Tues 13 June 2023

Walking gives me space to think.  And to dream.  And of course, it helps to burn off all those extra calories I consumed over our time away.  Clive has managed to come back fitting his clothes a bit more easily.  I, on the other hand, have not.  I imagine it has something to do with the number of pastries I devoured and the peanut M & Ms addiction I developed.  Do they add something unlawful to those little nuggets of amazingness?  MSG I wonder?  Whatever it is, I’m a sucker for it.  Hopefully a return to pilates and regular power(ish)-walks will help get the wobbly bits back into submission!

It has been just over a week now since our return from France.  We’ve started back at work, visited precious family and friends, attended church – twice, been to a 50th birthday celebration and are awaiting the imminent arrival of a first grandchild for our bosom-buddy besties.  

And yet….

Is it ok to dream?  Just because we have been born into a country – a good country – does it mean that we need to stay here?  Does the mere fact that I am asking this question make me ungrateful?  What is truly most important in this life of ours, that is in reality pretty short this side of Heaven? 

My walk was a bit more enjoyable today.  The sun was shining and I didn’t  have to hug myself to keep warm.  I could hear tui and piwakawaka in the trees above me.  I love their deep-throated melodies and excited twitterings.

I passed by one of my favourite houses and was treated to the sight of the owner’s yellow fiat in the driveway.  I’ve always loved that yellow fiat, and now I love it even more because it reminds me of France.  Fiats (Italian I know – thank you my husband)  are everywhere in France.

We’ve started watching two vlogs.  One follows a young English couple who bought an extremely run-down property in France for €20,000. The other couple, she’s English, he’s Italian, sold their apartment in Paris and purchased a slightly tired chateau.  I have yet to find out how much they purchased it for, but I’m guessing it was a wee bit more than the first couple’s spend, considering they now rent out each guest room for €300 a night.

Two very different situations, yet both couples are following their outside-of-the-box dreams.  A huge amount of DIY has taken place, but the transformations are truly fabulous.  And their vlogs are helping to fund the work.

True, France and the UK are a lot closer together than France and New Zealand.  A flight time over just over one hour, compared to a flight time of just over one day, depending on how you work it.

Could it be a possibility for us?  It is certainly a dream for me, and Clive – whilst very pragmatic – is always up for an adventure.

Me:  “Isn’t that right, Honey?”

Clive:  “Yes, Dear.”