My first visit to France was when I was 15, in 1953, on what seemed to me then to be a very adventurous home-to-home exchange. I didn't get on that well with my actual pen-friend, but I did like France and played a lot of tennis during a very sunny three weeks. In spite of some discomfort, homesickness and generally feeling "odd", this is something I have to thank my parents for, especially my mother, for it was the start of a life-long love affair with France. I've visited this wonderful country almost every year since then. And it gave me my livelihood.....
Twice now I have visited Cindy in Paris. She was not only an excellent Assistante in my school, but trained to be a teacher in England. At the present time, 2007, she is an Assistante at Leeds University.
In October I went by car to see Cathy and her family in Besancon. She was another superb Assistante at Sudbury Upper School.
A photo of Marie-Laure and her newly wedded husband Christophe, together with their son . On the right you can see me at the same reception, next to Marie-Laure’s parents. This was on May 28th 2005.
Having coffee in the open air.
Eating in a new restaurant.
Drinking a cool white wine outside on a summer’s evening.
Chatting to the barmaid in French in my hotel.
Sauntering around well-lit streets at night.
Driving into the train to go through the tunnel, then driving off and onto those fast open motorways.