The End of a Chapter.
We left Menton an hour before the start of Fête des Citrons. The town was beginning to get very busy, with visitors pouring into the town, queues to enter extending onto the autoroute. All around the town, there were lemon and orange decorations, an absolute citrus burst of colour. An amazing spectacle to be experienced fully—another year.
At the start of the week, the weather was very windy, and cold. The sea, all churned up, lost its holiday brochure blue. Only the very hardy sat outside for morning coffee. Then, Wednesday, as suddenly as it had come, the wind dropped and all was calm again.
The week has gone too quickly with many hours taken up with editing Journey’s End and, in between, just absorbing Menton.
We took another trip to Saint Agnes, perched high in the mountains—with its amazing views and concrete fortress. We returned along a hair raising, very narrow road, that wound, high up, around the side of the mountain and then down into Nice. The coast road took us to Monaco where we somehow got thoroughly lost amongst the building sites and roadworks, before finally finding our way back to the sanity of Menton.
Of course there was a visit to the apartment, to check out what was there and what we will need. I had a careful look around, to take it back in my mind, to make plans.
Then a quick trip to a kitchen showroom in Ventimiglia, to challenge them to produce a design for the smallest kitchen in France.
Sadly my last Wednesday morning French lesson with Régine was cancelled because of a train strike, but I had my last early morning walk to Saint Michels Plateau, my last morning coffee at the market, last browse around the weekly brocante stalls.
But I don’t want to concentrate on what I haven’t done because I feel that I have achieved so much: I have finished my novel and although it is still not fully edited, I have a completed manuscript; I have found an apartment, a place where I want to be; I have driven in France without incident or accident and, I think, I can make the same comment about having my hair done.
In addition to all of that, I have met some wonderfully friendly, welcoming people. I feel that in this short three months I have made some good friends. People that, I would like to think, I will stay in touch with whatever the outcome, whatever happens in the future.
On Friday I packed and started to put everything into the car. Saturday morning we put the final bags into the car, until there was not an inch to spare. Just as we were congratulating ourselves, Jean-Claude appeared with two carrier bags full of lemons and grapefruit and then proceeded to gather the oranges from the tree on the patio. Somehow we got them in. The car smelt wonderful on the journey home— everyone should expect marmalade for Christmas.
I ought to make a comment here about Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus, this week's book, but I won't because it might spoil the discussion at book group, on Wednesday, when I get back...
I have enjoyed sharing my French Escape. Thank you for reading it and thank you for all your comments and feedback. I will continue to keep you up to date about my new book and, of course, the sale of a house in Cambridge and the purchase of an apartment in Menton.
We have thoroughly enjoyed your blog! An adventurous few months and many things achieved, looking forward to your new book and new adventures, Usha and Garry x
ReplyDeleteThank you, I've really enjoyed writing it! I hope in not too many months I'll be able to show you Menton and of course the apartment. x
ReplyDelete