We wrapped up warm for a flying visit to see my son Saul, knowing that New York City winters can be freezing.  “Welcome to Spring”, said Saul on our arrival. With temperatures well into the 60s, we hardly even needed coats – a most unusual phenomenon for New York at this time of the year. 

You could not have a greater contrast: here we were, thrust into the mad, bright, busy, crazy world of this great city, about as far as you could ever be from the tranquillity of our small southern French village. We strolled through Central Park in the sunshine, marvelling at the skyscrapers framing this beautiful green space and regaled Saul with news of our renovation.

“I hardly recognise the place,” he remarked when I showed him photos of our lovely new kitchen and soon to be finished garden. New York appeals to the young with its vibrancy and excitement and yet Saul and our other children remain so fond of our corner of France, knowing it is a home for them all whenever life becomes too frantic in other parts of the world, spread out as they all are.

Still, Mr Fix It and I had a simply wonderful time there and, one hot Canon camera later (I don’t think you will be surprised to learn that Mr Fix It’s talents extend to excellent photography), we have a wonderful record of our quick trip to America.

Meanwhile back at the ranch – sorry – France, our trusty friend Trev has almost completed laying the paving for our patio. The palm tree stands proud in the middle and the “grotto” we discovered seems to show off this new clean space so well. It is much colder now all over southern Europe; you can easily see thick snow on the Pyrenees and driving back from Toulouse airport yesterday it was almost beginning to lie on the side roads.

The villages we pass through to get home are so pretty and a dusting of snow here and there on the ancient buildings and churches lends them a magical air. Waking up to strong sunshine and a clear blue sky on our first day back, New York now seems like an adventurous sort of dream. We are happy to be home, now making plans to do up our larger living room (we already chose the paint: more later….) and get the balcony going. 

There is so much still to do but a good adage in this case – and in life generally I always think – is to enjoy the journey, not just look to the end result. Our journey so far in France has been a joyous one and each day we are happy that we decided to make this country our home.

Alexis