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.
Wanderers wander and ramblers ramble and I am still rootless and searching for roots. In France, I am back in le Cantal. In the small but perfectly formed ‘city’ of Marcolès. But I’m often in the USA. In MetroWest Massachusetts where I’ve had a home for several years.
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.
I’ve nominated you for the 3 day quote challenge! 🙂 x https://lifewithmollyblog.wordpress.com/2016/02/09/quote-challenge-1/
Thank you Molly – that is most generous of you 🙂 I will give it some consideration and get to it a little later in the week when I have more than half a fried brain 🙂
Stubbornness is a prerequisite of greatness 🙂
Hope you are having a good stay in New England, well, except for the ticks. 🙂
Hi Judy … Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and comment. I am feeling nicely settled after 2 and a bit months which bodes well for the rest of the year. It is such a lovely part of the world and I have so much to squooze in and experience. The ticks just add a different note to the mix 😉
I really like your writing style. You have a very appealing voice. Looking forward to read more of your posts.
Thank you so much Maria … it’s just what comes out like any good pictures I accidentally take are of the point and shoot variety – no skill intended! Welcome to my strange ramblings and I will take time out to explore your blog over the weekend and am fairly sure I will be following you too 🙂
Hello, it’s nice to be introduced to you by Robin. I hope that you enjoy my blog photos and writings. I don’t recall ever visiting Cantal, but we pass the volcanos of Massif Central fairly often, and admire the region very much. We have plans to visit one day soon. I too, will enjoy following your blog. Your photos are lovely, and you certainly write with ‘joie de vivre’.
Well hello again! I’m so glad you enjoy my nonsense as much as I am enjoying your not-nonsense. In my case, I have a firm belief that we only get one stab at life (if I’m proved wrong at the moment of my demise, it’s a bonus) and that I need to find the value in the way things are. It’s not hard when you are surrounded by beauty, have the love of a good man (finally – it took me too many false starts to admit to) and a litter of bonkers daughters who have inherited their maternal exploring gene and aren’t too damn dependent, I’m fortunate to be able to find that value pretty easily 🙂 Bring on the dancing horses and let the fun commence. Bienvenue 🙂
Love your blog! ❤️
Pleasure to meet you.
Thank you so much ! I’ll take a look at yours and I’m sure I will love it too 🙂
It is, the airport had more TV reporters than passengers today. Security is always very high in the aftermath of an attack so prepare for long delays but try not to worry. Most people still die of cancer or heart disease, not terrorism.
I’m flying with my husband who is very calming and The Bean who isn’t! Hopefully somewhere between the two I will find some balance 🙂
I haven’t heard the news in a few days.. I’m glad you asked Kerry !
Osyth, you, Two Brains and The Bean are in my thoughts 💛
This is such an unpredictable world anymore 😦
It’s nice to be missed. The Bean flew like a pro this time. Two Brains flies back with just her Saturday – he thinks he will need all the alcohol they can muster to survive 😉
lol glad someone is being treated like a princess!!!!
It’s rare 😉
I doubt that….!!!! lol
Glad to have known more about you, the setting to your blog tells me that i am bound to enjoy my time here. I absolutely love your title URL! Half Baked in Paradise! Looking forward to reading more of your posts! Cheers to new friendship 🙂 – Cezane
Hi Cezane! Thank you so much for your kind comment and for following my Half Baked blog. I’m just back from my travels and about to set about some catch up so I will be sure to check out your wonders too … In the meantime bienvenue and I will try not to disappoint 🙂
Thank you, I hope you enjoy reading through the posts 🙂
I’m sure I will 🙂
Hey Osyth. I love the picture of the dog, very cute indeed, but we have a blog at Gastradamus and we are really looking for people all around the world to comment. When you have the chance, let me know what you think about our topics.
Hello Gastradamus – thank you for the compliment about The Bean … she does LOOK cute though she may not always act so! Of course I will happily take a look at your blog. In fact, I shall hop over there right now. 🙂
Please if you can share your opinion as many of the stories at possible. We love dogs at Gastradamus omdeed.
Nice photos!
Thank you Ellen – it is most kind of you to take the time to browse. I will certainly take a look at your blog too in the next couple of days …. I’m certain I shall enjoy it!
Agreed. My own attitude is much akin to being in a vast gathering of people … Those that start a conversation with me, I take some interest in.
Hello, first of all thank you for visiting my site. it is really nice to read about you! 🙂
It was my pleasure and I’m glad you enjoyed my ste but the point was that you posted something I enjoyed … selfish to the end, I am!
🙂 That’s great you liked my post 😀
Very,very,very ,very nice blog:)
Thank you so much! That is the nicest compliment 🙂 And thank you for gracing me with your following presence. Hopefully I won’t let you down 😉
Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. Its nice to meet you here online 🙂 I love your photographs, amazing blog 🙂
You are much too kind, Petra … I will take a closer look at your blog but I have a feeling you have a new follower because any girl that understands the power of the Unicorn has my vote.
Yeah, we follow each other. I like the wordpress reader and I do some reading and peaking on photos every day so you will definitely hear from me cos your photos are stunning. I do some link exchanges with some blogs that I like. Here is and example, let me know if you are interested: https://petraomoregiecaroline.wordpress.com/2016/06/12/hikers-coffee-break/
congratulations to your blog!
many regards
Thank you Antonio …. that is really kind and I will be visiting yours in the next few days as soon as I find a moment to really do some justice to finding new blogs to engross me 🙂
thank you, you’re welcome ! 🙂
you are very kind
I love authenticity as well and do the same with my own photographs. France? Oo la la! Je suis Cdn., the English kind, who lived in Montreal and studied French in school. Your life sounds interesting enough to write about…will be glad to be a fly on the wall. Thanks for sharing..and liking my photo too. 🙂
France has my heart. Canada is on my bucket list and since I am currently in Boston not a difficult wish! I loved your picture and will be looking more closely at your blog – I love finding new treasures 🙂
I can understand why! One of the 2chicks is off to France on her honeymoon in near future. We will cover. Thank you…I do too. 😀
How extremely exciting – I look forward to the coverage 🙂
😀 😀 😀
I liked your blog, I invite you to my blog:
http://dishdessert.wordpress.com
Hi, Thanks for stopping by my blog
It’s my pleasure 😊
Thanks for following OMBH… I’m going to enjoy reading about your exploits! I’ll son post a few “boats” on the Liffey… just for you. I do hope you find a smile or two when you visit! 😉
My rule is to always find the smile even if it takes a long time to turn it up 😊
Looking forward to reading more – you have me hooked LOL
Carol it is lovely of you to stop by and comment! I look forward to taking a look at your blog also … I’m sure you’ll hook me just as well!
This is very interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger.
I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent
post. Also, I’ve shared your web site in my social networks!
Many thanks – that is most kind Skye 🙂
Good posts, beautiful blog.
Congratulations.
Welcome to see my creations:
http://paintdigi.wordpress.com
Thank you so much – it’s so kind of you to take the time to comment. I only just found your note as it had gone into my Spam for reasons best known to WordPress. Now I shall take a look at your creations …. I’m looking forward to it 🙂
You’r welcome 🙂
I am really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your weblog.
Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it’s rare to see a great blog like this one these days.
The theme is a wordpress one called Linen which we have customised ourselves within the confines of the theme. Thank you so much for your kind words – it really does mean a lot when people take the time to stop by and comment and makes me smile broadly! 😀
I loved this post and meant to reply long before now. I should explain that I have an ancient phone which doesn’t tolerate the wordpress app very well. I read your posts but can’t reply until I manage to turn a child off our single, shared desktop computer.
Anyhow; Husband and I went on a dolphin watching trip in the Shannon Estuary 25 years ago and I still count it as one of my most treasured experiences. I could have sworn those dolphins were telling me the secrets of the universe and I was just too dumb to understand. It was truly wonderful. I would love to see whales in the same way. You describe the experience beautifully.
Please don’t apologise … I love to hear from you when you are able to take turf rights on the PC. Here I am fine but when travelling it’s another matter – my phone is not ancient but is entirely hopeless. It was my spare until I cleverly left my 4 year old iPhone on a plane. That was in July and I’m still struggling without it. But I refuse to pay the price for a new one. So when I travel I have a wifi only iPad and this thing that perports to be a phone. And I’m erratic. So I would never curse anyone for not being en point! Now the dolphins – how I would love to see them and wonder at the secrets they keep. I hope you will see whales one day too. I found myself wishing I was a mermaid so I could stay with them ….
I savour, result in I found exactly what I used to be having a look for.
You’ve ended my four day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man. Have
a nice day. Bye
Thank you – that is most kind 😊
This makes me smile …. thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and comment 🙂
you have a lovely blog…… keep it up…..
Thank you so much and thank you for following my blog – I will try not to disappoint. I will catch up with yours in the next few days and in the meantime I wish you a beautiful day 😊
😃😃😃😃😃
I love this blog. Thanks!
That is really kind and hugely appreciated – thank you so much 🙂
Hey friend… Feeling a little low at the mo… Thanks for being you always, it means a lot to me…
This makes me sad. I send you warm hugs and smiles to cheer you and a promise that I shall be here whenever you need me. If you want to speak offline, do please feel free to email me. 😊
It’s nice meeting you. I’m stopping by from Bernadette’s blog. https://amanpan.com/
Well how lovely to meet you … I make a point of taking time out to look at new followers’ blogs once a week – I shall very much look forward to yours when I do (normally its a Sunday treat for me)
me too.
Very interesting!
Thank you Lana-Shon … that is very kind!
This looks like a wonderful site! I will be back often. Thanks for visiting mine. 🙂
You will be most welcome. I hope to see you soon 🙂
I just nominated your blog for the Mystery Blogger Award❣️
https://ontheroadcooking.com/2016/11/08/mystery-blogger-award-nomination/
Really great! I love your post.
Thank you so much Lana_Shon … it is so kind of you to stop by and comment and I am thrilled that you enjoyed it!
Hi Osyth! It´s strange, through reading a lot of your comments on dear Terry blog (spearfruit) I have the feeling to already know you a little 😉 I always admire what you have to say to him and am really thankful that he has such a good friend in you 😀 And I´m sorry to have not been following your blog earlier!! Best wishes, Sarah 🙂
It wasn’t compulsory! I’m so fond of Terry and I am so glad he has a good crowd of friends like you and I helping him steer through the challenging waters life has cast him into.
Of course not, but I really wanted too! 🙂 I´m a bit slow when it comes to meeting new friends here, I try to keep up with everybody´s lovely blogs so hard that I sometimes forget to look out for new ones 😉
Terry is such a sweetheart and Ì´m so glad to have met him (and Gary and Roxy 😉 ) here on WordPress! You´re helping him soooo much and I have to say that I just love you for it 😀 xxx
Relief! I don’t think I’m very good at this blogging thing at all but I do enjoy being in touch with people and reading and seeing their work – it’s such an infinite and wonderful library that I can sit in and lose myself. In the case of Terry he is indeed a total sweetheart and I just speak as I find. It makes me happy if it helps him. I think he is a rare person.
I couldn´t have phrased it any better! I can get totally lost around all those wonderful blogs and all those truly amazing people! 🙂
Fabulous introduction, Osyth!
I look forward to reading more of your stories.
Regards,
M
Thank you so much …. I’m delighted that you have joined me and hope I won’t let you down!
I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read so far of your blog. I don’t doubt you for a minute.
Yes, I have it …. just been a bit frantic with arrangements for Thanksgiving and other minor life things. Will respond in the next 24-48 hours 🙂
I thought you were pissed off about something. Stay fresh gorgeous and have a great Thanksgiving
You must banish that thought from your mind instantly …. I don’t do pissed off 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving to you – I’m childishly excited because it is my first ever! I am, as you might say a ThanksVirgin 😉
I forgot… I have two sites. I slapped a temporary Title and Theme on it to get it started. It will be private and when I’m done you will have the only access besides myself. Actually you do now. Are you comfortable with this? YES OR NO.
LET ME KNOW IF THIS URL TAKES YOU TO THE ROLE PAGE? IF YES, I NEED TO KNOW WHAT EMAIL ADDRESS TO USE.
https://wordpress.com/people/new/1sthumanityisaction.wordpress.com
You would be the editor
I just realized that I’m probably crowding you again. So… scrap it and I’ll let you know when I’m done. That’s the ‘get the project done’ side of me. When working it was an advantage, but I’m not working. If you could erase, thank you. It will be a minute before you here from me. 🎆🎇✨🌠🌞🌝🌚🌛🌜🔅 WAY🆒!
Hi Osyth, I’ve finally found my way to your beautiful blog via Wendy at Brilliance within though I’ve seen your comments on Weird Guys blog for a long time and often wanted to drop by. Can’t wait to read more of your posts and story telling. Warmest wishes from down under.
Hello Miriam! How lovely of you to drop by and to take the time to comment. I do hope you will find things to like in my blog – I adore Weird Guy and have been delighted to find Wendy too. I will take the time to look at your blog now that I have a few hours to myself after the mayhem of Christmas and New Year speaking of which may I wish you a 2017 full of joy and laughter, peace and contentment and mostly filled with love because, as it turns out, I do believe that love really IS all we need 😊
Thanks Osyth for the lovely well wishes and I wish the same for you this year, lots of love and laughter and joyful moments. Last year wasn’t the best year for me (and many others I know) so here’s hoping for a much better one ahead. Look forward to reading more of your blog when I get a chance (almost bed time for me now) 😌
Reading that your last year was not good I redouble my wish for the coming year and beyond for you 😊
You’ve made me smile Osyth, thank you. xo
As we say in French ‘de rien’ x
Oui. x
came here from Miss G’s blog – and so glad I did – looks like some great stuff here and my fav thing is your stance on using your own photos…. says a lot about authenticity and looking forward to peeking in on your blog in the coming year.
Hello! Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting and then gracing me by following my blog. I certainly hope not to disappoint you and look forward to getting to know you a little through this medium. Miss G is a wonderful girl – so talented, creative, in touch and sensitive. I like her very much.
well my pleasure and cheers to 2017 – it is going to be a good year
Miss you Osyth, hope your still blogging beautiful
Hey mister! Yes, but I’ve been on the move since the beginning of December – back to Europe for a few months but never still. I wrote a piece last week and I will do some more this week and yes, I do remember I owe you a reply to your email. Fear not … I’ll get there! X
Can’t wait to hear more from you. Just seeing your words makes my day go better, you give me butterflies with your breathtaking beuty and you words are all that. Stay in touch
Great to connect with you. I’ve had the good fortune of staying in France several years ago (Becanson, Montpellier, Strasbourg, Paris) and utterly love that country.
I feel very fortunate to live here in France …. it feels like my natural home. It’s great to connect with you and I am going to follow you so that I am reminded to read your words which I find I enjoy greatly 😊
Thank you my lady 🙂
You have a very nice blog and thank you for stopping by ThusNSuch. Please check out my other blog BrewNSpew https://amanpan.com/
Eugenia, thank you – it is kind of you to say nice things! I will check out your other blog … I tend to set aside time to explore new blogs once a week and I am sure I will enjoy yours 😊
🙃
🙂
Hope you don’t mind that I’m following along. We have chatted a time or two on Weird Guy with the Dog’s posts. Thought it was time I checked out your blog. You always have such kind and thoughtful remarks.
I love what you said about not using stock photos. I don’t either. I’m not sure why, but something about it doesn’t quite work for me. I use my own photos. I’m excited to read your posts. Have a lovely day.
Jessica
Oh Jessica, what a lovely surprise to wake up to and of course I don’t mind you following. I just hope I don’t disappoint you! Weird Guy is a wonderful fellow with a hard back story and a good attitude. And talent. Real talent I believe. I am delighted and flattered to have you as a follower and I look forward to getting to know you better. A très bientôt as we say in France 😊
I just woke up myself, and am smiling SO big after seeing this. Thank you for being unbelievably kind! I wasn’t expecting such a wonderful response. Disappointment and you don’t even belong in the same sentence. I’ve grown to respect you so much just from our chats on Weird Guy. (I totally agree with what you said, by the way, he’s very talented. That poetry!!) Looks like I better brush up on my French- ha! Thank you for making my day! 🙂
De rien (it means my pleasure so you don’t have to brush up quite yet) … I see no value in being anything other than decent in this one life of ours. It’s so nice to be connected with you who seem very certainly to beat to the same drum 🙂
My Little Bit and I learned French last year. Right now we’re learning new languages via library books and iPad apps. Languages of the week are Italian, German, Hebrew, and Russian. I’ll be lucky to remember any, but he’s a whiz. 🙂 Like what you said- the same drum. Love how blogging connects people who would have never even met. Pretty cool.
Blimey! That’s a hatful of languages. I speak Italian rustily (lived their in the 80s) and Russian even more rustily (studied it for 5 years in school but that was long ago and far away and when I visited two years ago I was like a tongue-tied donkey!!) Blogging is certainly cool. I am not much of a fan of Social Media in general but blogging generally illicits more thought I think and gives more time to connect and form ‘relationships” 🙂
Wow! You lived in Italy and visited Russia?? How cool! Yes my Little Bit is language hungry, so to speak. Two years ago we took a weekly Spanish class and the teacher said up to the age of 12, children learn languages really quickly. She’s right.:)
Love how you put quotes around relationships. That’s exactly right! Definitely a different kind of concept in the making friends department, but it works. Who knew?
Children are like sponges for language … it’s remarkable. A child hungry to learn languages will go far of that I am certain. Chapeau as we say here!
They are! It’s such a fun age! We homeschool and it’s fabulous!! PS I’m definitely going to relearn French! You’ve inspired me! We have a book and French on CD’s.
And a friend in France who is very happy to guide! My best friends here home-school their three …. the children are SO happy and free and not brought down with all the strictures of school (and the horrors of peer group pressure) …. if you can, I think it is a wonderful way to go.
I’m so happy to hear that your friends home-school! We tried public school 3 years… Disaster. They were very limited in providing a fun place for his growing, inquisitive mind. Homeschooling is the best thing we’ve ever done. We LOVE it!
Chouette.
En Finlande, beaucoup de gens parlent français, moi aussi.
Bonne journée.
Super-bon!
Thank you for dropping by, Osyth. Glad to have come by and looking forward to stalk you.
😀
I truly like your composition style. You have an exceptionally engaging voice. Anticipating read a greater amount of your posts…
http://satpuratigerreserve.com/
That is most kind … I hope I won’t disappoint 🙂
Hey there…i am stopping by to say how much i am beginning to like your blog…gonna go see more of you.
Thank you so much. It is always a delight to hear nice things. And thank you for following me. It is always flattering and then again I always hope I won’t disappoint! I shall be following you too because I am genuinely delighted with the poetry I am finding and I would like to not miss any!
That would be so nice..
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that I nominated your blog for the Versatile Blogger Award (More info here: https://rachelalexandrablog.wordpress.com/2017/04/14/versatile-blogger-award/). You have a lot of great content–keep it up!
Thank you so much …. that is really kind and I am hugely flattered. I have already received this award but I will pay it forward to some others and will certainly take the time to read a little more of yours and of course the other nominees.
You’re very welcome! Thanks for stopping by. Happy blogging!