Five years ago Gordon & Kate, some friends that we have known for many years, retired and moved to France with their two horses. Previously they had owned a lovely cottage in Kent and stabled their horses locally. They had decided to take early retirement and needed to accommodate both themselves and their horses. The cost of doing so in Kent was prohibitive but, near Laval in France, they found exactly what they required. Over the past few years they have done an enormous amount of work on the property. It is now both a beautiful home and has well cared for fields for their horses (now three and also retired) to graze in their retirement.
The day started with our first ever journey on the French TGV railways. Gordon picked us up from the station and we enjoyed a pleasant look at the local market. This was like a step back in time with everything from clothes to hens being available for you to buy. I managed to talk Ann out of buying a crate of ducklings and she eventually settled for a bunch of beautiful garden flowers.
After an excellent vegetarian lunch (being a vegetarian is not easy in France) we had a walk around the farm, with their two dogs and a cat, and admired the excellent range of vegetables being grown by Kate. All too soon we had to head back to the train and swap the twitter and rustle for the hustle and bustle of Paris.
The day started with our first ever journey on the French TGV railways. Gordon picked us up from the station and we enjoyed a pleasant look at the local market. This was like a step back in time with everything from clothes to hens being available for you to buy. I managed to talk Ann out of buying a crate of ducklings and she eventually settled for a bunch of beautiful garden flowers.
After an excellent vegetarian lunch (being a vegetarian is not easy in France) we had a walk around the farm, with their two dogs and a cat, and admired the excellent range of vegetables being grown by Kate. All too soon we had to head back to the train and swap the twitter and rustle for the hustle and bustle of Paris.