SEPTEMBER IN MONTCUQ
This September is a potent month, I have eventually managed to travel to see my mother who is now in a home a half hours drive from Montcuq. she is 80 and is in the late stage of alzheimers. I spend 6 days with her holding her hand and trying to give her some comfort as she visibly fades away. As well I turn 60 this september but don’t really feel like celebrating.
The lonely road ahead.
It’s a difficult time. In between visits, I go for short walks around the village and out of the village into the surrounding countryside.
I also visit the French / English Bookshop daily.
I take my lap top in there with the aim to ‘sort out’ some writing, but I dont’ achieve much, That doesn’t really matter, it’s hot and I’m out of sorts. I buy a novel by Joyce Carol Oates called Breathe; which I hope will resonate with me.
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/authorpage/joyce-carol-oates.html
I also get given a book by one of the local artists who lives in the village, It is called The death of Margaret Thatcher by Hilary Mantel; As well I also find a book in the house and start reading it; the T’he story of Lucy Gault, by wIlliam Trevor.
FRONT ENTRANCE TO THE FRENCH/ENGLISH BOOKSHOP /CAFE/GALLERY
As my thoughts turn inwards, books start to seem special again to me.
I have sort of reached a point of intolerance to marketing/emails, online scams and general internet overload. retreating into other worlds is especially appealing right now, in particular, literature music and nature.
SIDE ENTRANCE OF FRENCH/ENGLISH BOOKSHOP
BOOKSHOP SIDE ENTRANCE
ONE OF THE EMPTY ROADS I WALK ALONG WHEN IN MONTCUQ
WHICH WAY NOW? I DO A 3 MILE CIRCULAR WALK WHEN IN MONTCUQ THEN A STROLL ROUND VILLAGE LATER
I LOVE THIS POT, I WALK PAST IT ON MY CIRCULAR WALKS OUTSIDE OF MONTCUQ VILLAGE
BALES OF HAY, WALKING AROUND THE VILLAGE OF MONTCUQ
Animals and other friends
I always like to meet the local animals and have a quick chat they cheer me up. They can only be themselves and their lives are pretty basic they seem fairly content to me. One of the things I have noticed in the village is the amount of underfed semi feral cats around.
WHAT YOU LOOKING AT!!!
I try a couple of different walks this time and decide to pop into the hostel for walkers which is just about a 10 minute walk outside the main village. Having known the previous owner, a friend of the family, it seemed to be ok to venture over there. My understanding was the new couple were English. They were a lovely French couple but their English was as bad as my French; so the conversation was short and sweet.
The hostel is popular among hikers who mainly pass through on walking “The way!’, otherwise known as a The Camino de Santiago’ Lots of hikers pass through the village daily, en route. It is something I may do someday in memory of my mother.
Alzheimers is an awful disease and so little is known about it. Research is vital and I would try and do another fundraiser further on down the line.
https://santiagoways.com/en/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpJDUo6mX8wIViLbtCh0xbA9qEAAYBCAAEgKjKfD_BwE
see my recommended reading page for more books about walks.
Writing about walking and things along the way.
Micro- adventures
Walking holidays are hugely popular in France but people especially of a working age are looking for random adventures. Reading an article in a local newspaper for the English living in France, it explores the growing trend among Parisians, looking for different landscapes.
Coming up this weekend
walking from Faversham to whitstable.
I have done this walk before and it is precisely because I know and like it that I’m doing it again.
Until next time keep on keeping on.
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I’m a bit confused, you are a beautiful daughter giving love to your mother, in France,. What a gift your mother has given to yo in her dying days! Life is death. Life is living which you do so well, thank you.