About
I’m a storyteller. I tell stories. Stories of my home stories of my travels. To be precise, when I started this blog, I was mostly to be spotted in le Cantal, France, between the two great mountain ranges of the Massif Central – Les Monts du Cantal and Le Massif de Sancy which dominate the Auvergne region. Later, I lived in Grenoble the city known variously as the gateway to, or the capital of, the Alps. It was a marvellous opportunity to dunk self in a chic little cup of urban French life and in my mind I sashayed elegantly and effortlessly effecting a constant that was so much more hip than hick … the success or failure of this tenure was for others to judge and occasionally chronicled here for posterity.
For the last couple of years, I have lived in the USA. Massachusetts to be exact. And that’s where the latest chapter in my half-baked life is based. But wanderers wander and ramblers ramble and I am still rootless and searching for roots.
So, I tell of my meanderings, of the people I meet, of their lives, of their kith, their kin and their animals. And I tell of their land. I tell of things long ago and far away. I tell of things I’ve seen or been. The stories are all real so all I actually do is observe and translate. My role is l’étrangère fitting in and trying to merge into the background like David Attenborough so as not to startle but rather to witness reality. Not journalistically, you understand. I binned the idea of being a journo back in 1980 when as a higher muck-a-muck PA on The Daily Telegraph with delusions of being a reporter it was pointed out to me that I needed to cut my teeth with the rest doing flower shows and funerals for the Toadswallop Gazette or the Gigglespuddle Evening Post …. being a gal-about-town on a fast-track to greatness I quickly moved on from THAT idea. More like a mediaeval raconteur. Without the lute or the mismatched tights.
When I started this blog it was to give me a space to write those stories. Over time, things inevitably develop and alter. I published my first book, ‘Russians Love Their Children Too’, in France in early 2015 . And, the intention was to follow it up with more. But in my experience life seldom goes to plan but good intentions abound and despite being blocked like a mighty fouled drain for some while, I am falteringly getting back to writing. This blog provides me a place to be fairly formless – formerly it was a sort of ‘Eat Pray Love’ meets Gertrude Stein on the set of ‘A Year in Provence’ with the cast of ‘Allo Allo’ skulking and bickering in the background … now I’m looking to this great continent to provide the inspiration and it’s proving pleasingly fertile ground. Occasionally, you can expect food, sometimes photographic posts with lyrical or poetic commentary, I might dip back from time to time to a bit about life in France. I’ll give you a random spritz of the actuality of living in a Foreign land, often by yourself with no buoyancy aids, in a place where no-one speaks your native tongue and you speak theirs ‘comme une vache Espagnole’. And I don’t mean in France …. I will still spin a story or two your way – old habits die hard …. now there’s an idea – let’s morph Maria von Trapp with Bruce Willis. By George! I think she’s got it!
So welcome! Let the feast commence. You can find a little more about me here
One thing though. Photographs. I only use my own and occasionally those taken by friends and family when they are with me and always credited. I don’t use stock photographs however tempting it might be to gussy the blog up with a fantastic professional picture that is vaguely in context. Good, bad or indifferent I prefer authenticity.
If you are new to my half-baked world then may I gently suggest a meander through the archives. My most recent posts all appear in the sliding bar at the top and every single post is archived by date in the side-bar. The ‘pages’ at the top are a selection of stories covering things which captivate me – in truth I don’t really know what the difference is between a post and a page – perhaps someone clever might enlighten me though the truth is I tend to do things my own way and so long as I’m not doing any harm I see little value in worry. HB² is the chemical symbol for my husband with two brains and The Bean is our dog.
Words and photographs are Copyright © Osyth and may not be reproduced without my permission, which I am happy to grant for non-commercial purposes, provided I am credited as the writer and or photographer, with a link to this blog. To discuss commercial rates use the contact information in the footer.
Lovely chatty style. Look forward to more!
Thank you! More to follow ….
Good work Osyth. I am proud to be amongst those who suggested you “you should write”….and I’m so glad to see that you’re the natural we all suspected you might be. I can also see where your girls get their eye for a photograph from! Well done. Looking forward to more; you shall be added to ‘my favourites’! Why don’t you put the web link on FB so people can just click on it to open it instantly? Henri Kennedy xx
Why thankyou, Henri! I will try my best to live up to the expectation …. link duly up on FB – I really do need to be guided on this stuff as you can see!! xx
Lovely story 🙂
…..It was rather amusing….. but shall there be a comment to assist you on your pathway…. please do not walk…but takethe expressway lane and FOCUS on 1 subject at a time….
David thank you so much for taking the time to comment … I absolutely take your point about focus …. I have a funny French related tale of focus as it happens. Many years ago a friend was working for an engineering firm in Oxfordshire that was taken over by a larger French concern. At the opening meeting after the deal was struck, the heavily accented French directeur said ‘you must learn to Fock-us more’ to which a wag in the room retorted – I think you are the ones who have Fock-US not the other way around’ – made me chuckle! In seriousness, I will find my focus in time – for now my petit pas like any baby are a little meandering and I hope you will continue to guide me like any good parent would!
I’d very much like to follow your blog. It would be great if you could put a “Subscribe by email” widget up, so that I’d get notifications of new posts. It’s the only way I ever remember to visit blogs, I’ve never understood how feeds work. 🙂
I’m thrilled that you would like to follow and I will get a widget up tout de suite … this will be my weekend task. I am also compiling a blog-roll to be unveiled next week and you are sure to feature 🙂
Stop-press …. we have widget …. a button and an email follow if preferred. Blog roll now live too 😀
Button clicked – thank you. I look forward to following your blog. 🙂
Welcome! I shall try hard not to disappoint 🙂
What a lovely blog 🙂 duly and happily subscribed. Please don’t ever apologise for using your own photographs- as a one time pro photographer I detest stock photography and can spot it a mile off- I think it undermines personal (and for that matter commercial) blogs as it smacks of inauthenticity. I’d much prefer to see an honest, heartfelt and originally ‘seen’ image even if it is technically ‘imperfect’ (and that’s often a matter of opinion!). And yours are super.
Maz! Thank you for you lovely comment and I hope I don’t let you down as a subscriber .. its called follow a rather discursive girlie with the best of intentions . I am so pleased to read what you say about photos. I get very frustrated by the fallback of stock photos and have had to shoot a few advisors in the foot to get my own way – some things are not worth the compromise, I think. Incidentally – I do know your work and I am in awe 🙂
Delighted to have met you through WordPress magic. Making new friends by making comments about dog poo has always been my forte. Ahem.
I just nominated you for a Liebster Award. 🙂 Go to my page for the rules. Cheers! http://lovingafrenchman.wordpress.com/2014/08/24/i-have-been-nominated-for-the-liebster-award/
Thank you for your kind comments about our cat Jess. They actually both came from the Cantal at Le Sirieix, between Argentat and Servieres le Chateau. They were from a litter of farm cats saved by some english friends of ours (via a message board). Significantly one of Jess’s brothers, also a small tabby, died unexpectedly a couple of months ago. We think its some sort of genetic quirk as he had the same symptoms and died just as suddenly. The black and white cats from the litter are all ok, so we are hopeful for Sophie, who is now being a bit spooked by all the attention given to her!
I know how sad it is to lose a pet and particularly when they are still so young. We had a pair of brothers and lost one when he was less than a year old – heartbreaking. It sounds as though Sophie has bypassed the rogue gene. I do hope so. We have farming friends in Cezallier (North East Cantal) who at the last count have 37 cats and the kittens continue to appear with regularity and great glee so if you fancy a playmate for her from strong Cantal stock I’m sure they could spare one!
Absolutely love your introductory page 🙂
Thank you so much Shikha 🙂 And I have duly looked at more of your blog having been lured by the picture of the Firth of Forth (which I know well) and I rather love it so have followed you and look forward to more and more 🙂
Hey there Osyth! I just nominated you for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Feel free to accept or ignore! 🙂
Hi there
I enjoy reading your blog so much that I have decided to nominate you for a “Liebster Award”
If you have a minute, drop by my latest blog for full details
Just a bit of fun, from one blogger to another and maybe you will enjoy taking a look at some of the ones I like to follow – if you already have a nomination just ignore me !!
Gill
http://coteetcampagne.wordpress.com
Well anyone who describes me as an adventurer has my vote … love your questions so will answer them, love your answers to the questions posed to you as a matter of fact. Thank you – I will thank you properly when acceptez-vous 🙂
Be sure to post your answers as comment on my award post so I can find them!
I am relatively new at this blog thing!
Will do … I think if I link you you are pinged which sounds like something horrid the boys did in the playground when I was 10 but that’s what ist called 😉
Not sure if I have ever pinged
Maybe unintentionally..!
Hi Osyth, I love your story-telling so far. I’d love to hear more, if you’d like to share as part of the Writer’s Blog Tour…http://readsbyredriverbanks.wordpress.com/2014/11/30/the-writers-blog-tour-and-me/
Very nice blog and lovely photos. Warm greetings from Montreal, Canada. 🙂
Hello Linda and thank you for your kind comment … I hope you will continue to enjoy the blog 🙂
Thank you for stopping by my blog. I also use my own photographs if at all possible and when I can’t, I make ……. a Bitstrip. lol.
Well keep doing what you are doing because I rather like it!
We touch in so many places. It is right that we know each other.
I’m delighted to know you and look forward to the journey from here 2far2shout 🙂
Well I have checked the Twitter and am thoroughly disappointed with the Bean’s total lack of correspondence since the inaugural announcement she would be taking care of a lady who appears to originate from my neck of the woods….. #disappointed 😉
Oh no! We are shamed! We have let ourselves down. I will speak to The Bean and tell her to get her paw out. We can’t let Oxfordshire down like this 😉
Absolument. Oxfordshire deserves only the best!
Or should I have said Oxfordshire ne mérite que le meilleur, just so the Bean might understands me better.
Right in any language! Funnily enough we had a conversation along those lines with a carload of random Jazz musicians in the middle of literally no-where earlier today. They asked where I was from and I replied ‘Oxford’ which prompted knowing looks and one of them to say ‘ce qu’il explique’ (that explains it) which I imagine, applied to our generally glamourous and fine demeanor but I fear may have been a reference to the sheer madness of hiking in the thick snow rather than driving round in a 4×4 – I think you will agree that we had it right!
Hiking rocks!
Oh you are now elevated to Royalty by The Bean … from Oxfordshire and approves of hiking is pretty much 5 Gold Stars 🙂
Great about page and I especially like your comment about “Good, bad or indifferent I prefer authenticity”. 🙂
Thank you Lola Jane, that is really kind …. glad you are with me on authenticity 🙂
Happy to have found your blog and look forward to enjoying your writing and photos in the coming months. Best wishes
Hello Andrew! I’m delighted to meet you and hope I won’t let you down .. currently drowing in divine camelias on your site 🙂
I already know you wont, and yes the camellias are indeed divine 🙂
I like the sliding top section. Very clever!
Thank you Cam … I’d like to say I’m clever but in fact it Two Brains engineered it!
I love your reflections on Journalism! I am chuckling out loud at your sharp story telling. Thank you for making me smile today 😉 Your blog is such fun and super informative. I am enjoying discovering more of your unique style and perspectives of France. I remember going on a canoe holiday through the Ardeche. I think that is fairly close to Massif Central (possibly?). It is incredibly beautiful – I envy your location! Can’t wait to stay in contact with the beauty of France through your writing. Happy days.
Now THAT has made my day … thank you so much! The Ardeche are, indeed part of the Massif Central and just a little east of here. I’m pretty much in paradise here, hence part of the blog title! Bon dimanche a vous 🙂
Merci!! Phew. I wasn’t sure how sharp my geography was. I have such happy memories of that river. You are so lucky to be enjoying that gorge – ous scenery! I will be back to your beautiful blog to relive that joyful place 😉
Most people’s geography of France (including the French) is pretty abysmal so pat yourself on the back! And yours … about to follow. And you are in Oxford? My home for about 1,000 years 😀
Whoop! Yes indeed Oxford. Sun is still shining on the lovely Cotswolds stone buildings 😉
Whoop and double whoop! I love Oxford – it’s still home really. Sun on that stone is hard to beat 🙂
😀
Love your style and the stories! Very interesting!
Thank you Lyn …. For dropping in and taking the trouble to comment – I look forward to exploring your blog too 🙂
You are a beautiful and lyrical writer. I look forward to reading your stories.
Thank you. That is a lovely compliment. The stories are there when you feel the urge to read them 🙂
Hi! I nominated you for the sisterhood of the world blogger award. Acceptance is purely optional, but if you’re interested please visit this link to see how to respond. 🙂
https://cookingforthetimechallenged.wordpress.com/2015/08/13/the-sisterhood-of-the-world-bloggers-award/
Thank you. I am both flattered and honoured and I will accept graciously and with pleasure 🙂
your awfully quiet!!!
Hey lovely lady! I’ve been travelling for 7 weeks – first to the UK for my eldest daughters’ wedding and then in Germany and France with my husband and hotels do not make it easy to write posts (lame excuse) … I promise now I am back home I will be interacting and posting like a goodun. Bon Dimanche a vous 🙂
that’s right I claim to have a very-very small memory….but I remember you mentioning this more than once…LOL I am terrible, been this way all my life…look forward to hearing all about it…
You know what? It’s pretty special to feel missed! Promise some actoin this week even though my life is pretty much in turmoil 😉
travel turmoil….what fun…..
Great Blog! Glad I found it! Light and love, Shona
Thank you Shona …. I’m glad you like it and glad you found me. Now I will find you too – or accurately I will find you in a day or so as I am currently away and strictly should be asleep!
HA! Well you are welcomed to stop by when you return well rested! Light and Love, Shona
Hello – I am looking forward to reading your stories. I started blogging about 6 months ago, mainly to respond to a plea from friends and family to share my ‘Franglais’ recipes. I too am ‘un etranger’ and have had to adapt quite a bit to life in France and to my new French family. As opposed to you my photographs have grown out of the blog – and still have a long way to go. I would be very interested to read your book. The Auvergne is my favourite part of the country, and I have mentioned this along with some photos in one of my posts. Very pleased that you liked one of my comments. Lindy
Hi Lindy! Welcome along … I look forward to exploring your blog too. I’m really no photographer at all – my husband gave me his camera when I moved here so that I could capture my walks and share them with him when he is not with me and I discovered that occasionally I get a good image! Looking forward to seeing more of you 🙂
Where do you hail from originally? My best photos to date are (in my humble opinion) my black and white shots on my Paris at night post (in the Paris on a budget section)
I was born in Watford (but don’t tell) but have spent most of my life in and around Oxford 🙂 I agree with you about those B/Ws … really good and great to see a Paris on a Budget section included 🙂
The photos of the Auvergne are on the ‘eggs mimosa’ post – but all the recipes are ‘Franglais’ not French cuisine, it is what I had to devise as I could not fine what I wanted and was confronted with things like topinambour! I was born in Liverpool, but actually lived my life in semi-rural north Wales, so this is why I love the Auvergne so much, it reminds me of Snowdonia…..
I see the photos …. it is very beautiful – yes, echoes of Snowdonia, also of the Lake District, parts of Yorkshire and of the Highlands depending on where you are. What I adore about le Cantal is the immense variety of scenery in a relatively small area. Of interest to you might be that we have noted that Auvergne is almost an exact mirror image of Wales (though 25% larger) a fact noted in my page on Walking https://osyth.wordpress.com/walking/
Just read that post on walking. Where can I buy your book?
The book was actually about Russia (ten days there just after the invasion of Crimea when NO-ONE sane was visiting). We just had the printer run 100 copies because I was running out of time in terms of the ISBN allocated when I arrived here. French laws are quite odd and it turned out that to be considered an Author I had to turn out a book within 12 months of taking the numbers. We didn’t sell any – just gave them to libraries, booksellers, family and friends. No plans to reprint but the gist of the book is in the series of posts on Russia from May/June last year. I think the last was written in July – there are 13 or 14 installments. I am writing another set here in Auvergne … will keep you posted. You are actually much more impressive with your 32p royalty cheque!!
ha ha – I have invested it well……..I have been warning about ‘Mother Russia’ for around 20 years now. I blame them for all that is happening atm. They were the ones who distabalisd Afghanistan, then withdrew and had us all looking the other way while they trained up what amounts to ‘Hitler’ (putin) youths and amassed an army and weapons. I have a deep mistrust of them. I would be interested to read this. I understand a little of French book laws (all French laws are odd!) As I have an associate who worked for Amazon on their French paperback section.
My take was a-political ….literally just the story of ten days in a place I had always wanted to visit for personal reasons. If anyone returns a copy you are first in the queue. Otherwise it’s almost a lift from the posts on Russia 🙂
Thanks for your comment and liking my post on the Auvergne. Such a magical place.
My pleausure – it is indeed a beautiful place 🙂
Stopping by to say “Allo”! I am so envious of the moving header.( Mezmerized, actually) So you speak French like a Spanish cow, Ay? Hmmmm….. I would definitely pay to hear that. I have a lot of catching up to do with your blog and looking forward to it. Clare
Welcome, Clare – the moving thing comes with the theme – my husband sorted it out for me … I just write the nonsense!! Catch up at your leisure (I am doing the same with your lovely blog) and I hope you will enjoy the ride 🙂
It’s something I’ll definitely enjoy. I’ve visited France twice and am looking forward to returning some day. Until then, I’ll just have to do it vicariously through your blog.
hi osyth
not sure if this is the right place to comment but you commented on my blog and you seem to have been sent to a link i wrote last year when starting it! we have just come back from a road trip to albania so there is a lot of my waffle on there plus photos! 🙂 cheers, lynne
Bizarre! Not being remotely technical I have no clue what the issue is …. But I look forward to tasting Albania via your blog 🙂
Nominated you for a fun challenge….!
http://worldsbiggestfridgemagnet.com/2015/11/14/3-days-3-quotes-challenge-day-3/
Understand if you don’t really feel like doing this. x
Hi there and thank you for visiting and following my blog. Love your style and look forward to reading more of it.
Thank you! And welcome – hopefully I won’t disappoint!!
Sigh oh Osyth what have you done ! Don’t you know I don’t have enough time for this ????? I found you because of one of your comments to Wierd Guy with the Dog and couldn’t resist peeking in here.. Ever since I discovered the treasures in the blog world, I realized I don’t have the time to read some of these really good bloggers.. I’m having to make decisions now of whom to cut.. You are one that stays in my readers choice right behind WGWTD.. You relate tales that I can relax and enjoy 😊
I’m blushing! And very proud. That is simply the NICEST compliment and must be repaid with a gutsy tour of your blog. Later. I’ll save that thrill for lights out, winding down all on my own when I can just take delight with know interruptions, Pan 🙂
Since its a cooking blog a “gutsy” tour is very appropriate… hahahahahahahha.. Hope you enjoy.. It won’t be entertaining like your works are, but hopefully it’ll tickle your tastebuds..
I’m really looking forward to reading some of your stories now, Osytrh, and also seeing some of your photography. I use a lot of my own photos on my blog, but for some aspects of certain posts, I do confess to resorting to stock photo/illustrations. i suppose it depends on what I need to illustrate! Hope your new year is a good one.
Keep doing what you do …. we should all just be true to ourself and I do not knock anyone for doing what they do … I really hope to please with more of mine but do bear with me because I will be looking at yours and I am sure I will be VERY pleased by what I find. 🙂
Well Osyth you have received the highest award on the internet ! You are among but a handful of other bloggers who share the Pan Global Award !
Yes, I know you are familiar with this award but now you are a holder of it..
Well you will be once I figure out how to send it in a link..
There is no requirement to receiving this award.. You and each recipient have earned it.. Great job !!!
Now I have to try and get my menu back in order because somehow I scrambled the sections around.. but you can find the award page in the menu clicking Home on the road and then click, Pan Global Award .. The list is growing and you are the second recipient..More to be added as I stumble thru admin to get them up..
Oh wow! Thank you so much. I am truly flattered and humbled. I feel as though I’ve entered a hall of fame. Great name, by the way 😉 Seriously – I love your blog and I am learning so much from following you and finding other great blogs too so really this is the icing on the bun and I thank you so so much 🙂
I figured you’d like the name of the award.. How could you not ? 😂
It’d be ruse and mildly self-abusive not too 🙂
Hahahahaha
I love French mountains, the greenery and I love watching French movies, I don’t understand French yet though!! lovely blog you have and I am going to read more once I get back home! keep writing ^.^
Thank you so much … I’m very flattered and delighted that you are enjoying the blog. France has my heart it is true …. I wonder which French movies are favourites? I have Russian friend who speaks the most perfect English. Like a Duke – far better English than most English people speak. He taught himself watching English films (mostly from the 1940s and 50s). So your French will probably excede a Frenchman’s by using this medium!
Wow your Russian friend sounds so brave.. Maybe your novel is about that friend??
haha I wonder if I can do that. I mostly saw the modern French movies which includes thaAudrey Tautau and Marion Cottilard! Have you seen their movies? I love Love me if you dare and Amelie so much!
PS I would love to learn French and watch tons of movies. Any recommendations?
Amelie is an all time favourite. Love me if you Dare, quite brilliant too. Hmmm – good films are Trois Couleurs (three moves that intertwine as one) Amour (very poignant and touching story) Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources are great vignettes on French rural life, Jules et Jim, Les untouchables, Les choristes, Polisse, Bienvienues chez les Ch’tis, the list goes on and on and on … as you will gather – I love French movies! The latest book I am writing is a novel based on the true story of buying our house in France. The plot is pretty much as it happened but the characters are fictionlised to protect their privacy 🙂
I usually follow humor blogs but once I read your blog is from your perspective living in France, I had to follow. J’adore France! Sometime I will tell you the story about the disagreement I had with my friend regarding my severe food poisoning. Pas jolie!
Welcome – what good news to have you follow me as I follow you! I hope to entertain a little and not disappoint. Of course it goes without saying that I shall badger you for that story. Bonne soirée a vous
Merci beaucoup!
I’ll help you badger !
Friendship, France, disagreement, poisoning 😨
It sounds like a good movie trailer..
I feel a screenplay coming on …. Just need the plot detail now!!
Ok, here it goes….my friend’s mother made my mom, sister and I beef bourguignon. Delicious! We had a ton left over and ate it again the next night. Problem was, I found out after downing 2 plates full that it had been left out all night on the counter since the fridge was a dorm size fridge. We went to bed that night and I awoke to not only the worst food poisoning of my life but I had also shit myself. I was prepared for death to take me and I was cool with it as long as this would go away. Fortunately my friend and her family slept through all of this. My mom and sister had mild diarrhea. The next day we visited Versailles. I told my friend and family what had happened. They were confident the food poisoning was not caused from meat left out all night but in fact because I drank a “cold coke with ice in cold weather”. I wanted to slap her. This was going to be a time we would agree to disagree on this matter. 🙂
Given that the French eat Andouillette (the sausage of death) http://www.thegrubworm.com/2010/12/andouillette-or-the-dish-of-death/ I guess your friends ludicrous notion that the boeuf wasn’t responsible but rather cold coke in cold weather is understandable. However I would have slapped her – I admire your restraint and I love this story …. I guess the moral is fizzy meat is worse than fizzy pop!
I just threw up in my mouth a little bit just thinking of fizzy meat. 🙂 When my friend came over here she got to experience such delicacies as Taco Bell, Hometown buffet as well as several Chinese buffets. I also served Coca-Cola with ice cubes with every meal. 😉
I hope the Coca-Cola was on ice for several hours BEFORE being served with ice 😉 Vive la cuisine Américaine!
I would’ve asked my friend what kind of coke she was on to even think of such a silly thing.. cold soda on a cold day isn’t nearly the shock potential to your digestive system as a cold coke on a hot day..
But just couldn’t have been the meat ? 😒
😂
I was thinking ( not good since I need to sleep now ), because ice in coke making someone sick, is just so bizarre.. So giving “the friend” the benefit of doubt, I starting playing devil’s advocate and wondered about possible causes and did some online searches.. All my searches concurred with what I already knew to be true.. So, what if it wasn’t the ice itself, but the water to make the ice, being the culprit ? Its rare to get bad ice in America, so I wondered, what about Europe ? I looked online and that was a joke, most all claims about water quality weren’t reasearch results, except one.. French tap water.. The site updates water quality by commune.. The site itself says glitches occur but to keep trying..
I didn’t really learn much about modern quality of water in Europe but did find why its hard to get ice served in beverages around the world.. Most claims are born from long past when water quality was unreliable and still true in some areas.. And some claim body temperature ( that does make sense today when you’re overheated )
All in all, depending on the water quality where the iced coke was served, “the friend” just might not be crazy at all !!!
The friend’s reasoning is crazy though 😂
And I still think it was the meat left out all night.. But it’s possible no matter how slim, it could’ve been the water the ice was made from..
Oh goody, that’s off my chest, I can rest easy now.. 😂
Funny how something grabs your attention and you can’t let it go until you find answers, isn’t it ?
You are a similar animal to me – I HAVE to find out as much as possible when something grabs me. To put your mind further at rest …. French water is absolutely harmless … it is monitored commune by commune but to National standards. So no bog water – or no more than anywhere else and although I chose to drink bottled water that is more because I don’t drink alcohol on my own (far too tempting with bottles of decent wine for a couple of euros) so I have nice Evian still and Badoit sparkling to gussy up my day! But, it is common in France to think that cold causes sickness. Very odd and quite where it comes from I can’t imagine. Do follow the link to the sausage of death that I posted … andouillete the work of the devil but the do actually eat it. Lots and lots of them! Sleep well first though 🙂
That sausage is very popular in Louisiana, I’m not a fan of it.. I’m guessing the French brought it to New Orleans when they settled there ?
I too drink bottled water.. Traveling state to state does make a difference.. Not sure why, maybe the chlorine, fluoride or mineral content ? But yes, after all my reading, I figured that France and most of Europe has good tap water..
Now you KNOW I have to click that link..
😬
Then BED !!!
Lol, goodnight..
http://www.gumbopages.com/food/icky.html