I remember as a
kid probably pre and during adolescence thinking ‘one day I will show them I
WILL be something’ quite what that something was I am not sure, however I am
sure it meant some sort of simple easy life with lots of possessions and probably
fame and riches at my disposal.
(Remember this was also way way before reality tv and the like!)
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| Clue de la Fou (we see the top of this from the cafe) |
Well my life has
been a lot of things but simple, never! One is never quite sure of how our
decisions impact on us; did I take the right fork at the right time and what
would have happened if I had taken the left one???
With some of my
recent very conscious planned decisions, like moving and opening a business in
France would I do the same thing again, you betcha. I would love to say I would plan more, as in
really try and learn the language, before we arrived and understand all the
rules and regulations of running a business here, but we all know that is not
true, I have always lived by my gut and will always continue to do so.
Recently I made another
life changing decision probably the hardest one I have ever made, it was not
made lightly or in haste in fact it was considered over at least a seven year
period. Trust me it sucks and I hate how
my decision is hurting some of the people I love but I know it is the right for me, to be able to move
forward. There is another hard decision waiting
in the wings and that is going to be just as painful but that’s for a later date.
So why am I feeling
rich today and be assured it’s not in the monetary sense!
When we first
arrived in France people asked me what I did and normally gave the stock answer
of wife and mother. However we are living in wine country so I started to try
and explain that I knew a little about wine and possibly could be a ‘professeur
de vin’ well that encouraged a lot of mirth. Everyone in France knows about
wine what can you possibly offer or teach us?? What indeed?
Recently I have
been trying really hard to not have any expectations of anyone or anything, now
this is from a person who normally expects a lot from everyone, especially my
nearest and dearest but I am trying, and a little by little it is helping my
own expectations and ability to keep living this very hard road, I have chosen
for myself.
So today is South
African #CheninBlancDay and obviously is still one of my favourite wines if not
my all time favourite grape! I
remembered I had one last bottle of Adi’s finest so I put that in to chill and hoped to enjoy it and reminisce
about all the wonderful times, I have had, enjoying our wonderful South African Chenins (which is as close to ambrosia as anything
else in this world).
This lunchtime a
close French friend came to the cafe, who happens to be a vigneron and I am also trying to teach
him on the delights of white wine (the French do have stereotypes for a
reason). He ordered one of our house
specials of warm chicken salad (it happens to be about 35 deg at the moment)
and glass of ‘rouge’! Oh, no I said you are going to have a real treat and gave
him a glass of aforesaid chenin blanc.
Another quick
aside, for those of you who know me, know how happy I am to share any wine I
usually have but this is very SPECIAL and has to be brought over from the UK
for me or is kindly donated by my brother in our annual exchange of wine,
(cannot think how air miles that polystyrene 3 bottle wine container has!) So I was only prepared to share with the well deserving.
I was busy
serving and cooking for the rest of my customers when my friend calls me over,
this wine is excellent and with this salad, perfect. But of course I said it is
one of the best! quel cépage he asked me (what grape variety). I then began to
wax lyrical about chenin blanc and it’s amazing wines and versatility. Now this guy has lived and worked in this
area for a long time and Limoux is not far up the road about an hour or so away
and he never knew how awesome chenin blanc could be!! So, funny enough I can
teach an ‘old dog’ new tricks and educate some French about cepages and obviously
South African wine.
So in spite of it
been a really crappy time right now let me count
my blessings and see how rich
I really am. My kids are well and happy, at this very moment doing the things
they love, ie. rugby and horse riding. We live in a beautiful place that is
safe as one can be these days and more importantly which we all LOVE, the café is
doing well and will only continue to get better until August. I know my support
is unrelenting and strong even though, it’s mainly miles away. I have just eaten lunch
sipping the last of the Adi's Chenin looking at our beautiful mountains with the
eagles soaring above. As my life has taken me far and wide and hopefully will
continue to do so, I am full of rich and wonderful memories. My bank account
may not be groaning but you can bet on the fact that I am very rich, and as one
of my ‘oldest’ friends often reminds me ‘the best is yet to come’ and a glass half full can always be refilled!!
a bientôt!
