Les Girls are Frenching It - The Background

Where do I start with this travelogue? I want to share my recent adventures in India and France, celebrating long-standing friendships and travel stories that inspire enthusiasm and strengthen bonds.

India was a life-changing experience and left its indelible mark on my soul. Every day was spent sorting through thousands of photographs I’d taken, editing them, and finally arranging them for my book. After the disaster, when I “lost” the book and the subsequent remaking of it, I spent nights tossing and turning, reliving the Indian adventure, and then it was off to Paris and the Luberon Valley. Now I’m back to square one, reliving my amazing experiences once again! From the sublime to the ridiculous, first the seasoned traveller and then I’m back to feather dusters and washing lines.

Gwen and I have been friends for 35 years. For many years, we saw each other regularly; she, Kevin, Pete, and Gill lived in Williston for two years, which was great.   Whilst Kevin and Karel were students, we were virtually inseparable, and I was there when they got married and later when Pete was born.   Over the years, our visits have certainly gotten fewer. Still, we’ve stayed in contact and have had the occasional fabulous, boozy lunch and sleepover in Clifton, and we’ve never lost our love for each other or our friendship.

On one visit to Gwen, when Marthine was about 3 years old, I recall telling Marthine that Gwen was like a sister to me. This must’ve struck Marthine as very odd, as later in the day, as we were saying goodbye with hugs and kisses, Marthine chirruped, “Oh Mama, I can see your sisters!” at which I replied, “How Marthine?” and without missing a beat she said, “omdat julle snorre ewe lank is!” (“because your moustaches are the same length”!)

Over the years, we’ve celebrated certain milestones together, I even did catering for some, have had many laughs, and some tears too.   So last year, on one of our Clifton visits, Gwen mentioned her 50th birthday. She was adamant that it would not be a party. Still, rather than a year-long celebration with her family and friends, her main objective would be to spend quality time with as many of the people she cared for as possible, catching up, relaxing, and reuniting and rekindling her relationships.   Each one would be unique and tailor-made.

To my utter astonishment, I was included, along with 4 other friends, on a 3-night trip to Paris and then to a surprise destination, with details on a “need to know” basis. I’d never been to France so that anything would blow me away.   Unfortunately, one of the girls had to decline due to unforeseen circumstances, so there were 5 of us (including Gwen).   Just going to the French Embassy with my Visa Application was exciting!

At last, the day dawned, and after much packing, repacking, weighing, and discarding, I had my Le’Orange Baggage packed, including my high heels, little black numbers, and a few scarves. My toes were painted bright red in keeping with my idea of what’s French!   I must say I didn’t look much like a sophisticated Parisienne, rather like an overweight, middle-aged backpacker with my very large backpack! My father’s words always ring in my ears, “He who travels light travels far"!

It was lovely to see Le Girls arrive, delightful Anne, whom I’d not seen in decades, the two gorgeous girls Les and Che, whom I’d met on one or two occasions, and of course Gwen, who’s still just as young and energetic and who has winning ways with those dimples.   We checked in as quickly as possible and made our way through customs to relax with our first of many bottles of bubbles.   We oohed and aahhed and toasted each other’s good health and knew this was going to be a holiday of a lifetime.