Setting the pace

If Singapore and Paris were a sprint then our time in Malaucene will be a marathon.

Sometimes it’s hard to adjust and change pace. Even though we know the slow, steady burn is just what we need.

We arrived in Marseille yesterday somewhat in shock. Having left the richness, beauty, elegance and buzz of Paris the sparse landscape in Marseille (Jamie likened it to an arid American desert city) was hard to take in. Couple that with the fact that our first stop had to be a Carrefour hypermarket to purchase a carseat for Henriette so we were essentially mall shopping.

It’s one thing to pick up a rental car and have to drive on the other side of the road. But when your car is a massive Citroen van the stakes are upped. What our GPS system didn’t warn us about was that the motorway off-ramp would be completely blocked by about a dozen cars, as many motorbikes and a multitude of young men sitting on top of vehicles, hanging out the sides, beeping horns and running around. Their general finery led us to the conclusion that they were escorting a groom to his wedding. I muttered something about Marseille football hooligans while we waited for them to pack back in to their cars and carry on their way.

Le Balcon de Roxane was a welcome sight at the end of our slightly hair raising drive. Our beautiful villa waiting to welcome us with its large garden, amazing pool and little details (shoe cupboard by the front door - to die for) all ready to make our lives deliciously relaxing and indulgent for the next nine weeks. Right now this lovely building shelters us from Le Mistral which is blowing like a Wellington gale would. The children are tucked up in their new bedrooms, we have closed all the wooden shutters and despite it being miserably cold outside we are cosy and warm thanks to the European obsession with building warm houses.

We have arrived. The suitcases have been unpacked and put away. This is the essence of our dream. Feeling very, very fortunate and blessed.