I snuck away for the weekend. Shhh. It’s a secret. From who, I don’t know, but sometimes it’s nice to be ‘incognito’ isn’t it? I certainly am in this little village in France. Although the Dutch number plates do give me away just a little.

I have some photos to share with you when I return to le petit bateau on Tuesday, but for now, I am trying to relax and enjoy the fresh, clean air, the stunning sunset that just passed, and now the dazzling night sky.

Oh how I miss living amongst nature.

À bientot!

xx

PS I went to a brocante (french flea market) today -not exactly the ideal place to go when one is trying to declutter her home. And although I am ecstatic with what I have found, of which there will be show and tell I promise, I am still lamenting over what I did not purchase: Like a drawer full of antique cutlery (doh!); a box full of found river rocks each with it’s own tiny, smooth hole (the things I could make with them!); and a suitcase full of vintage glass bottle stops (silly girl). Oh, the heartache.

You know I talk of a wandering heart often. Because that is what my heart does: It wanders away from me and I find myself breathless trying to catch up to it. When I finally do catch it I look about to find this wandering heart of mine has taken me somewhere magical. Juste comme ça…

Snow and mountains for me are like the sea and sand – ever changing, ever inspiring and ever pure. I was born by the sea on that big island down under, but I adore the wintry mountain life just as much. And I have been dreaming to have my feet in the snow again for some time, 15 years to be precise. And it has not been that easy to realise that dream. Life happens. And my little dreams remain floating in the clouds. But not last weekend. My dream came true…

I love the feeling of the snow in my bare fingers. How it melts to my touch. And how it changes but remains constant. And that I can eat it. Can I? I did actually, because I was a little parched at the time. So are you wondering where my heart wandered this weekend? Take my hand and I will take you with me…

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I know it’s a little early, but I have something special for you this Christmas. Get your woollens on and wrap your mittens around a bowl of chocolat chaud. Then close your eyes and open them with the understanding you are about to be whisked away to a magical land. Enter…

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