the thickness of the walls. Most of all I miss my girl, I say "good morning" to her every day and plant a smooch on her photo! The last one is of me on my pushbike just coming back from a ride to the village of Guilliers with a fresh crunchy baguette in my gorgeous over shoulder bag Sue gave me as an "Au revoir" presi! Thank you Sue, I love it and use it all the time when I go cycling around the hamlets!







The little front porch is protected and a great place to have breakfast!


The dining/kitchen area is just perfect and near the entrance allowing lots of sunlight in the mornings!






So its "Au Revoir" for today my dearest friends and loved ones! It's strange when you move away for a while or travel. I am having such a wonderful and peaceful time here and feel so happy but there is always a little nagging "missing" feeling of the people I love. I do miss you guys and wish you could all be here sharing this with me! Take care and keep smiling...........XXXX