Our Adventure

I’ve always been a bit of a language-freak. Wanted to speak another language and immerse myself in another culture. I even took a course in Japanese once; I can still say ‘I am not a lawyer’. Yup that’s as far as it went.

In 1984 I had a dream. I would speak French (and Italian). My teachers told me I was rubbish at languages. I persevered. I went on a French course to France where I met one of my best friends. I got laughed at continually by my big Italian sister for my rubbish Italian. Mais j’ai réussi! Sono riuscita! Tick.

1990. I had another dream. I would live and work in France. For four years. Tick.

2006. Dream. Buy a house in France. Tick.

2007. Dream. Live there for a while. Put the kids in the local school. Oops got divorced. No tick.

2008. 2009. 2010. 2011. Holidayed with my friends and family in my house in France. Worked hard to make it nice. Made friends in the village. Dream started fading. Tickless.

2012. Ian and Polly, co-directors at work suddenly offered me a sabbatical.

2013. It wasn’t easy; there were certain hurdles to overcome, but we are on our way. I have squared it with the UK school; with the French school; with everyone. Yes, my children are going to spend the summer term of 2013 attending the local school in Montpeyroux and I am going to be a full-time mum living the French village life for three months. Tick! Tick! Tick!