French Escape

  It’s a difficult balance. I love where I live in Menton (as you may have guessed if you’ve read the blog before) but I realise the things I miss every time I return  to England.  I miss Book group, John Lewis and garden centres that sell all sorts of nonsense as well as plants. A drink in a pub.  Mature cheddar cheese. Bare trees, green fields, fog that turns the world into a black and white film. Englishness… even  the hard-done-by moaning overheard on the train, and especially the crazy run up to Christmas. With short visits I never quite feel settled. It’s hard having to make complicated arrangements to meet up with family and friends, I don’t want to always be rushing from place to place and person to person, knowing that I can’t fit everyone in.   I am a tourist, viewing the country through different eyes, treating myself and having far too many meals out (although is there such a thing as too many...?)  A visit to look around the London shops w...

 Christmas is coming, although here in Menton Father Christmas seems very casual about it. A forest of decorated Christmas trees has shot up all over the town and crèches in prominent positions await the baby Jesus.  I've joined in the preparations and my kitchen has been smelling very Christmassy this week, I've been making mince pies. I love making them, it makes me think of our mum who made dozens of perfect mince pies at this time every year. This year I've cooked quite a few myself, standard size and mini, for the library and the church.  The French don’t seem to know what to make of them but it doesn’t stop them being enjoyed.  Yes, I made some more flapjacks too - full of flavour from the local honey from Olivetta Am I the only person who still has Tupperware containers to store their baked goods? This week, I learnt about another author who loved Menton: Robert Louis-Stevenson. A fascinating and amusing talk by Martin White, president of the European Cultural...