French Escape

 It was a beautiful Sunday - Pentecost . A perfect day for a group of friends to meet in Pigna for coffee before driving to Buggio and up the precipitous track to the point where we were to begin our walk between two chapels, high in the Italian Alps . We were in good spirits. As we drove up the steep narrow track to the first chapel a large group of wild boar  including many young, scattered as the car approached, a  deer leapt across our path a short distance further on and as we reached the dappled shade of the mountain path a cuckoo called. It all augured well. But a walk we know became a walk of wrong turnings, retracing footsteps and near disaster That Sunday I thought I would have to cancel a planned trip to walk between Santander and Llanes , a mini pilgrimage along the Camino del Nortes . That Sunday, for a millisecond, I thought that I wouldn’t be around at all. Misjudging the edge of the mountain path, my walking pole found a pile leaves instead of fi...

The launch of Hidden Book 2 in St John's English Library in Menton was a resounding success, thanks to the lovely audience who came in such numbers that it was standing room only. The talk and readings were well received and the comments and questions were positive and pertinent. I sold all the books I had and took orders for more. I was quite overwhelmed by it all (and delighted when people have come up to me since and told me that they are already enjoying reading it.) I am writing this waiting for a breakdown truck to take my car to the garage. The battery is flat and in spite of being on charge all night, still only responds to the turn of the ignition key with a click. It would perhaps seem more logical to bring  a new battery to the car but who am I to question the idiosyncrasies of car mechanics? I am just delighted that the garage answered my call at 8am and arranged a pick up for 10am. In future I suppose I will have to use the car more than just weekly supermarket trip...

 In the excitement of writing about publishing Hidden Book 2 and a lost passport being replaced, I forgot to tell you about Saint Jacqueline . On the 8th February, I walked into St John's Anglican church, Menton and was told by Josie, the welcomer, that it was my saint's day.  I had no idea that there was a Saint Jacqueline. We Anglicans don't have many saints and I certainly hadn't learnt about one with the same name as me. Of course she wasn't mentioned in the service but when I arrived home I googled her, interested to read about her good works and/or grisly death.  https://www.paroisseputeaux.com/2024/02/08/8-fevrier-fete-de-sainte-jacqueline/ From this website, I discovered:  She was born into the Roman nobility in the twelfth century and married Gratian Frangipani, Lord of Marino. Widowed prematurely with two children, Jacqueline became a friend of Francis of Assisi , who nicknamed her " Brother Jacqueline ." She devoted her fortune to helping him...

The day has arrived, Hidden Book 2 is finished, published and available to buy on Amazon or to order through your local book shop. My website is currently being updated and, soon I hope to be able to offer the books through the website too. I hope that you enjoy following Florence on her further adventures.    The Hidden series  is set in a  Midlands town  in England as the 1980’s come to an end.   Florence has left nursing to become the private investigator of her dreams but, after working for a year with Arthur Renishaw and seeing the reality of life as a PI, happily she accepts her position as office manager in Renishaw Private Investigation Services . Florence may not be undertaking surveillance or actively investigating, but by listening to people in her unobtrusive way, she helps: Corinna, a pregnant young girl; Eunice, searching for her grandchild; Mildred, looking for her mother; and Helen, trying to preserve her own life while protecting her al...

What a wonderful way to put January behind me. I spent the weekend in Gréolières with a lovely group of people snowshoe walking , hiking, practicing yoga and meditation, with a quick peak at the fabulous snow moon through a telescope. https://consciousyogi.net Snowshoe walking was a new experience for me. It was a challenge but the raquettes de neige gave me the confidence to walk in the snow without sinking or sliding. It was tough, especially getting to the mountain top but with rest of the French alps behind us, the view that we were rewarded with of the sea, Cannes and Nice   made every step worthwhile.   To me, unused to snow and mountains, it was like walking in a film set. A moment's meditation on the mountain felt very special. The yoga when we returned to our accommodation was almost a step too far, my muscles not wanting to obey but the stretching and movement left me relaxed and ready for an excellent, well earned meal.  https://www.la-maison-du-loup.com ...