Thursday, 2 February 2017

We made it back to France



It is hard when you live in two countries. It is harder still when they happen to be nearly 17000 km apart, require on average 30 hours of travel time and several months salary to pay for the family to get there, knowing all the while that you are setting yourself up for certain mind-numbing jet lag and seasonal confusion. Without careful thought, what you wear to board your plane at one end can severely compromise your comfort at the other (think stepping out into negative temperatures in shorts and t-shirts or stripping off jumpers, coats and scarves to combat 35-degree heat). Living in Australia, that's what French love is all about.

We had planned our long-awaited family return to France for the beginning of December, taking a few indulgences regarding the school calendar (which officially released the children on Dec 17) in an attempt to prolong our time away and escape the harshness of peak peak-period Christmas tickets. We nearly didn't make it to the airport.



Bags on the side of the road. Car smoking.


Fortunately (used somewhat advisedly) we noticed the smoke drifting from the car bonnet before we hit the traffic on the Sydney Harbour Bridge. If you have never visited Australia, I'm sure that you will; nonetheless, empathise with being in this predicament and creating chaos and discontent from the middle of such an iconic structure. Again fortunately, we had found ourselves a lovely housesitter who had kindly offered to drive us to the airport (a good hour-and-a-half drive from home). In an extraordinary display of good humour, our housesitter, having calmly alerted us to the smoke, offered to wait for roadside assist alone and waved us onwards in the back of a family sized taxi. 






Strangely, after a few casual pleasantries, the taxi driver smiled and told us that we had been lucky. What did he know that we didn't? How does breaking down on the way to the airport, where time is of the essence, constitute 'lucky'? When we nervously asked him to elaborate, he just smiled again, nodded his head slightly and said, "You'll see... in about 10 minutes." Yikes!

And ten minutes later as we sailed past cars rooted to the spot in our free-to-go-like-the-wind taxi and bus lane, we grinned back at him.






A lesson? What appears to be a curved ball can sometimes be a blessing in disguise. I must moralise with myself more often...



PS For two years now, I have seen reference to the All About France links and have at times tried to paste the image to my post in order to be able to join in. Clearly, I haven't managed or simply haven't tried hard enough. Trying again now.

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20 comments:

  1. Taste of France3 February 2017 at 02:08

    Ah, those silver linings pop up in the oddest places!

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    1. But you are in France, Madame3 February 2017 at 04:55

      True! We were heading back to France so even the car breaking down couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

      Delete
  2. Darlene3 February 2017 at 09:37

    Glad to hear you made it to the airport. Look forward to hearing more about your time in France.

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  3. But you are in France, Madame3 February 2017 at 13:16

    Thanks Darlene.

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  4. Distant Francophile3 February 2017 at 20:57

    I'm so glad you made it back to France Catherine - despite the car breaking down, and the ridiculously long flight. Having said that, the flight is always worth it...because you end up back in France! #AllAboutFrance

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    1. But you are in France, Madame3 February 2017 at 21:34

      Yes, it is the best reward. Thanks and I'll try and find your blog now that I'm linked to #AllAboutFrance

      Delete
  5. Kiwi4 February 2017 at 19:35

    Sydney harbor looks stunning with its opera house and skyscrapers. Annecy equally so with its snow and charm. How lucky your family is to stand astride these two continents, so full of life and talent. I hope you will all continue to make a unique life combining the two beautiful places.

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    1. But you are in France, Madame5 February 2017 at 01:20

      Thanks Ellen. It is true that both countries are beautiful and have so much to offer. You are right to remind us how lucky we are.

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  6. Cecilia7 February 2017 at 08:28

    Just reading your post I realized how great it is to live in two countries, even when they are so far apart from each other.

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    1. But you are in France, Madame7 February 2017 at 17:42

      Thanks Cecilia. Are you in the same situation yourself, living in two far-apart countries?

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  7. Our French Oasis9 February 2017 at 00:11

    They always say, everything happens for a reason!!

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  8. But you are in France, Madame9 February 2017 at 00:42

    I was strangely calm when the car broke down and terribly relieved that it had happened when we were still with our housesitter. The situation would have been much harder for him to manage on his own. Good to see you here!

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  9. Phoebe | Lou Messugo12 February 2017 at 05:03

    How fortuitous that your car started smoking! (And how bizarre to write that!) Delighted to have you link up after 2 years of "seeing" #AllAboutFrance on the horizon. As an Aussie who hasn't lived there (Sydney) since 1992 I look forward to reading about your trans-continental life. It must be hard at times, but oh so satisfying at others.

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    1. But you are in France, Madame12 February 2017 at 15:05

      Thanks Phoebe. Yes, I have seen your logo quite a bit on my wanders around the francophile blogging fraternity. You would understand the push and pull of this double life - and I suspect that it is much the same for many others on your blogroll. Looking forward to keeping on chatting.

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  10. Patricia13 February 2017 at 05:12

    Mon dieu! What a start to this next chapter of your ongoing adventures in France. Isn't it strange how some things are simply meant to be? Thank goodness for the smoking engine, thoughtful house sitter and convenient taxi! Bonne continuation!

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    1. But you are in France, Madame13 February 2017 at 13:39

      Yes. It was actually a very calm event - not what usually happens when the car breaks down! Bonne continuation to you too.

      Delete
  11. Unknown15 February 2017 at 22:18

    What an amazing housesitter! Got to look for those silver linings #allaboutfrance

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    1. But you are in France, Madame16 February 2017 at 04:17

      We were very lucky to find him. Yes, a lot to be grateful for. Thanks for looking me up at #allaboutfrance

      Delete
  12. Unknown24 February 2017 at 10:01

    Sounds like a Godincidence to me - someone was certainly looking after you. This snowy image is achingly beautiful. Where was it taken and who took it?

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    1. But you are in France, Madame24 February 2017 at 15:06

      Hi Andrea, the snowy image is Annecy. My husband is usually the photographer. We had a magical, unplanned day when the snow was falling and we headed into the market. I had made a mistake and there was no market but the day just went from one unplanned delight to another. Annecy really is worth visiting if you ever get the opportunity.

      Delete

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