Make sure you look for the awesome in every day. It’s always there. You just have to want to see it.. Livonne

I slept like a log last night. When I woke up this morning I felt so relaxed and eager to start the day. I got up, put my oodie on over my pyjamas and headed downstairs for an early morning cup of tea. After that I headed back upstairs and got dressed, unpacked all my dirty washing after 2 weeks of travel and brought it down to the washing machine. While that was working it’s magic, we all started on breakfast. Each morning, David goes to the local boulangerie and buys baguettes, croissant, pain au chocolat and whatever looks good for breakfast. Oh my goodness what a treat that is.

I had a second cup of tea with a croissant and jam, then some mouthwatering baguette with Vegemite. Yes, I know, Aussie Vegemite on a French baguette, but we have been raised on Vegemite of a morning and it’s delicious. Tania brought a jar from home as did we, so great minds think alike obviously. What an amazing start to the day.

As soon as we’d eaten our lovely leisurely breakfast, we got ready to head into Les Mans. They had a Merchand this morning, so we were eager to go and have a look at it. It was quite a large market (marchand) right at the base of the Cathedral of Saint Julian of Le Mans. What a spectacular sight greeted us as we rounded the corner to our destination. We were in traffic, so we got out of the van while it was at a standstill. I was last out and unfortunately hurt my knee by twisting it as I jumped out so as not to hold traffic up. After the fall yesterday, I have aggravated it all over again.

My knee was soon forgotten though as I wandered around the market. One side of the road seemed to be flowers and flea market kind of stuff with the other dedicated to food and clothing. Flower sellers with the most perfect blooms enticed us all with their beauty. We started on the flower side but soon made our way to the odds and sods at the flea market area. And oh, I could have wandered around there all day. We were all mesmerised with the stuff on sale. Beth who is one of our fellow residents makes the most amazing dresses and such out of paper (a girl after my own heart but so much more talented with what she does) so her and I were looking closely at the books and magazines.

We went past what looked like some newspapers from (I think) the 1800s, all in plastic sleeves. The front covers pictures had been originally handpainted then printed and were relevant to what was happening back in the day, before photography took over the world. The paintings were divine and an idea started to form for me but also Beth. With some help from Shohreh who speaks a little french, we learned that the price was 3 Euro each but 2 Euro if you bought 10 or more. You didn’t have to tell us twice and we bought 15 between us. Boy do we have plans for these beauties.

Moving on across the road, we looked at all the food. None of this perfect flawless tasteless fruit and vegies here. It looked like it was straight from the farm to your plate. The fish, the meat, the vegies… everything looked like the kind of food we USED to get before Coles and Woolies started to destroy the place. Weird angry looking fish stared at us accusingly and fruit and vegies that we don’t see in Australia were beckoning to be taken home. I bought an avocado because they looked so good. We then managed to sit and have a cuppa or cold drink at one of the busiest cafes I have ever seen.

Nothing seems to phase the French. Relaxing over a coffee or a wine is serious business here. The place was packed but no one was stressing or getting annoyed at having to wait for their drinks or even a table. We got a small table but only with a few chairs so I was happy to stand. A young French girl at the table next to us said something in French to one of the waiters and next thing I knew, he was weaving his way through the crowd to bring me a chair. Wow. Honestly, the people here have all been so lovely. I was so grateful for her kindness.

We headed back to the chateau for lunch with the promise of an excursion in the afternoon to Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei. So we happily had either leftovers from last night’s delicious dinner or some baguette with whatever we wanted. After we’d finished, I wandered into the grounds of the Chateau to take some photos. Again, what I am putting on here is just phone photos as I don’t like editing my camera photos on a laptop so they will wait until I get home. But this place is just paradise. Not only is the Chateau straight out of a fairytale, the grounds are just starting to bloom for Spring.

There is even an old stone mill for making apple cider which would have been pulled around by a donkey or horse. It runs around a concrete groove or trough crushing the apples as it goes. Down the back garden, what looks like a little stone shed is actually a sauna room. There are outbuildings which match the style of the chateau and the gardens are so beautiful, especially at this time of year. The moat that surrounds the place must have fish and wildlife in it as you are always seeing ripples in the still water. Of course, I think it’s possibly a dragon, as all castles need one of those don’t they?

I had just finished in the garden when it was time to go to Saint-Céneri-le-Gérei It is located in the Les Alpes Mancelles region near Alencon and it is a beautiful village officially listed among the ‘most beautiful villages in France’. This village has a history with artist such as Corot and Courbet and pre-Impressionist landscape painters for its peace and serenity. It is obviously still very much an artist town today with many artists still showing their work.

We arrived and were eager to set out to explore this picturesque town. We walked down one particular lane that brought us to a meadow which was strewn with wildflowers along the banks of a serene river. Smack bang in the middle of this idyllic scene was a pretty but tiny little church. We went in for a look at it and then I wanted to go to the river. There was an old stone memorial or something on the other side of the river which had caught my attention. The area was so peaceful and almost more spiritual than the church itself and I reluctantly left it to head back into the village.

The artists who live in the town happily sit in their front garden, reading, while tourists weave their way in and out of what I assume are their houses, but double as their gallery space when the town has tourist, which I think is most of the time. They were welcoming and happy to have people coming and going. The work was great and if I had spare dollars and room in my case, there was one of them that I really fell in love with that I would have taken home with me.

Anyway, we spent a bit more time wandering around this romantic little town with it’s quaint stone cottages with ivy and wisteria growing all over them adding to their enchantment. By then, my leg was really giving me hell. We were all ready to head back and as soon as I was back at the chateau, I took some pain killers which worked a treat. I was ready to face the world again. My washing had finished so I folded that and took it back upstairs and then sat for a while downstairs in the billiard room until dinner was ready.

Another magnificent meal tonight. There was monkfish almondine with shrimp which was to die for. We also had white asparagus with orange rind, rice pilaf and a nice fresh salad. It was so good. It was followed up by what was similar to a bread and butter pudding with caramel sauce. All accompanied by a good wine. All in all, it was another incredible meal.

Each night, over dinner we have a variety of discussions.. Well I learned something new tonight. Another animal starting with the letter N. The Nutria though in France it is also called a Ragondin. It is a beaver like animal. It just goes to show it’s never too late to learn new stuff. The group discussion tonight was about gratitude and I was happy to go first as I feel so grateful for everyone who helped me get here. It was a huge effort and I had so much support along the way. This means more than people can realise to me. I may never get an opportunity like this again. No tomorrow is promised and we have to make the most of every day. It was inspiring to hear everyone’s stories and their reasons to be thankful. After all, the more we are grateful, the more reasons we find for our gratitude. Life is good!

Happy in gratitude… Livvy xxx