Welcome to the blog... this is where the longer stories live..... the bits that don't quite fit into a Facebook post or a 30 second reel, but deserve a proper telling. Expect tales of expat life in the Aude... the good, the bad, and the deeply confusing (looking at you, French bureaucracy). There'll be local guides to villages, markets and walks around Narbonne, Carcassonne, Minervois and beyond, plus the usual cast of characters: Jen & Jenna, mates , along with our husbands Bob and Lee, the dogs Ren, Jaeger and Arlo, create a motley crew...Oh, and whatever new disaster we've managed to create this week.
Grab a coffee (or a glass of Minervois, no judgement), and settle in.
Join us as we grow and succeed together. We're glad you're here to be a part of our story.
When moving to France, most people arrive prepared for crispy morning baguettes, charming local markets, and legendary French paperwork. What often catches newcomers off guard, however, is the unique way the French healthcare system actually reimburses your medical visits.
Bloat is every dog owner's nightmare, but many of us assume it only happens to older dogs who gulp down massive meals. Recently, our six month old puppy, Arlo, went through an emergency life saving surgery for bloat completely out of nowhere.
Are you mad, woman?
Oh goodness, yes, that happened. Everything vanished. Thank goodness it was not the originals. Sometimes it takes a memory popping up on your timeline to make you remember.
Saturday was spent exploring the coast and taking in the breathtaking sights at Narbonne Plage.
Did you know that it is entirely possible to love France immensely, while still laughing out loud at certain quirks and getting occasionally frustrated by others?
For a day trip filled with culture, historic architecture, and sea air, take the scenic route from Carcassonne straight to where the Pyrenees mountains meet the Mediterranean sea.
Does moving to France change you? It is an interesting thought, so let me tell you a story.
If you are navigating the roads of France, you will quickly notice that nearly every car has a small, circular sticker affixed to the right-hand side of the windscreen. This is the Crit'Air vignette (the air quality certificate). It was designed to track and reduce local air pollution in busy urban areas.
If you are hunting for the ultimate South of France holiday destination that genuinely ticks every single box, look no further than Gruissan.
Let's be completely honest: driving in a new country is an experience that sits somewhere between exhilarating freedom and absolute, blind panic. When Jen and I first moved to the sunny South of France, we envisioned romantic, sun-drenched road trips through rolling vineyards with the wind in our hair.
Anyone who has ever picked up an English grammar textbook has likely encountered 'The Chaos'... the legendary poem written by Gerard Nolst Trenité to highlight the absolute absurdity of English spelling and pronunciation. It is the poem that proves cough, dough, tough, and through have absolutely no business sounding so completely different.
