Moving to the South of France
After 17 years at our beloved watermill in the Southwest of France, on the 2nd of January 2022, we packed a hired van and moved 200km east to the Corbières in the true South of…
Life in France
Lockdown France V2 – Pickled Chillies
We are now into the third week of the second lockdown in France. This time things are a lot freer than they were with the first lockdown and life in the McArthur household is pretty…
To bee or not to bee, that is the question.
We have had a dream to keep bees for some time now. Ever since we moved to France all those years ago, it was always our intention to one day have our own bees. But…
Reflections past and present
This is my house. I have taken shots of it from across the lake many times and yet they all look different. It is one of my favourite views, looking across the lake with the…
Lockdown France – Driving, or lack of it.
I like driving in my car, it’s not quite a Jaguar! Actually, it’s a Hyundai Ioniq hybrid and we bought it last year. I am normally at home a lot, I work from home most…
Help me win Book Cover of the Month
They say not to judge a book by its cover but I need you to do just that. If you liked the cover of my book, What have we got Toulouse: A family moving to…
Lockdown France – Schools out!
On the 12th March 2020, President Emmanuelle Macron announced to the nation that from the end of the following day (Friday 13th March), schools in France would be closed to help reduce the spread of…
Lockdown France – Food glorious Food
Week 7 in the big McArthur brother house So, we have been “locked up” now for approaching two months. My husband Gary and I, our four sons (aged 30, 26, 18 and 15), our daughter,…
May day traditions and memories of a generous neighbour
The 1st May is a bank holiday in France, although this year will be different as we are all in confinement. It’s labour day or Fête du Travail and of all the bank holidays, this…
Lockdown France – Venturing out
I took a drive for the first time in over a month of lockdown. I drove 10 minutes down the road to the tabac to pick up some tobacco for a friend who’s living with…