I was born in Picardie a region North of Paris looking towards North at Belgium, the UK and more... I was a good scholar if not as disciplined as required, and meant to my parent's wishes to become a pharmacist, hopefully marrying one later.

On my 17th birthday I met a young man my age, full of charisma and ambitions, who immediately led me to realise all the opportunities there were out there...I immediately imagined a variety of possibilities and wasn't to be disappointed!! Since then, we never left each other's side..

We both studied in Amiens ( Picardie, one of our most prestigious cathedral there) and while he became an economist and a Chartered accountant, I went to Business school and started working in private companies in Cash management and Banking relations.

Very soon I had decided to follow my husband wherever his career would lead us, definitely sure I would find my way with new jobs as they came.

True enough I worked in France for a hypermarket leading company in Amiens, then, in Orleans, in a cultural company as administrator, and because in France most careers end-up there, in Paris for a luxury goods international Company. Later I had a contact with Search companies who were involved in recruitment in the Finance sector, and instead of finding me a position in yet another company, they offered me to join them as consultant. The move to human ressources proved to be both enjoyable and rewarding.

After a few years came the most exciting times for my husband and I : Prominent Finance Director in an International hotels group, he was sent for 5 years to London. There I developed my taste for English culture, humour, decoration, not to mention our common French-English history...!! We probably visited more regions and places there then most English people do !!( so some told us), became fond of Stilton and Port and many other culinary delights!! Another 5 years were spent in Amsterdam where I nearly got a "tulip fever" while learning the language, admiring their architectural and artistic culture, and reconnecting with our common history as well. Already riding bikes for pleasure, we got addicted, in the five years spent living in the city centre, we rode in all weather conditions except snow and ice !!! Years later we also lived briefly in Cairo, where past and present are intertwined in every aspect of life, where "several centuries of history are watching us". At the time many expatriates lived in that buzzing city and I shared not only the company of many, but their knowledge and appreciation of "life on the nile" !!

During my time abroad and on my return to Paris, I always was an active member of various International Ladies Clubs (in Paris, 59 nationalities) where I was always so happy making friends from various countries in such cross-cultural environments.

Both retired for some times, with no children, we had settled in Versailles and got involved in associative activities, with our families around. But life has its ways. A big loss has driven us here in Bergerac to take care of our youngest nephew, Yannis, 9 years old, whose father passed away brutally last year. We sold our house near Versailles and bought one near Bergerac in no time, and together with his mum, we tend to his needs and try to give him the emotional safety a small kid requests to advance in life.

Having moved to Lembras last July we are incredibly happy and delighted to live here. Beautiful region, welcoming inhabitants, not to mention the warm reaction by DLCI at my membership request, 3 months before moving in !!! ...and I am delighted to have already found English speaking friends in the coffee group, and book club in Bergerac.

Curious, interested in History, travel, art, I am glad that there is so much to discover in Dordogne, and Aquitaine, a historical region, and a gourmet paradise.. A new chapter has open for us of which DLCI is an important part...