Rediscovering Peace: Embracing Tranquility in Rural Normandy.

How will you cope??????? No tango! No coffee houses! We are in rural Normandy. About as rural as it gets. A handful of houses. A church. A tiny little Mairie. If someone passes the house it’s an event. In the city, everything distracts. But in the country? Listen. Nothing. Only your heart * It’s bliss. This house sheltered us during Covid. We spent eighteen months … Continue reading Rediscovering Peace: Embracing Tranquility in Rural Normandy.

thewonderer86May 12, 20248 Comments

France., Uncategorized, walking

Pyrenean Mountain Walking for Dummies.

That’s how I think of our walks. They are not very challenging or very long but they are marvellous. We always stop half way round for lunch and a look. A sandwich always tastes better outdoors. Especially with views like these. Continue reading Pyrenean Mountain Walking for Dummies.

thewonderer86November 12, 20237 Comments

animals, France., Uncategorized

Not so idyllic.

Mist hung low in the valley. It came towards me in great swirls. The village only became visible when I reached the big house on the left. But I saw the parked van in the field above straight away, and immediately afterwards the man in the high vis. vest, glowing eerily orange, a gun slung nonchalantly over his shoulder, a wiry terrier trotting along by … Continue reading Not so idyllic.

thewonderer86October 22, 20236 Comments

France., Housesitting, Uncategorized

Still in a French Country Idyll.

An everyday Paradise. We’re surrounded by fields and woods, sky and space. There is a house next door and we can put out a hand and touch their barn, but we hardly ever see them. We hear their cockerel crowing, and see their sheep grazing. But there is nothing to intrude upon our feeling of being little lords of the manor. We are here to … Continue reading Still in a French Country Idyll.

thewonderer86October 15, 20237 Comments

France., Uncategorized

A French Country Idyll.

We’ve only left the house to eat. We are in a tiny village. A handful of houses, the prettiest of Maries, and a twelfth-century church. Old stones, salmon pink and pale cream, mottled with grey and brown. Green leaves protrude from minute square windows. I think of them as wide arrow slits. Shutters, beams, towers and porticos.We can see all of this glory from the … Continue reading A French Country Idyll.

thewonderer86October 7, 20238 Comments

animals, dogs, Europe, France., Travel, walking

Top Dog.

I noticed him as we started walking. He skirted around us, no eye contact. I tried but he kept right on going. ‘Not very friendly’, I said to Sue. But the majesty of the Soulor beckoned and I soon forgot him. Up, up, up we went. But every breather break was rewarded with views. Behind us the Col d’Aubisque, it’s yellow-walled hotel tiny at the … Continue reading Top Dog.

thewonderer86April 2, 20234 Comments

France., Uncategorized

Doing A Boucle.

Every day we did one. The extraordinary ordinary Jim called it. It was low-key and lovely. First we drove out to the starting point in Le Wally. A little grey Renault. Single track roads. Almost no traffic. ‘It could not get more French’, said Jim. A very new driver, I gritted my teeth, gripped Wally’s wheel, and preyed I would meet nothing coming the other … Continue reading Doing A Boucle.

thewonderer86March 26, 20232 Comments

Europe, Food, France., Travel, Uncategorized

Cassoulet, not Cathars.

It rained for a lot of the month we stayed near Castelnaudary. It was too wet for Cathar castles, but luckily the weather never interferes with foodie plans. We were in cassoulet country. Even being mostly vegetarian couldn’t stop me. I was on a quest to find the bestest bean-and-meat-laden stew in the region of Castelnaudary – one of the towns that claim to be … Continue reading Cassoulet, not Cathars.

thewonderer86January 9, 20229 Comments

Cafes, Europe, Food, France., Travel

The Menu du Jour.

Normally when we’re in the Charente we do nothing. We hang out with the animals and leave the place only to go to the supermarket. This time was a bit different. We discovered the two-hour French lunch-break and the menu du jour. One day we popped out to buy a baguette. ‘Should we stop for coffee’, I asked Jim, even though the cafe was named … Continue reading The Menu du Jour.

thewonderer86June 11, 201819 Comments

animals, Europe, France., Travel

The grass really is greener in the Dordogne.

Not many people can say that they moved to France because they had to find room to house twenty-four animals. Roland used to work at Scotland Yard. He had a colleague in the mounted police. There is no money in the British system for pensions for police work-horses. The police can hardly fund sufficient policemen, let alone keep old horses in clover. Roland’s colleague knew … Continue reading The grass really is greener in the Dordogne.

thewonderer86June 4, 201813 Comments

Wondering Woman

Category: France.