"French Ties" & "At My French Table"

I have so enjoyed these two books. Melburnians Peter and Jane Webster took their four children to live in France in 2004. The first book of the series which came out in 2008, “At My French Table” tells the adventures they have settling into their corner of Normandy in an honest to god Chateau they buy – magnificent is all I can say. I often wonder how these people in books afford to do these things, especially with four children!! Jane works towards getting to know the area that they have chosen to live in with eventual goal of starting a cooking school for visitors to really experience local food and life. I loved the descriptions of cleaning the chateau (there was no shortage of hard, hard work) and the gradual realisation that this is the life they want to live.

The second book “French Ties”(2012) continues their journey – by now they are experience chateau dwellers and more confident with how their dream will shape up in the future. I particularly liked the conflicts they experienced about living between two worlds as they do not live in France for the whole year. Their life sounds (and looks) idyllic and I was green with envy. I know you only see the finished product in these books – the vases of stunning roses, the shining floors of the chateau, the smiling children etc but it just all looks very appealing. Very Moreish!!

I look forward to the next installment and of course, will keep dreaming about paying them a visit. I did look on their website as I may be over in Europe next year – nothing on there about when their classes are etc. Their website was a wee bit too much focused on style rather than ease of use and I found the scrolling pictures a bit distracting but hey, can I really say I found French pictures THAT distracting???