Wednesday, July 28, 2010 How lovely it is to have someone stand by us: Yesterday as we were walking up the hill I felt really tired ... like I could not take one more step... or did not want to... Roger reached out and took my hand and I felt touched by his support; given without a word spoken.

Then our dear friend, Lisa; emailed this song through to us today...

Says it all really

Stand By Me

Monday, July 26, 2010 I received an email from my mum in Australia, about a dear friend of hers who lives near Lyon in France. We visited Rejane and Paul, and their sons Pierre (his wife Annie) and Jean last year when I came with my parents to France. Rejane and mum have been pen pals for over sixty years connecting when they were in school. During that time they have met half a dozen times or so, yet are like sisters to one another.

Mum had news that Rejane's cancer had returned and asked if I would visit her. Rog and I organised a day off from our farm duties and drove to the little town of Miribel picking up a large bunch of flowers on the way. What a joy it was to see her and share lunch with the family.

Rejane talked to me privately about her fears of undergoing chemo again, her fear and the trauma of not knowing if she will survive this difficult time. I felt deeply touched by her fragility and vulnerability at this difficult time. The precious time we shared was important for me, and also for my mum who was thinking of us across the ocean. They both love and respect each other dearly, and how glad I was to hold her for a brief moment and give her the message from my mum, 'Je t'embrace'... I embrace you...

Saturday, July 24, 2010 We had a day off from our 'animal farm' adventures and headed for the mountains behind Annecy. Tall peaks rising majestically from the valley floor lined with alpine flowers and dotted with meadows and scarred rock faces.

On our way up we stopped to dip in the aquamarine water of the lake and then slowly wound our way up the mountain road. We arrived at sunset as the streaks of pink against the black outlines revealed a majestic panoramic view.

We slept the night in our little campervan tucked in the fir forest with the sounds of cow bells all around... I was hoping they would stop chewing the cud at some point... which they did!

Awake at 5.30am we climbed the mountain in the cool of the dawn heading up.. and up ... and up. At the top we walked along a ridge that dropped away steeply down one side and was carpeted on the other with millions of wildflowers... and cows. We did our yoga surrounded by the peaks and the early morning sun...and then we sat for our meditation uninterupted although I am sure the cows thought us a bit strange.



We had carried our breakfast up and then relaxed on the mountain for two hours... I painted a few postcards and soaked up the awesome stillness and beauty around us. How blessed I feel to access the stillness within and around me. This time in the mountains has been such a gift in my life. As much as I love the ocean, I love the mountains!

On our way down we stopped at the Reblochon cheese farm to buy some for our hosts back at the 'animal farm'. Rog chatted with the two local farmers who have been dairy farming in the area since they were little. The farm has been making Reblochon cheese for four generations... and now his children do not want to take it on when he retires next year. Like many cottage industries many traditional skills are fading away as the next generation move on to other areas of interest. The price of his cheese has not changed in 20 years and yet the costs have continued to escalate... it truly is a work of love... and a dying art.



We arrived home with a delicious slab of tasty, gooey Reblochon which was the best cheese I have ever tasted! All those high alpine meadow flowers and fresh air... remember the story of Heidi?

We both felt very happy to meet these two farmers before they retired and the farm closes.

Monday, July 19, 2010 Our adventures WWOOFing (working on Organic Farms) has been fabulous and this precious time has given us the opportunity to experience French country life to the max. We are now based in Menthonnex just west of Annecy in the south east of France. It is just like I remembered from my childhood visits here many, many, many years ago when my mum and dad would bring us over in the car from England for a camping holiday.

Rolling hills, sleepy hamlets, shimmering fields of grain, beautiful flower boxes and fairytale turrets reaching the skies. The chateux are perched at the top of the small towns and church bells ring on the hour and half hour echoing around the countryside.

The biodynamic farm where we are staying is based on animal husbandry which, especially for a vegetarian, is an interesting experience, and I am loving it.

They have pigs, sheep, goats, cows, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys, horses plus four scraggy looking cats and a dog called Mosquito (Swiss Bernard dog ... so not at all small)

So it truly is from the chic and elegant streets of Paris to the pooey pig pens. I hope my wedding clients can glean from this blog that I am truly versatile... although they will never see me in the gear that I wear out here on the farm... even though the French all love my hat! (I am surprised at how few Europeans wear a hat in the sun)

Back to the farm...I am deeply grateful that it is not 'harvest' time here for the animals. If I was a meat eater I would want to eat organic food as i can attest to the quality of care and food given to the animals.

Our tasks are fun and Rog and I now feed all the animals twice a day and the pigs are hilarious. No friendships are accounted for at feed time. And motherly love... ha, not when you see mama pig toss her piglet five or six feet, with her snout, out of the pen against the wall when it gets in the way of her feeding... the phrase 'eating like a pig' makes real sense now.

On our second day it was into the pig muck to clean it out. It was surprising how much fun it was... mind you, we will only have to do it twice while we are here.



Today I was in the garden in the morning, weeding and watering and this afternoon it was helping to make the hay bales and stacking the barn with the ones that are ready. The tractor broke down so now we are praying the rain holds off til monday... even though they really need it, it would be disastrous and ruin the cut hay if it gets wet sitting out in the fields.

The family's two older children have come home to help out and we had a lot of fun. With all of the family speaking french my language skills are improving daily. It is a great way to learn the language.

Farm life is pretty tough... the turkeys have a disease which is killing one or two birds a day. The ducks are pecking at the young feathers of each other  for the moisture they contain, drawing blood and even killing one of them. I found the bloodied dead duck and then Daniel, the farmer, came along inspected the carcas for the cause of death and, knowing it was from 'duck slaughter' and not disease, threw the dead duck into the pig pen which drove the pigs wild... the sounds of breaking bones was not pleasant to my ears... and yet this is life on a farm.



Death is not hidden away. It is a part of everyday life. I witness the changes, the whims of nature, the workings of life and the acceptance of the good, the bad and the hard work.. The work that goes into producing meat and vegetables for the table is astonishing and gives me a real appreciation for the cost of food, and i know the farmers get a small amount of the shop price!

It is not all hard work ... I get to do my yoga in the early morning as the sun comes over the hill and the quietness of the country side is enriching. And, for some evening entertainment we headed into town the other night for the 14th July celebrations and I witnessed the best fireworks i had ever seen complete with an amazing sound show... music with crescendoes and harmonies that were breathtaking all in time to the dazzling light show. We danced in the village square until 1am and then headed home ready for an early start cutting the hay... and feeding the pigs ...

yep, i am having fun on the farm!

Thursday, July 15, 2010 I have left Paris after a wonderful week with family... and now we are on our next WWOOFing farmstay with a family just west of Annecy, south east France.

It is hot, hot, hot... and the harvest is beginning. Yesterday Roger and I picked buckets of blackcurrants, next come the framboise... the raspberries. This farm is in rolling countryside and the outlook is more what I imagined of the French countryside. Fields of shimmering wheat, farmlets scattered around small towns with turreted chateaux adorning the hills.

Last night was the celebration of the 14th July.. a big day in France. The father, Daniel and I  into the local village for the celebrations.. a big feast. A huge marquee set up in the town square with long trestle tables and lots of family's enjoying their evening meal. (Daniel's wife, Evelyn and Roger didn't want a late night so they retired for the evening). We arrived at 10pm for the firework display which had been delayed a while so we walked up to the local chateau and enjoyed the busy scene from up above.

As the night sky darkened even more we made our way down to a meadow to find a spot right under the display. What a display! The best light and sound show I have ever seen. With the community counting down the start, the music began and it was an emotionally evocative piece. I would love to tell you what it was ... but I don't know! It was full of powerful crescendoes and dynamism... quiet running melodies and uplifting trumpet fanfares... with the lights and sparkles of the fireworks dancing and flying through the air. It was breathtaking. The finale was unbelievable.. even now I shake my head thinking of the extraordinary shower of colour and shapes... a great night.

This festival once again emphasised to me the emotional power of music and how the choice of it at ceremonies, festivals, even at home has such an impact upon our senses...

This was also highlighted by the fun music the DJ played for the dancing. Everyone, from the young ones to the oldies had their feet tapping for the dance music.

Daniel and I did a little rock n roll on the dance floor with hundreds of young people before retiring at 1am. Daniel and Evelyn's son, Timothy was there and he and his girlfriend didn't get home til after 4am. We needed our beauty sleep... that, and the fact, that we were getting up at 6 to mow the meadow!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 Paris is a beautiful city and I have had a great week with my sister in law, Viv and her husband, Jonathan, who have both lived here for over 20 years, and my other sister in law, Tess, and her husband John who are visiting from Melbourne.

it has been hot and humid which makes evening strolls around the streets and parks a treat. Cool breezes and lots of people enjoying the night air. Paris does have a very romantic air to it... music wafting through the night air, accordian music playing the french classics...lovers in the park, sitting on walls, cuddled next to the tree, on the benches... 


During the day I climbed the Eiffel Tower, visited the Louvre, sat in beautiful gardens, shopped at the local markets and practiced my new found French skills, and during the afternoon snoozed in the balmy wraparound heat. I love Paris however I am looking forward to returning to the mountains... fresh air, quiet and open spaces... and my beloved Roger who has just finished the impressive week long Tour du Mont Blanc -  a week long walk in high alpine mountain country. I can't wait to see him!

Monday, July 12, 2010 My sister in law, Viv and her husband Jonathan, went to a wedding just north east of Paris the day I arrived. It was the son and his fiance of one of their friends from the theatre. The young couple had opted for a civil ceremony in the Mairie's (Mayor's) office only and then a fabulous reception at one of the wedding venues nearby. Viv said it was great fun with the couple arriving to the reception on the groom's motorbike... there was lots of entertainment and partying late into the night. The French are notorious for their late dinners... the first course didn't arrive until 10pm! Everyone had a great night... check out their fun invite!

Sunday, July 11, 2010 In France PACS is a civil pact of solidarity and since its inception just over ten years ago over 300,000 couples have signed up. The civil solidarity pact is a contract between two adults of the same sex or different sex, to organize their life together legally. It is a legal agreement that gives them the same legal rights as a married couple.

Yesterday I met a lovely young English woman living in Paris who is forming a PACS with her French boyfriend. They plan to live together with this agreement.

For many couples marriage is not an option and having this alternative offers them another pathway. Sophie was very happy she has this choice as neither of them want to get married yet want the legal protections and the societal recognition. They will have a simple ceremony to mark the occasion.

Happy PACS day!

Saturday, July 10, 2010 Excert from Diamond in Your Pocket by Gangaji

Friday, July 09, 2010 I have just celebrated my birthday here in Paris with my beautiful family... Viv and Jonathan have lived here for 23 years and they are a dynamic and creative couple. (A little side story...Viv was telling me yesterday about her wedding in Las Vegas many years ago ... they eloped and surprised the family upon their return.)

I woke early in the morning to a gift from my grown children back in Australia - lots of love letters and photos of of us, I was so moved by their cards and thoughts. Lots of messages from friends and a call from Roger in the Alps...

Last night Viv, Jonathan and I were joined by other sister in law and her husband, Tess and John, who live in Melbourne and are also over for holidays. We had a beautiful tagine rich with flavours of mint, coriander, prunes and vegetables... and a chocolate cake.

And for my present...the sales are on in Paris... so I bought a gorgeous summer dress for the incredible heat...and some new wedding suits for my return next year! I love dressing up for weddings and the suits here are so elegant!