My Story - Julie Goatham

My love affair with France began aged 14. A school trip to Normandy, staying in the small seaside town of Saint-Pair-sur-Mer and including visits to Mont St Michel, the Bayeux tapestry and the beaches of Arromanches, was the catalyst. This was augmented by a trip to Paris in the 6th form.

This feeling was cemented by numerous trips to the Champagne region, the war graves and the Ardennes whilst living in the French (Walloon)-speaking region of southern Belgium and enhanced by learning to ski in the French Alps.

We also introduced my parents-in-law, Margery and Jim Goatham to the same delights. They enjoyed it so much that they moved to France in 2005 and Margery was encouraged to join the DLCI by friends who were already members and living in France.

We finally moved here in 2008 and I realised my dream, buying a property, which incorporated a gite. Margery dragged me to a DLCI lunch about 5 months after I arrived. The first 3 ladies I met were much older than I and were respectively, in a wheelchair, using a walking frame and the third, walking sticks. So aged just 45, I was thinking “Oh gosh!” Then on entering the room fully, I discovered lots of women of various ages. But I quickly learnt not to be so judgmental and that these ladies were so interesting, so diverse and that I could learn so much from them and the Club and enjoy myself.

7 months later Margery persuaded me to put my name forward to join the DLCI Committee. After that I had various roles - Membership Secretary, Events Coordinator, Vice President and President. Then after a short time off the Committee I returned and became Secretary.

There were challenges whilst on the Committee, but it was always rewarding as I was in the company of truly admirable ladies, all giving up their time to benefit the Club. I thoroughly enjoy the events, the lunches, the talks, the trips to the opera and the ballet, the quizzes and so on. I have got to know lots of new restaurants and places, and meet some fascinating and lovely ladies and I have made some lifelong friends. So thank you to the DLCI.