Driving the Citroen Ami: Why This "Mobile Toaster" is Perfect for Teen Drivers
Have you ever driven a mobile toaster? Because I have—and it might just be the most fun I’ve had behind the wheel since my teens!
Beyond the ordinary
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.
Beyond July and August... why Autumn might be the best time to visit the Aude
Ask anyone where they'd like to go in the south of France and the answer is almost always the same... 'July or August, obviously.' And look, I get it. The sun is blazing, the markets are buzzing, and everything feels gloriously, unapologetically summery. But here's the thing nobody tells you before you book... the Aude has a quiet little secret, and the locals would very much like to keep it that way.
Aude Water Restrictions Are Officially In Force: What You Need to Know
Well, it’s officially that time of year again...
Discover Roquebrun: The Secret "Little Nice" of the Hérault Valley
Meet Roquebrun—a spectacular village nestled in the Hérault department that clearly missed the memo about being landlocked.
Does Moving to France Change You? | Mardi Musings with Jen
Before we packed up our lives and made the leap across the Channel, I had a very specific vision of what my future self would look like.
How to Understand the French TV Weather Forecast Like a Local
Right then… welcome to the next event in our completely unofficial Village Olympics of Weather Speak.
Real Culture Shock: How Moving to France Changes Your Entire Personality
Before moving to France, we considered ourselves perfectly normal people. We had reasonable cheese opinions, functional relationships with standard shop opening hours, and a calm approach to grocery shopping.
Olonzac market day: a love letter to cheese, chaos and too many olives
If you want to understand life in the Minervois, forget the guidebooks. Just turn up in Olonzac on a Tuesday morning and stand very still. Within about four minutes, someone will have hugged you, sold you a cheese you didn't know existed, and asked your opinion on the weather... despite the fact you've lived here eight years and still answer in a mixture of French, English, and increasingly confident hand gestures.
France Will Pay 50% of Your Gardener: French Tax Credit Guide
Right. Gather round, because this is genuinely one of the most brilliant financial perks available in this country, and a surprising number of expats living in France have absolutely no idea it exists.
Community Spotlight: VEEM in Olonzac
Olonzac has a distinct way of working its magic.
What eight years in France, three kids and a grandchild have taught me about mental strength..
What eight years in France, three kids and a grandchild have taught me about mental strength..
Creating a Quirky French Bucket List | My Life in Languedoc
The reality of living and working in France? We work incredibly hard for a living!