It seems like only yesterday that I was leaving my home on Tyneside to study French at university. At seventeen it was the first time I had ever been anywhere south of Newcastle ! I could never have imagined back then that many years later I would be spending my retirement happily tucked away in the Périgord countryside. Life is full of surprises …

I was always drawn to foreign languages and cultures, particularly French, and took to student life like a fish to water. During my thesis year at Grenoble University I also happened to meet Hervé, my husband-to-be ! After graduating it seemed only natural to move to Paris and use my bi-lingual skills professionally. We enjoyed Paris so much that we ended up staying for over thirty years …

When I first arrived at the Gare du Nord – aged 21 and lugging a large suitcase - I had no set career plan, but I did know I wanted a communication-oriented job that would involve international travel. I started off in advertising and worked in European coordination on both the media and agency side of the business. It wasn’t long before I found a sector that suited me perfectly – international travel and tourism – and was offered a job as Marketing Director at American Express.

After nine fulfilling years there I moved on to various senior management positions in international marketing – Pan Am, Europcar and Le Méridien Hotels. I was lucky enough to travel all over the world, stay in the best hotels, dine in the finest restaurants and actually get paid for it ! I hasten to add I also worked very hard and had to constantly juggle to keep my family life and career simultaneously ticking over. Needless to say my professional environment in those days was very much male-dominated, but I saw no reason why I shouldn’t do as well as my colleagues in the dark suits and ties … I thought of myself first and foremost as a professional, not a victim of male oppression !

During those hectic years in Paris we also brought up our two wonderful sons, William and Alex. When the boys left home my husband and I decided the time was ripe to change lifestyle, although initially we were not quite sure how. Then one summer we happened to be driving through the Dordogne and fell in love with a beautiful property (albeit in dire need of renovation) near Bergerac. On the spur of the moment we bought it and moved here in 2004.

At first it was a culture shock to leave the big city lifestyle behind, but over the years we made a new life for ourselves and have never looked back. I joined the DLCI shortly after our arrival as a way to meet other women in the area, and the club soon became an integral part of my life. I served on the committee for five years, first as Events coordinator and then as President, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

My retirement so far has been busier than expected ! I run a gîte on our property in summer, teach English on a voluntary basis and go walking regularly in a valiant attempt to keep fit … I’ve also finally found time to write – something I always wanted to do. My first novel, The Time Mosaic, was published a couple of years ago and I’ve just completed the second. Last but not least I have two adorable grandchildren too and try to spend time with them and the rest of the family as often as possible.