Gozo; Is the Grass Greener?: December 2015

Once again, Steve and I are on the move.

In May this year, we moved from the beautiful Maltese island of Gozo to the Tarn Et Garonne region of France, which we have been lucky to call our home ever since.

Ahh summertime, it seems like a memory now

However, at the end of December, after two weeks in the UK to see family and friends and do some gigs, we will be moving to Spain, to a small place close to Huescar, which is about an hour and a half north of Granada. We are going because we like to travel, we like to explore and we feel almost ready to find somewhere to call home on a more permanent basis. I say almost ready, as at heart, I think Steve and I are nomads, we don’t do well in one place for too long, always wanting to see what’s around the next corner. Oh and there is the small matter of me finishing the sequel to my bestselling social work book - Known to Social Services!

Hmm, what's round that next bed?

We thought we’d found our forever home in Gozo, so much so, I wrote a book about the experience entitled Gozo Is the Grass Greener? However, we felt we needed to explore other places, before making a decision on where to perhaps settle down full time.

My book about our lives in Gozo

After almost five years on a very small and close knit island, with the best friends anyone could wish for, and where we were in demand as entertainers; a move seemed almost unnecessary. We were however, ready for a change and France has certainly provided us with just that.

Great memories of singing on Gozo

We have so many wonderful memories of this area, and it will be a huge wrench to have to go. You see, in a nutshell, we love France.

Beautiful France

So what is it we love about this area and its surrounds? Well, first of all, the people. We were told before we moved here by more than one or two people that “The French are ignorant”. While this in itself is a huge sweeping statement to make about a whole race of people, it is also, in our opinion, totally inaccurate and without basis.

Always something lovely to see

Far from being ignorant, we have found the people to be extremely polite and courteous, not to say, helpful and patient, especially with my schoolgirl French. I am absolutely certain that you could travel the world over and find people of every race who are ignorant, but on the whole, we have been impressed by the old fashioned good manners we have witnessed while here. The greeting of “Monsieur Dame” as we walk into a shop, and the cheerful “Bonjours” in pretty much every, bar, café and restaurant. Not just from the owners, but from all present. Then, as you leave a place, you will always hear, “Au revior, Bonne Journee”. Ignorant? I think not.

Coffee anyone?

Or a baguette?

We have felt more than welcome everywhere we have visited, and in our most local town of Valence D’Agen, we felt like locals after going into our favourite café one day and the waitress confirmed, “Deux café grand crème?” without us having to say a word.

Our favourite cafe

It made us smile, it made us feel part of the fabric of the town, which we called home for a while. We spent many happy hours here at the café, watching the world go by, especially on market day when the town came alive, bustling and busy with people. The produce so fresh and home grown, the friendly cheese man who would pretty much let you sample every single cheese he had until you made up your mind. This is small town France at its best.

So many yummy things!

This place has something, which seems to be sadly lacking now in the UK. There is a sense of belonging, a pride in the artisan shops, which abound everywhere you go. The tiny village schools, which are not in danger of closing, the people in the villages and towns who all seem to know each other and greet their fellow man and woman with a kiss on each cheek. At times, we almost felt like intruders. Outsiders looking in, like a child with their face pressed up against a sweet shop window, jealously looking on, while unable to gain access to the treats inside. However, we have been so fortunate as we have felt included, and embraced everywhere we have been.

Always time for coffee

The second thing we love about this area is the sheer magnitude of its history, which is overwhelming. Almost every single village and town seems to have a 13^th century church, a chateau, a castle or some other wonderful monument, which takes your breath away. Then there are the walks, the stunning scenery, the rivers, the canals, the architecture and so much more.

Walks galore

Spoiled for choice

We’ve spent unexpected happy hours after stumbling on car boot sales, and various other events, where we just “happened” to be in the area. We’ve smiled at the sight of locals having a full cooked meal as their picnic, complete with wine. Not an egg sandwich in sight!