Hello Ladies,

I am honoured to be invited to introduce myself through member of the month.

I was born and brought up on a farm in the highlands of Scotland. Myself and my two brothers (I'm the middle child) were kept busy throughout our childhood with life on the farm from 'driving the tractor,' when my father fed the cows and sheep during the winter to building elaborate hay huts in the barn, when my many cousins came to visit in the summer months. My father and uncles would hunt during the day and we would gather around the bonfire in the long summer evenings to eat venison and baked potatoes.

I attended secondary school in Dingwall, Ross-shire taking a gap year to work in my mother's dress shop and laundry before going to university in Aberdeen where I studied law. One summer I travelled to the United States on the 'work America' programme, working as cocktail waitress in a bar by night and an ice-cream seller by day.

My two year trainee-ship was completed in Aberdeenshire where I gained experience in all areas of law.

Yearning for city life and more court experience, I moved to Glasgow and worked in legal offices in the notorious Blackhill and Sighthill areas of the East-end. I appeared daily in Glasgow's district and sheriff courts- always as a defence agent.

After a year, I moved to Edinburgh to another legal firm, specialising in criminal defence. I took a four month break to take advantage of an opportunity to sail from Milford Haven to northern Spain.

On my return to Edinburgh I met my husband who worked at the same firm as I. We continued to work together in the same firm for several years. Then we moved to Inverness where we established our own firm.

I continued to work and we had four children. In 2006 we decided to move to France, a flip of the coin decision as we had planned to move to Glasgow.

The move abroad was promoted by a desire for a change of lifestyle for our children and the pressures of running a criminal defence firm in an environment of rising professional responsibilities and falling criminal legal aid rates. I had first visited France on a school exchange when I stayed with Gertrude who took me snail hunting and to 'boums' in her friends' garages.

I first set eyes on my current home the day we moved in. I had stayed in Scotland with the children, when my husband and his brother came to France to choose a house.

I began working as an estate agent once the move was complete, establishing my own business in 2007 which I continue to run. Thankfully the property market has now picked up again, driven by rising prices in Bordeaux and Covid promoting the desire for a rural bolt-hole amongst city dwellers.

I have long held ambitions to be an author. The lull in the property market after the crise gave me the time and motivation to follow this dream and I am currently working on a series of books 'Resistance,' set in the area of France where I live during World War 2.

I am fascinated by history and enjoying writing about people, who against all odds achieve extra-ordinary things in their lives.

I separated from my husband in 2010, deciding to stay in France as I had created a business which was manageable to balance with work and family life. Criminal defence isn't! I've spent at the best part of three Christmas days in a police cell,-only in a visiting capacity and missed many school plays, sports events and fundraisers because court hearings have run on.

My children attended school in France and all speak French, probably better than me. They have returned to the U.K. presently based in London, Glasgow and Oban but Scotland's weather and an appreciation of the French lifestyle appears to be gradually luring them back.

I learned about DLCI from a friend who was a member and persuaded me along to a Christmas Lunch. I was editor of the newsletter following Angela's resignation and pending a permanent replacement being found. Thank you Lin!

​At present I am enjoying my time living in this lovely part of France, tomorrow who knows