I hope you and yours are properly.
My birthday is arising quickly. Years in the past, after I lived in London, birthdays would imply a fancy meal in London with my husband, or possibly a weekend away in a rustic resort, and a present. My birthdays in France are very completely different, the day is far the identical as most days right here – and I couldn’t be extra completely happy about it.
A weekend away with as many animals as now we have (4 canine, 6 cats and umpteen chickens, geese and geese, plus a thriving herd of untamed hedgehogs, apparently the right time period is a ‘prickle’ of hedgehogs, who go to each evening for the free buffet previously often known as the cats meals) is rarely going to occur (they’re price it)!
The present I respect most is that we’re wholesome and completely happy. Life isn’t excellent in France, in fact there are challenges, French forms drives us batty for one. And I nonetheless battle with studying French although this yr it’s improved dramatically as I’ve taken steps to be taught formally with teacher-led classes, slightly than hoping I’ll choose up these difficult grammar guidelines simply by being right here. Subsequent yr I’ll be doing an immersion course in Aix-en-Provence to up my sport (plus any excuse to spend time within the fabulous sunny, cultural metropolis is nice), I did a couple of days of immersion in Brittany with the identical firm earlier this yr with improbable outcomes. Be happy to hitch me – particulars under.
And the luxurious meal has been changed with an evening out at our favorite auberge in a village a couple of minutes away. It’s not a flowery restaurant: the common meal is round €12 – beneficiant parts, native produce and all the time scrumptious. We’re welcomed with a kiss on the cheeks for me, and handshake for Mark (as an uptight Brit, Mark has not embraced the cheek kissing customized as a lot as I’ve!), and everybody says bonjour. It’s the place for locals to fulfill and atone for the information and the gossip. It’s a bit like a French “Cheers” the place everybody is aware of your identify – or a minimum of your face.
My nonagenarian neighbour Claudette says that she is completely happy more often than not, and although she wouldn’t thoughts being 70 years youthful, she doesn’t dwell on it as it might serve no objective. She says that to search out pleasure in easy pleasures day by day is the best achievement in a world that’s more and more complicated. And that amassing moments, not issues makes you happiest. She is rarely flawed.
Subsequent week I’ll be amassing moments in Uzés and on the Roman Pont du Gard within the south of France – include me through Instagram the place I’ll put up pictures and movies…
Wherever you might be – I want you a really bon weekend – and completely happy birthday to you all for every time it’s!
Bisous,
Janine
Editor of The Good Life France Journal and web site
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Janine Marsh is Writer of My Good Life in France: In Pursuit of the Rural Dream, My 4 Seasons in France: A Yr of the Good Life and Toujours la France: Dwelling the Dream in Rural France all accessible as e book, print & audio, on Amazon all over the place & all good bookshops on-line. Her newest e book The best way to be French – is a celebration of the French life-style and artwork de vivre.
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Need extra France?
Uncover extra fabulous locations in France with our free journal The Good Life France
Love France? Have a hearken to our podcast – every little thing you wish to learn about France and extra!
All rights reserved. This text might not be printed, broadcast, rewritten (together with translated) or redistributed with out written permission.
