Wednesday, 27 July 2016

D is for Decade: a theme emerges for my new decade

Joy of cold water on a hot day
I was clear about the theme for my last decade, 'dolce far niente'. After a holiday in Italy, this wonderful phrase about the sweetness of doing nothing felt so right given that I had retired from corporate life and was loving my freedom to be different in the world.

Now that my new decade has started I have been looking for a phrase that works for how I am feeling; I want to be lighter in the world, to simplify how I live and consume, to unclutter my spaces, to take pleasure in the detail, to enjoy a walk, to be in meaningful relationship with family and friends, to take care of Fred and me...

So today, touring the back roads of Haute Province we stopped for late morning coffee and a treat. The pastry came in a paper bag with the phrase: 'plaisirs subtils'.

My theme is set: subtle pleasures, just love it!

Plaisirs subtils! En route through Haute Province

Bell tower, Greolieres
So my subtle pleasures today:

  • Interesting art at Tourettes sur Loup
  • An old man at his table outside his house, waiting for dinner, taking in the early evening view
  • A good cafe au lait and pastry
  • Popping into a boucherie and being advised to buy the 'maison' or house speciality - caillette, for our picnic tomorrow
  • Watching boulle in the square
  • The freshness of a Salade Nicoise, 'la vrais!' 
  • Flowers on a bicycle
  • Delicious cold water from a fountain in Greolieres, both to drink and to dunk my scarf in to keep cool
  • The detail of a bell on a medieval church
  • The surprise of a rock arch
  • ....gratitude.
Rock arch on the road to Gourdon, Haute Province

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