 |
| Article in France Today magazine |
Let me fill you in on the back story to my latest contribution to France Today magazine, which is less 'travel piece' and more 'story'.
One of the best decisions that we made when living in France was to move from Giez to Menthon-St-Bernard. That's not to say that we didn't love Giez. It is a beautiful little village with a castle, a golf course, close to the Annecy-Albertville cycling track, not far from the Annecy Lake and close enough to the shops of Faverges, plus we had started to make friends and were slowly discovering the village rituals and get-togethers ... but it was just not close enough to the children's schools.
As is often the way, our circle of friends in our new village of Menthon started to widen as we were introduced to the parents of our children's friends. Some of these friendships took time to form, after all we could have been the Australian blow-ins; there for just long enough to scoop off the best of French living before skiddadling out again. Others springboarded from the first morning drop-off on the day of la rentrée, where a couple of Mums came straight up to my husband and I standing rather uncertainly on the edge of the courtyard, introduced themselves and started chatting.
Years later, one of these mothers, who by then had become a special friend, attended a dinner at the Abbey in Talloires. Seated randomly, she quickly discovered that the person next to her was Australian. Good, something to talk about...me...also Australian. One thing led to another and ultimately to an email conversation between my friend's dinner acquaintance and myself.
And no, it didn't stop at an email conversation. Let me introduce you to M. and Mme Vélo in the article above; new friends, fellow Australians and equally enamoured with Annecy, the lake, the mountains and new beginnings.
I'm always astonished at the number of Australian's one encounters in France. I can name 3 others immediately who own houses in my village or the next village along.
ReplyDeleteYes, like you I frequently see signs of a real love affair between Australia and France. More often than not, it goes in both directions, which is a good thing.
ReplyDeleteThe first cottage I rented in Provence was owned by the nicest Australian man who personally called me from Australia to see if I had any questions before my arrival.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think that we were all just as nice!
DeleteI love the way these chance encounters lead to exciting opportunities....sounds as though you made the righ decision indeed.
ReplyDeleteYes. We were very happy in both places but longer in Menthon and it has an extra special place in our hearts. As for the chance encounters, blogging is another great avenue for these!
Delete