New Year’s letter, 2010

It’s New Years Day and time to reflect on the past year and our adventures in France. We welcomed many friends and guests this year. As well, we enjoyed three holidays in Servian ourselves.

The big changes this year is a new wood stove that promises to keep us toasty warm when we spend our winters in France starting Dec. 2011. The other big adventure was that Andrea and Leanne, her daughter-in-law, became tour guides, leading two groups of women in and around the Languedoc. It was a great way to immerse ourselves in our adopted home and show others details not found in the guide books. We plan on hosting two more in 2011-this time with a focus on Art & Yoga.

We continue to discover wonderful treasures in this corner of France-the randonnées in the Cévennes using Ian McEwan’s, Black Dogs, to guide us to Bergerie de Tedenat; l’Auberge de la Croisade with its spectacular menu and location at the side of the Canal du Midi; long, intense conversations on the “right” way to prepare champignons des bois.

In 2011, we will start our transition to retirement and plan to spend the wintery six months in France. We are ending 2010 with, likely, our last Victoria Christmas. But another adventure awaits as we make plans to connect more fully with the Languedoc. We hope you have an opportunity in 2011, to do the same.

Andy and Andrea Swan