New Life Continued

As part of my DH and I shaking up our lives and starting over, we have also moved out of Ile de France (Paris's equivalent of Greater London) and into the fabulous Picardie region and to france's oldest town Soissons.

Isn't it beautiful?

We are still only 45 minutes from the outskirts of the centre of Paris but the change is amazing. The cost of living is the main reason for us moving here. We've have cut over outgoings by 2/3! Over the last couple of weeks we've been slowly discovering our new town, in between unpacking thousands of boxes and all the paperwork that the French so love for you to do when you move!

So far I'm in love! We've spent the last 5 years living in a tiny village with no amenities whatsoever, so to have a whole town centre on our doorstep is simply marvelous! Everything is within walking distance, and if you are feeling a bit lazy there are no less that 14 different bus services! Corner shops are open til 1am even on Sundays! We are 800 yards from the train station, which has a direct train into Paris Gare de Nord every hour. There are pubs, bars, a nightclub, over 40 restaurants and countless lovely high street boutiques. Including a fabulous second hand clothes shop, that I have already have a loyalty card for and have kitted Tiana out for her starting school for 15€ and that was only because I got her a coat that cost 5€ ! It doesn't smell funny and has loads of high street labels in perfect condition, you've got to hand it to them, the French can even make a Charity Shop Chic.

Last Saturday we'd had our fill of unpacking boxes so after googling whats on in Soissons we found Saturday morning is market day. We took a stroll down and as with all French markets, we were not disappointed. And as anyone who knows me, knows I love my food and this was definately a feast for the eyes. So sit back and enjoy our new Saturday morning routine ....

It's Officially Summer!

And the pool is out!

I won't be going on holiday this year, but I must admit with the fabulous weather and a 3m x 3m inflatable pool on my terrasse, I'm contented with what this summer will bring.

Today I actually did feel like I was on holiday. You know that calmness that descends on the world on a Sunday? Coupled with beautiful sunshine and the splish sploshing of Tiana in the pool I could almost have been on the French Riviera!

I also love Summertime for chilling in the shade a reading a good book. I can devour a book a day if I'm left in peace! My mum brought me lots of Englsih books with her, and I've just finished The Paris Wife today.

It's the story of Ernest Hemingway's frist wife, Hadley Richardson, who has become to be known in history as The Paris Wife. Semi-biographical and semi-fiction, a fabulous read into the mind of the woman who made Ernest who he became. A must read in my book!