“Would you like to come along to a walk in a vineyard, do some wine tasting, followed by lunch?” asked Kathy.“That sounds interesting!” I replied, “Yes please!”

So started my experience of DLCI three years ago.

It was a memorable experience, too! Sue and Humphrey Temperley, the then owners of Château Lestevenie, walked us around the vineyard in its idyllic setting, pointed out the orchids, showed us where the wild boar wallowed etc. etc. And, I met some lovely, friendly ladies on our walk and during lunch, which encouraged me to join.

As I’ve said at another time, that was BC (Before Covid)!

I am not a full time resident of France, but my husband and I own a holiday home just outside the beautiful Medieval village of Issigeac in the little hamlet of Le Rocal. So, during Covid, we along with our two daughters and their families were unable to make the journey to visit for over two years.

It was difficult, but then it was thus for everyone. Some had much greater hardship than we did, for which we were thankful. At least we were safe, for our homeland, the Isle of Man, in the middle of the Irish Sea, closed its borders very early on in the pandemic and we remained Covid-free for a very long time, until, in fact many of us had been vaccinated when the borders eventually reopened.

Our Island is a wonderful little gem with a rich colourful history ranging from the arrival of the Vikings in 798 to the transportation of 24,000 aliens from the adjacent Isle, as we tend to refer to the UK, for the duration of The Great War to The Knockaloe Camp, a couple of miles from where we live. Then there were the Internment Camps created in the Second World War, when many of the internees were musicians and artists. Early members of the world famous Amadeus Quartet, for example, met and practised here.

We have a varied, stunning landscape replicating that of the surrounding kingdoms, but on a smaller scale and the most amazing sunsets!

Our seas were abundant with herring for a very long time, but overfishing due to the advent of factory fishing and large trawlers put paid to our traditional fishing industry some years ago. Manx Kippers were the best! Interestingly, they are still being produced in the traditional way using oak chippings, but from imported herring!

I can remember being fascinated, when I was a little girl, seeing Breton fishermen off the trawlers down by the harbour at Peel, my native town, clattering along in their sabots!

Our music and culture are celebrated widely. We have our own language, which has similarities with Scottish and Irish Gaelic. It had all but died out in the 50s and 60s and was virtually banned; now, though, there has been a complete reversal and, of recent years, a Primary School where everything is taught through the Manx language is thriving and fluent Manx speakers abound. We were taught Manx Dances at school and Manx Songs and Poetry in addition to the English variety.

My Manx Language skills are limited, but I really enjoy listening to exponents of the Manx Dialect and trying it out myself! Our Manx National Poet, the Rev T E Brown, taught for many years in the 1800s at Clifton College in Bristol and his prolific writings are rich in the Manx dialect and full of atmosphere and evocative of life in those times.

I feel privileged to have been born and brought up here. My father’s family goes back for ever, so, although my mum was brought here to live in the early years of the Second World War due to bombing in the northern town of her birth, I feel I can call myself Manx!

From an early age, I wanted to become a teacher, so when I had completed my A Levels I started my training at Edge Hill College of Education, now Edge Hill University.

As French was my main subject, this entailed a course of study at the University of Caen. Quite an experience for this fairly shy young Manx girl, but awakening a fascination with France and its culture.

I remember well visiting Bayeux and seeing the tapestry, Arromanches and the site of the D Day Landings, Rouen and its Cathedral and the site where Jeanne D’ Arc met her fate.

One of our lecturers, whose name escapes me, was known to have been very active in the French Resistance - how I wish I had been more proactive and confident to find out from him of his experiences. He was such a gentleman; I can still picture him in my mind’s eye!

Back home, Tennis was a passion and that is how I met my future husband, Brian. Although we no longer play, he has been particularly involved with the administration and development of tennis on our Island throughout his life. For many years, he has been the LTA Councillor for the Isle of Man, something which has necessitated a huge amount of work and travel to London for meetings etc.

But it has had its advantages! It has enabled us to attend Wimbledon on many, many occasions and experience the awesomeness of Centre Court countless times. I will never forget the emotion I felt on the very first occasion I set eyes on this magical arena, though! I can say, too, that I have seen Andy Murray win both his titles and my absolute idol, Roger Federer, take the Wimbledon trophy on several occasions. What an emotional evening it was to watch his final competitive match only recently!

On a more practical point, we have amassed a large number of Wimbledon towels which we use as Pool towels at Le Rocal!!

We have travelled to watch Davis Cup (Mens) and Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Federation Cup for Ladies) to various venues in the UK as well as Madrid, Bratislava and Rouen. This was all BC, however! But, annoyingly, just recently our boys managed to be knocked out of the qualifiers for the Davis Cup Finals to be held in Malaga in November! We were planning to go there!

Tennis prompted us to attend The Monaco Masters some years ago and, based in Nice, we took the opportunity as in previous trips to visit its environs. Unfortunately, the Icelandic Volcano disrupted our stay on that occasion and we were forced to stay on and watch the Finals, unexpectedly - all because some American visitors couldn’t make it due to grounded flights! Their loss was our gain, I think any tennis fan would concur.

I find Paris a very special place and we have made several visits there. But, we are proud on our Island that Mark Cavendish, the Cyclist known as the Manx Missile, is a Manx man whose successes in the Tour de France having equalled those of Eddy Merckx. To watch him powering along the Champs Elysées to win gave us immense pleasure, especially when part of a large, supportive Manx contingent, flying an array of Manx flags..

I spent many years working as a member of the Primary Modern Languages Team and enjoyed being able to pass on my enthusiasm for all things French as a peripatetic teacher visiting several Island schools on a twice weekly basis.

That enthusiasm was further fuelled by our annual holidays, before acquiring our holiday home, centred on the Dordogne and Lot, Brittany too was a special place. Another trip took us to stay near Bédoin at the foot of the iconic Mont Ventoux - who, in their right mind would cycle to the top? We passed many making the pilgrimage! Though, I must say, the lunar landscape up at the summit and the views are something else!

But, a really memorable family holiday was spent on the Canal du Midi - what fun was had and what memories made!

We have two daughters. The eldest is a lovely theatre recovery nurse in our local hospital. Our younger daughter, a Primary School teacher until she decided to follow her dream and open a small Bakery business.

Being mum to three, one of which is a very active 16 month old, has slightly put things on hold for baker, Helen, but whilst at the Soirées Gourmandes this summer at Beaumont she gained inspiration from one of the stalls. She is now equipped to offer freshly made American Breakfast Pancakes to her customers at markets where she sells her tasty bakes!

With my love of baking, I am happy to offer my services, helping out in whatever way she needs me; recently, I prepared the butterscotch sauce as one of the toppings on offer for the breakfast pancakes!

Sometimes baby minding is the order of the day, or picking up the two older siblings from their nearby Primary School, when there is always a scrabble to get to the ‘Tuck Cupboard’ to find what rich pickings may be available. Young Alaris is learning all the tricks now, too, watching very move that her brother and sister make intently.

I have to say that I am in a happy place when setting up my Kenwood and mixing up a bake or two, quite often to donate to a charity event.

But apart from family and baking, doing the odd pilates session, walking and visiting France, of course, by far my happiest place is when I’m making music. From an early age I’ve been known to sing and that has continued to be the case throughout my life.

I have been a member of a small mixed Choir since its inception and also Chair for some years now. We have a wide repertoire and the vast majority of us are soloists in our own right. It has been great to have my younger daughter sitting next to me on the soprano line for some ten years now, having only been a baby when the Choir began more than 35 years ago! And we are building a repertoire of duets which we can perform together. We entertain island wide in our largest Concert venues and small nursing homes, Weddings, in fact wherever we are invited - particularly when the supper is good!!

My own repertoire is not as extensive now as it was in the past, but I still enjoy singing French Art songs, German Lieder, Handel’s Arias, popular standards …….. I just know, when I hear a piece of music, whether it is for me and I sing it from the soul!

Music is then, for me, so uplifting and forms a very special part of my life and in fact of my whole psyche. I have heard of a Russian Soprano who is still singing beautifully at 90 - I have a good few years left, then!

But, hopefully, I will continue to sing whilst I have breath!