A Quiet Month

Menton is very quiet in November. 



Many shops and restaurants are closed for annual holidays, a brief respite before the influx of tourists at Christmas. Father Christmas has already put in an appearance with some rather unusual animals. He looks a bit overdressed in the sunshine. The huts are ready for the Christmas market in December and decorations are going up all over the town.


I never tire of the view of the old town from the beach—it's even better from the sea—especially with a backdrop of sunshine and blue skies The sun still has some warmth but  there is now a chill in the air and the beach cafes are closed and protected, ready for winter storms.







You would think with all this peace and quiet I'd have done lots of writing but instead I have been making the most of wandering around the town without the hoards of tourists impeding my way. I could never begrudge other people who love Menton as much as I do, but it’s nice to have space. 

Just for the record, I have started Hidden 2. The first draft of the first chapter is done...

I’ve been spending more time in the garden. I’d call it gardening but here it’s more like taming a jungle. You don’t put your garden to bed in winter because everything carries on growing. Plants self seed all over the place. I was delighted to discover that I had a banana tree in the garden when I arrived.  Now I find I have three. 






Having cut back the hedge that runs up the side of the steps leading to the apartment (and discovering a handrail), I realised that I needed to order a shredder. It was that or buy a bigger car to take the cuttings to the tip. The description of the shredder says silent, but I doubt that that is the case. People around here do like their power tools. I think that I must be the only person in Menton that doesn’t have a leaf blower. Being able to enjoy surroundings that remain green all year around means that leaves fall all year round. Not wanting to add to the noise that all those other leaf blowers make, I’m currently managing with a rake, a broom and a large dustpan. I'll buy a leaf blower when a silent one becomes available (the electric ones are better but not perfect) or when I'm too old to rake leaves, whichever comes sooner.

Last Sunday was sunny and warm and I would have loved to join the walk in the Italian mountains to Baiardo. But as safeguarding officer at St Johns church, I felt that I couldn’t miss the service on  safeguarding Sunday. The news the previous week, the terrible case and opportunities missed to stop the abuse were a grim reminder of the importance of protecting the vulnerable (and as I am well aware we can all be vulnerable from time to time)


This unattributed story is a reminder of what happens when we assume that a job will be done by someone else:-


Once upon a time there were four people—Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought Anybody would do it but Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody started blaming Somebody just because Nobody did what Anybody could have done.


So, instead of walking, after the service I prepared tea for the walkers. 


The kettle is on, teapots ready and scones are warming in the oven...


And, what have I been reading? 
I can't resist a Scarpetta novel, nothing relaxing about this one...



Just to prove that my books are in Read the Room, Nice :


All my books are also available to buy from Amazon or to order from all good bookstores.



The Barwell Trilogy


If you have enjoyed reading this and would like to be sent a link when the next episode is published, please contact me on info@jacquelinejames.co.uk and I will add you to the list.

Here is the link to my website:-



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