The Christmas Play
By Martin Lake

My father went to the door, returning to the living room to say that a woman was asking for me. Surprised, I went into the kitchen. On the doorstep was a woman who I guessed to be in her late twenties. 鈥業鈥檝e come to see if you can help me,鈥� she said.

I asked her to come in, catching the scent of her perfume as she stepped close.

鈥業鈥檓 putting on a medieval mystery play for Christmas,鈥� she said before she had even sat down, 鈥榓nd need to get together an acting troupe. Your drama tutor at college thought you might be interested and also that you might know other people who could join.鈥� She held out her hand. 鈥楳y name鈥檚 Susan Green.鈥�

I didn鈥檛 question that my tutor would so cavalierly give my name and address to a stranger. At least not one as captivating as Susan Green. She had a pretty face with flawless skin, dark eyes and jet-black hair. Even better, she spoke in a breathy voice and her breasts swelled in time with her words. I must have been mesmerised by this movement for I immediately agreed to help.

鈥楽o, is this a nativity play?鈥� I asked, trying and failing to avert my eyes from her chest. 鈥榃ith shepherds and angels? Like little kids perform in school?鈥�

鈥榃e will start with the birth of our Lord but much of the play is about his life, death and resurrection.鈥�

鈥楥an I play one of the Three Kings?鈥� I asked.

She peered at me, thoughtfully. 鈥業 imagine you in other roles, to be honest.鈥�

My friends at the drama club were reluctant to join a temporary group to perform a medieval play in a church in the middle of winter. But their doubts evaporated when they met Susan.

She lived in a semi-detached house with her husband, Peter. She overwhelmed us with her enthusiasm. She gushed and giggled and clearly demonstrated her passion for the play. My friends agreed to take part there and then.

She clapped with joy and proceeded to hand out tea and cakes. For some strange reason she waited until we had cups and plates in our hands before coming round with a bowl of sugar. As none of us had free hands, she was obliged to put the sugar in our cups and stir.

She had to bend over to do so. She was wearing a very low-cut dress.

I had recently given up sugar but told her that I wanted two spoonfuls. My friends asked for three.

At the end of the evening, Susan told me with much earnest heaving of her bosom that she was eternally grateful for my help. 鈥業鈥檇 never have put the group together without you.鈥� I blushed terribly.

We spent the next three months freezing to death rehearsing in a village church. Susan was the only thing giving out any heat - which more than compensated for the cold.

I was not cast as one of the Kings, nor even as a shepherd or donkey. Instead I had two parts in the scenes concerning Easter, the Second Torturer and Judas Iscariot. Type-cast my friends said.

On Christmas Eve, the night of the first performance, we struggled into our costumes in the nearby vicarage. I shivered with cold as I crossed the graveyard in my threadbare medieval gown.

Susan rushed over to me the moment I stepped inside. 鈥楾here鈥檚 been a problem,鈥� she said. 鈥楾he Three Kings have been arrested for drug-dealing and violent affray at the Scrabble Club. Apparently, there was a turf war between them and some school dinner-ladies. It got very ugly, with flick-knives and knuckle-dusters.鈥�

鈥楽o, who will take their parts?鈥�

鈥業 was hoping you would.鈥�

鈥楤ut there鈥檚 only one of me.鈥�

鈥榊ou鈥檒l have to improvise.鈥�

I was to wait for my cue in a broom cupboard at the rear of the church. I was forced to back into it for once inside it was too small for me to turn around. It was fortunate I wasn鈥檛 claustrophobic.

I had only been there ten minutes when the door opened. It was Susan, and she wanted to give me some last-minute, absolutely vital stage directions. 鈥業鈥檒l have to squeeze in,鈥� she whispered.

She pressed herself against me, her face so close I breathed in her spearmint breath. She pressed still closer.

I was sixteen for God鈥檚 sake and wearing only underpants beneath my gown. My feelings for her loomed large. I bit my lip in embarrassment. Surely, she must be able to feel my feelings looming large against her.

But she was so intent on giving me instructions she seemed oblivious to the looming.

鈥楧o you understand what I want?鈥� she whispered.

鈥榊es,鈥� I gulped.

She slid out of the cupboard. I breathed a sigh of relief. Then I groaned. I couldn鈥檛 recall a single thing she had said. Every word had been obliterated by the feeling of her warm body pressed against mine.

I opened the door a crack. I heard my cue. Oh no, I thought, suddenly aware of a problem. I couldn鈥檛 walk in front of the audience now - my feelings for Susan were still looming visibly beneath the gown. So, I decided to adopt a bent, rather Uriah Heep shuffle as I made my way up the aisle.

I was congratulated by everyone for such an inspired performance. Susan was so delighted she gave me a hug. 鈥榊ou鈥檒l have to do the same tomorrow,鈥� she said.

鈥榊ou might need to remind me,鈥� I said. 鈥榊ou鈥檒l have to come and see me in the broom cupboard.鈥�

The things I do for amateur dramatics.

Martin Lake

Fortified with our provisions from the Whole Foods store in Lincoln, NE, we set out across the plains/prairies to our next stop, North Platte, NE, a stagecoach stop on the way west.  Fortunately, we found a Fairfield Inn by Marriott to bed down before our final drive to Fort Collins.  Nebraska is not for the faint of heart; it possesses similar vistas in all directions to the endless infinity of Saskatchewan.  Lots of hay, farms, cows, and nothingness past Lincoln.

 We arrived in Fort Collins after the trek through Nebraska and were happy to see daughter Abby, husband Steve, and The Armstrong Hotel.  We settled into our comfortable suite and enjoyed a wonderful, easy-living social whirl with Abby, Steve, their friends Andrea & Joe, and John & Julie Barr, our Menton connection.  For the first couple of days we took it easy.  I took my book, went downstairs to Mugs coffee house, ordered my iced Mocha, and sat and read for hours.  Jayne and I walked around, played some golf at the city course, met with Abby, Steve, and their friends Andrea & Joe with whom they were staying. Had a BBQ at Andrea鈥檚 & Joe鈥檚, went to mile-high Carter Lake to while away a lovely afternoon watching the boaters, kayakers, and just plain relaxing in good company.

As planned, we were happily joined by John & Julie Barr after a few days as they were on their eastward travels from Carlsbad, CA and Sedona, Arizona. They also bunked down at The Armstrong, so our social circle grew.  To make our week or so even merrier, Mark Snipe and his wife, Maria, drove up from Denver to join us in a Sunday picnic at City Park.  Where was George Seurat when we needed him?  Sunday, Joe & Andrea invited us to dinner at the clubhouse at TPC Colorado, site of their new home and a new PGA golf venue.

Our idyll lasted until Tuesday, July 14th, when we left for South Dakota, The Barrs drove to their cabin in the woods at Estes Park, and Abby & Steve piled the last of their belongings into a rental truck, heading east to their new home in Vergennes, VT.

Heading north to South Dakota through Wyoming we drove through a vast, limitless prairie that gives one a new perspective on our place in the universe, let alone on Planet Earth.  Those of us who live in North American or European populated areas can鈥檛 begin to appreciate how small, alone and insignificant one feels in the midst of such limitlessness. To give it more practical weight, there are huge stretches with no cell phone service 鈥� totally blank areas on the service maps of all cell service providers.

Finally reached our cabin in the woods outside Hill City, South Dakota. We鈥檇 been told that there was no cell service where we were, but there was WiFi.  What they neglected to mention was that the WiFi was only available at their house/office down the dirt road from our cabin.  So, when we weren鈥檛 out in the wider world we鈥檇 have to sit in the car in front of the house in order to check in.  Mind you, it was a small inconvenience once we got over the shock.

Our first day we drove to Mount Rushmore.  It was crowded with tourists and looks just like all the pictures you鈥檝e seen.  Yet it was an exceptional sight.  The next day we drove through Custer State Park, where the excitement started to pick up. As we were driving along the Wildlife Trail we suddenly came to a halt behind a line of motorcycles.  In front of them a lone buffalo was meandering down the road at its own pace.  As soon as a car got close to it, the animal charged, and the car had to do some fancy driving to avoid being rammed.  The bikes wouldn鈥檛 dare try to pass it until it finally strolled into the grass.  We did see more buffalo on our drive, but missed any deer and antelope playing.

The next day, however, was much more exciting and educational.  We went to Crazy Horse Monument, the Native American tribute to a leader and way of life that was almost obliterated by the American and European settlers moving west.  The entire complex is full of cultural and educational exhibits, art, and, of course, the obligatory gift store.  But the mountain is compelling in a way that Mount Rushmore isn鈥檛.  We returned at night for a laser light show projected on the side of the monument, accompanied by narration and music.  It was a highlight of our trip.

Our last day in SD was a glorious ride through the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway, and a stop at Bridal Veil Falls.  We then had a picnic lunch in Spearfish City Park.  Interestingly, the oak pellets used in our Hancock pellet stove were made in Spearfish, SD.  End of curiosity.

This takes us up to today in Casper, WY.  The heartland of America has to be seen and felt.  Pictures can鈥檛 begin to do it justice.  The way of life is so different from whence we come in the more urban areas of the country.  In order to really understand the values in this part of the country, you have to be here. Not surprisingly, in many of the places we鈥檝e been, people are wearing masks and appreciate the fact that we, too, are doing the same.

Once we get to Boulder, we will have almost 2 weeks of R&R. Lots of lakes, parks, picnic areas and day trips and Colorado air.

Here in Sarasota, Florida, we鈥檝e been able to enjoy more liberal movement for a couple of months now, and we鈥檝e always been able to take beach chairs, drinks and snacks, and reading material to Bayfront Park, sit under a tree and enjoy the Gulf breezes. Our restaurants opened for outdoor dining and take-away for about 3 weeks, and there鈥檚 now space-limited indoor dining.

We鈥檝e even started dining and entertainment at a major local venue, Florida Studio Theatre. First, they offered outdoor dining accompanied by their excellent house pianist and a chanteuse. We did that for two Friday evenings, then last Friday when indoor spaced seating was allowed, we went to the 7 p.m. seating of dinner and Improv. It鈥檚 a welcome relief from Britbox, Hulu, and Netflix to leave the house and attend a live performance. I might add that tables were spaced almost 3 meters apart, all serving staff wore masks and gloves, and all exposed surfaces were constantly being sanitized, such as railings, chairs, and, of course, tables.

May ushered in the very early advent of South Florida summer with its oppressive heat and humidity. One day our car thermometer registered 39C. So, we鈥檙e going to get out of here at the end of this month. We鈥檒l drive purposely out west and visit many places that are now starting to open up. Before I tease you with our brief itinerary, I鈥檒l send periodic updates and pictures from the road.

Naturally, not everything we鈥檇 like to see and do is open, but many golf courses are open, so we鈥檒l begin our journey by following the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail through Alabama. As regards accommodations, we鈥檝e vetted the Marriott chain of hotels and inns, and they stand above the rest in adhering to CDC guidelines, so we鈥檒l be patronizing them throughout most of the trip. We also reserved rooms with kitchenettes so we can cook our own meals when necessary. Those logistics aside, here we go.

Along the golf trail, we鈥檒l stop at two golf resorts in Alabama. Then on to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, to stay in a funky resort and visit the crown jewel of our trip, Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas, which was founded and funded by Alice Walton, the daughter of WalMart founder, Sam Walton.

After Crystal Bridges we head for Kansas City, Missouri, home to the WWI Museum, Negro League Baseball Hall of Fame, Nelson-Atkins Museum, and the Federal Reserve Museum of Money. If they鈥檙e open we鈥檒l be scouring the floors for any stray bills or change.

On to Fort Collins, Colorado, to see our daughter and sample all the craft beers in the area. Before we get to Fort Collins we鈥檒l be in Dodge City, Kansas for the July 4thfestivities, rodeo, etc. There鈥檚 a common phrase, 鈥淲e鈥檙e getting out of Dodge!鈥� We鈥檒l be getting in to Dodge.

After a week in Fort Collins, it鈥檚 on to Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills/Badlands of South Dakota. From there we drive to Grand Teton and Yellowstone Parks, then to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for a week. Pack up and move on to Boulder, Colorado, for two weeks, then start wending our way back home, hopefully taking in any of the sights we may have missed on the way west that are now open.

Yesterday we made a trial run to St. Petersburg, Florida, about an hour north of us. Since museums are starting to open, we drove to the Imagine Museum, which is devoted entirely to glass art. Glass art is wondrous to behold; it鈥檚 quite jaw-dropping! We learned that one of my favorites, Karen Lamonte, is also featured at Crystal Bridges. She has a couple of YouTube videos that demonstrate her technique. Check out the attached pictures.

All in all, it鈥檚 about 6,000 miles. Any passengers? Profitez de l'茅t茅 nos amis!

More to come... Mark & Jayne

We are experiencing something none of us have ever witnessed. Comparative situations range from wars, Chernobyl, to 9/11. Our enemy is global and invisible. Who knew a microscopic virus could bring the world to its knees?

The frenetic lifestyle of 'filling up our lives' is over, giving time for people to express themselves in innovative ways: The Getty invitation to reproduce a favorite painting while sheltering at home is miraculous and shows the creative nature of humanity. Andrea Bocelli singing in the empty Duomo in Milano, and Pope Francesco sending a message of peace from the monumental work of art, St. Peter鈥檚 in Rome, inspires us.... Everyone, without exception, is delving deep into their own experience to create new ways of being during this life-changing event. Creativity is everywhere, from the workplace at home to social activity, which demonstrates that one doesn鈥檛 have to be an artist to be creative.

Meditation at St. Clare's Garden

Pacific Ocean at Salt Creek

Study for Lake at Craig Regional Park

Sunset Over Catalina Seen from Huntington Beach

Isolation -- imposed or self-imposed through compassion for others -- leads me to a certain serenity. As the days melt one into another, I easily slip into a state of 'being' rather than 'doing' and my work reflects this: lonely landscapes, and the most recent painting, Meditation at St. Clare's Garden, speaks about contemplation. (All attached paintings in this continuing 'Water Landscapes in Orange County' series were painted in my new studio in Laguna Beach this winter. See the video below). This series -- and this situation -- allows me to paint subjects never approached before: sunset, figure, seascape, distant perspective landscapes.

In my daily walks, I see the abundant citrus native to Southern California everywhere: lemon, orange and grapefruit trees. My mother鈥檚 lemon tree is an endless source of fruit. I estimated that 90% of these gorgeous fruits would be wasted if I didn鈥檛 do something, so I started making lemon marmalade, something I never allowed the time to do. I am so proud of the results, I couldn鈥檛 resist sharing the recipe with you.

1kg or 2.2lbs of organic lemons, seeds removed, sliced thinly, then halved.
700grams or 1.5lbs sugar.
Slice the lemons and remove seeds.  Soak for 24 hours covered in water.  Change the water and soak again for 24 hours.
Drain, saving 350cl (1.5 cups) of the soaking juice.
Put the lemons in a large pot with the sugar and lemon juice saved from the soaking and bring to boil.  Cook over medium heat, uncovered for 40 minutes.  Pour into sterile jam jars, turn the jars upside down until cold. Store in ambient temperature for 3 or 4 days; time necessary for the jam to gel. Enjoy!

Sending my heartfelt wishes for peace and wellness,
And wishing you time to create and to make marmalade,

Gianne

One week ago today, March 11th, Jayne and I still had personal, educational, and entertainment venues scheduled. Wednesday morning I went to my watercolor workshop, and in the evening we joined in the Sarasota Jazz Festival kickoff event, the Jazz Trolley. Starting from a central pick-up spot, five or six motorized trolleys ferried us to any of nine venues around town, each of which had jazz ensembles playing every genre 鈥� from Dixieland to progressive jazz. We managed to hit four bars/restaurants and heard some excellent playing. We almost lasted until all venues closed down and were looking forward to the next group of concerts.

Thursday we went about our separate routines, per usual. In the morning I started the next session of the three-hour Writers Workshop, then home for lunch. Jayne met with her adult ESL student in the morning and decided to skip her afternoon golf league in favor of buying some provisions. We were looking forward to the continuing jazz concert that evening, when, at four p.m., Jayne鈥檚 phone began a constant beeping as text message and email started crowding in, and our life as we knew it came to an immediate end.

One by one all events were cancelled, all adult education courses were shut down, and the major supermarkets, big box chain stores, and many smaller retailers began experiencing panicked purchasing of critical food, cleaning and personal care items. As we all noticed, perhaps the number one item leaving shelves empty and pallets bare was toilet paper [rolls]! We shopped for essential canned and frozen food items while watching long queues of people and their shopping carts lined up to buy toilet paper. Thankfully, that left us all the items we needed. There were one or two supermarkets, especially the Amish fresh fruit and vegetable market, that remained open and had a plentiful supply of fresh food, breads, baked goods, and ice cream.

As the days have progressed, more [and sometime bizarre] impositions have arisen. For example, many supermarkets have initiated 7 a.m.-8 a.m. opening hours solely for senior citizens over age 60. Picture a store in whose aisles you stand the risk of being mowed down by panicked seniors on their walkers. Thank you, but I鈥檒l take my chances later on in the day. Besides, we have all the toilet rolls we need.

Jayne used the early warning to go to Costco, our vast big box superstore, to stock up on essentials such as flash-frozen wild salmon, canned goods, cheeses and crackers for our afternoon aperitivo, wine and beer, life鈥檚 essentials.

Life as we all knew it has been unalterably changed once again within the past 20 years. Fortunately, we鈥檙e not in the New York City metropolitan area, so we鈥檝e been protected from a lot of the problems encountered there, especially in our former neighborhood, New Rochelle. We still have our French Bistro/Bakery, L鈥橭pera, where we can fantasize for a few moments that we鈥檙e back in Menton. We speak French to the wonderful owners and, as is normal in France, we鈥檙e allowed to sit at a table for as long as we like. Jayne meets with her adult learner there over coffee and croissants.

Many other restaurants are still open although, as of today, March 19th, all gyms except mine, which is affiliated with Sarasota Memorial Hospital, have been closed. Libraries have finally been closed, as has virtually any venue where more than two people meet. I go to the gym four or five days a week, and we can still play golf 鈥� although one of the major city courses has been closed, and we get in the car and drive 15 miles to Venice beach to sit on our beach chairs, sip wine, and watch the sunset. But there are ominous hints that all beaches may be closed soon. In other words, adjustments are de rigueur on a daily, nay hourly, basis.

The one area that remains constant is the unimaginable ineptitude of the Moron-In-Chief and his minions, which borders not only on the insane, but also the criminal. I鈥檓 sure you鈥檝e all witnessed it, though from afar, but we long for the reasoned decision-making of other world leaders who鈥檝e done their best to put the welfare of their citizens first rather than manipulate the 鈥漮ptics鈥� to reflect mightily on themselves.

Finally, we envy the spirit of community communicated by Birgitt鈥檚 emails. We don鈥檛 have much of that here; there鈥檚 competition rather than cooperation. Stay tuned. Pour votre bonne sant茅 continue. P.S. Jayne just got back from shopping 鈥� there鈥檚 no butter to be found, anywhere. I鈥檓 trying to fit that product scarcity with the run on toilet paper. Never mind.

For instance, we鈥檙e used to using Menton as a base for exploration to other areas of France and Italy, so we thought, 鈥榃hy not do that here?鈥� So, we took our first foray into the wilds of Florida to Punta Gorda. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 so special about Punta Gorda?鈥� you may ask.

Punta Gorda is the home of the Muscle Car City Museum, where Jayne got to caress a 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle SS, her first new car. Although hers was a convertible, there were an astounding number of 1964 Chevelles on the floor. A walk down Memory Highway. While it was interesting, I tend to lose interest after the 14th carburetor under a raised bonnet.

We then went to Fishermen鈥檚 Village, a quaint fishermen鈥檚-themed shopping arcade with seafood restaurants at its far end. Since we have foresworn buying any more 鈥榮tuff,鈥� we took a leisurely stroll to Harpoon Harry鈥檚 on the water and enjoyed a couple of beers and light lunch. Thus we find a way to 鈥榝iddle鈥� while America burns.

It鈥檚 not hard to keep occupied here. I go to the gym five days a week. Jayne swims in the central condominium pool almost every day, and we have other interests to keep us on our toes. Jayne is a volunteer for the Literacy Council of Sarasota, and she meets with a Venezuelan woman every week to teach her English. Jayne also volunteers as a docent at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

I belong to two Writers Groups, am taking up watercolor class, and we both attend French study class on Saturday mornings. I can鈥檛 wait for the quiet and calm of Menton ...just kidding!

Other than all that personal gossip, the world is at peace and up is down. We look forward to being with you in a month and a half.

脌 bient么t

鈥淚s it hot enough fer ya?鈥� Yes, thank you. At least we can use that excuse when our brain melts down from the unseasonal pre-August cauldron. Unfortunately, the 鈥渓eaders鈥� of the two largest English-speaking nations can鈥檛 use that as an excuse for their year-round circus of incompetence. Basta!

Jayne and I recently moved from our 40 sq. meter New York studio apartment to a 168 sq. meter apartment in Sarasota, Florida. We overlook the Intracoastal Waterway and many square miles of trees. It鈥檚 summer in Florida, which means the average daily temperature usually averages out to 34.5C. Believe it or not, we read about the heat wave in France and are thrilled to be in a much cooler climate 鈥� with air conditioning wherever we go.

The people we鈥檝e met in our six story building are most warm and welcoming. It鈥檚 taken us over a week to finally unpack and see daylight past the hundred, plus, cardboard cartons. Daughter Abby, Steve and his son Nick, took respite from their home in Rio to fly to Colorado and bring the few things of value from our former Massachusetts house. That included Jayne鈥檚 little red 1994 sports car. As Jayne was making another trip to the waste disposal room to dispose of a bunch of cardboard boxes she was met by a couple of neighbor women and invited to join them at the pool. She enjoyed the brief respite from the drudgery, but was a bit taken aback when one of the women proudly suggested taking a dip in the heated pool! And the nearby whirlpool was heated to 40C. All five of us took a drive south of here to Venice beach to watch the sunset a few nights ago. The Gulf of Mexico water was as warm as our heated pool.

You鈥檇 also think that one would be quite laid back in Paradise, but it鈥檚 a totally different story on the roads; many people drive like they鈥檙e Grand Prix drivers, and one has to be very vigilant even on local roads. But those are just a few quirks. In all it鈥檚 been a mostly pleasant period of adjustment. Living among and having to unpack and stow away multitudes of those boxes occupied most of two weeks. The 鈥榢ids鈥� have been of great help in getting things sorted and put away, and we finally had a hanging pictures day. Our place is finally starting to feel like home once our art is up on the walls.

We haven鈥檛 been all work/no play. Jayne and I took in local theatre and this past Saturday night the five of us went to the Blue Rooster, a local stop on the music scene. We鈥檇 been there before, and the food is genuine Southern cooking 鈥� fried chicken done to perfection, mashed potatoes, greens, etc. Not on our usual diet but worth the splurge every so often. The music is generally top notch rhythm & blues, mainstream rock and jazz. We鈥檒l hit the classical music scene once the Sarasota Orchestra and Sarasota Opera are back in season.

Watched the Women鈥檚 World Cup finals, and an exciting game it was. Before that game we watched the semi-final, US vs. England. We transported ourselves to Menton during that game and could see ourselves with all the BA sports fans watching together, albeit with a somewhat different hope for the outcome. The US women really do play football at a very high level. Penalty kick aside, the Netherlands team proved to be almost their equal. Fun to watch, especially from Lyon. We kept scanning the stands to see if our former Astoria landlord, Salim, was present as he lives there, but nope.

Not much else to note. Naturally, years before the next presidential election we鈥檙e being inundated with more political BS than the law should allow. But we tend to tune it out and try to concentrate on the things that have real meaning 鈥� music, theatre and books. We miss you all very much and are thinking about getting to Menton ASAP! Our Jeep is parked next to a Maserati SUV, and when I get in the car all I can see is the Maserati dealer鈥檚 showroom from the window of the 100 bus as it winds its way into Monaco.

Ciao and have a most pleasant summer.

Greetings to our friends now basking in the warmth of late Spring, early Summer. A word or two about the current state of affairs. For the British, you are rightfully allowed to be frightened of the upcoming Halloween. For us in the US, we are frightened on a daily basis because it is Halloween every day. We don鈥檛 know from day to day what liberties will be thrown into the mire or which longtime global allies the US will insult and throw under the bus. It鈥檚 The Twilight Zone, a surrealistic TV show of days gone by, every day. That鈥檚 why we keep our eyes on the prize and so look forward to joining you soon again 鈥� once we get settled into our new surroundings and the agony of packing and unpacking a suitcase becomes a dim memory.

Since America was known as a land of renewal, a topic now quite questionable, Jayne and I struck out on our own to renew our US places and things. Everyone knows that our hearts are in Menton, but reality and bureaucracy dictate otherwise. When asked where we live we often struggled with that answer. We made that decision and just returned from a trip to Sarasota, Florida, to find a new home base. Before we left we put our flat in New Rochelle, New York, on the market and it was sold. After looking at more than 35 homes, condominiums, etc., in Sarasota we finally landed 鈥� purely by accident. Why Sarasota?

It does not snow in Sarasota! It is a city with a history of excellence in the arts, be it theatre, music of every genre, opera; you-name-it, Sarasota鈥檚 got it. There is also Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, a wondrous acreage of beauty that beckons to Jayne in a number of ways. As an avid gardener, Jayne is eager to get involved, and we joined almost immediately upon arriving in Sarasota.

Pour moi, there are a number of institutions of higher learning that offer a wide variety of courses, and I might also take a part-time job at the local Barnes & Noble book store chain before holding a real book in one鈥檚 hand goes forever out of style. Failing that, there are two major wine retailers who might need some help. Above and beyond, Sarasota has a decent climate and lots of interesting people, including a few friends from past acquaintance. For example, Jayne and I went out to different musical and theatrical evenings four out of the ten evenings we were there. One was a sold-out evening tribute to Women Who Rock, held at the local baseball stadium. The three singers had a rather decent back-up band: The Sarasota Symphony Orchestra.

Another evening was spent at a cabaret presentation of music that fueled the baby boomer generation. We struck up a conversation with the couple at the next table who invited us out for drinks, and we spent the rest of the evening in interesting conversation, mainly about how we managed to just pick up and travel so freely to some interesting places in this world. They had just sold their 60-foot 鈥榖oat鈥� and were rather fascinated with the thought of being foot loose and fancy free.

Now, how did we score this fabulous new apartment? We were with our real estate agents looking at an impressive flat on the fifth floor of a six-floor condominium. We asked for a two-year lease. The owner鈥檚 agent said he might think about that but really intended to sell this unit. We backed away. Jayne and I were really downcast after looking at so many unsuitable properties, then finding one that appealed to us only to have it disappear. As we were leaving the elevator, a woman met us and, noticing the estate agents, asked if we were interested in buying a unit because hers is available. We said we weren鈥檛 interested in buying but were looking for a long-term lease, and after a split-second鈥檚 thought she said, 鈥淥kay.鈥� We went back to her apartment on the sixth floor with a much better view and hashed out a simple agreement, which we all signed a couple of days later. It鈥檚 a two-bedroom apartment with a view of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf of Mexico beyond, with a couple of landmark buildings in downtown Sarasota peeking their spires above the trees. Excellent shopping and restaurants are nearby, and it鈥檚 only 15 minutes to the downtown Sarasota Opera House.

Since Menton is such a vital part of our lives, once we get settled it will be a lot easier to answer the question, 鈥淲hen will you be coming back?鈥�

Nowadays, two of the world鈥檚 leading powers seem to be in a bit of a bind, their knickers twisted beyond belief. Here in the US, the only people seeming to profit by the dog and pony show that is our current government are the late-night hosts of the talk shows, led by Steven Colbert, and followed by your generous export, James Corden, then Jimmy Kimmel 鈥� all names that might be unfamiliar to you, save for James Corden. Their surgical excision of the surrealistic miasma that has overtaken Washington, DC, allows us to laugh through our tears. The only other help is to follow John Cleese鈥檚 admonition, 鈥�...and now for something completely different.鈥�

Our daughter, Abby, is now a college counselor and student advisor in the American School in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This is in accord with her history of choosing to work in countries where she can neither speak the language nor read their alphabet, Rio being the exception in that the alphabet may be familiar but the language not. Previously she worked in Morocco and Serbia. She had a conference in Boston the early part of November so Jayne and I took the train from New York and spent a few days with Abby and a fellow counselor, as well as our good friend, Steve Conway. It was a whirlwind visit, taking in as much that Boston has to offer within two and a half days. Their Museum of Fine Arts is a marvel, but be sure to bring bread crumbs as it鈥檚 quite tricky to maneuver through the myriad spaces and exhibits. Our hotel overlooked the Charles River and the Boston University boathouse where, rain or shine, the crews and guide boats were out rowing on the river. Fun to watch.

In the middle of the month we flew to Sarasota, Florida, to see dear friends from our days in Williamstown, Massachusetts. After a brief two-day visit, we drove down to Cape Coral to visit with another couple from Williamstown. We enjoyed our four days with a tour through the Naples Tropical Flora Botanical Garden and even enjoyed a music concert on their lawn and under the palms. We finished our visit with an eco tour of the Babcock Ranch Preserve, a 27,365-hectare former cattle ranch and farm. Now a conservation corridor of public and private land that stretches from Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico. The Preserve spans a diverse mosaic of pinelands, including both wet and mesic pine flatwoods, and dry prairie ecosystems interspersed with cypress domes and cypress swamps. It鈥檚 a total delight for all of you alligator aficionados out there. Lots of cattle also roam through the swamps and trails. Did I mention the mosquitoes that feasted heartily on my bare arms and legs?

Now we鈥檙e back in -7C New York. Hopefully, your weather has started to improve over what it has been, as ours rapidly descends into winter. Cheer up; Spring will be next!

SEASON OF MISTS AND MELLOW FRUITFULNESS. This is how John Keats described the season in his poem, To Autumn. While on a train coming back from a short holiday in Dijon, his words seemed wonderfully apt and accurate. I gazed at mile upon mile of rural France, with little farms, woods and barns, tractors and herds of milk-white cows.

It all seemed very distant from the urban world of Menton, distant and timeless. The trees were heavy with red and yellow leaves and appeared to hover over a land half-hidden in bronze coloured mist. Swallows and starlings swept across the skies, playful yet with such intent determination. I鈥檓 still astonished at how they swoop and wheel, turn and dive as if under the command of one great voice.

When I was a child I had a book which, amongst other things, had four pictures depicting every season, with all the doings on the land, in the sky and beneath the earth. How busy nature seemed. It was a revelation to a boy who had spent all his life in London, who had seen lions and tigers, polar bears and penguins, even ridden on a camel, yet never yet seen a real-life cow or lamb or pig. (And what a surprise when I saw my first pig. They were not the smiley little pink, corkscrew tailed creatures of books but very large, self-assured and noisy beasts.)

The picture of autumn in my well-thumbed book had children playing conkers, farmers gathering the harvest, fat sheep with heavy coats, shire-horses pulling ploughs, (yes really, even in the 1950s), and a church with a harvest festival in full swing.

Swallows and starlings flock ready to migrate, clouds scud swiftly across the sky, threatening rain which never falls. Beneath the ground, moles dig labyrinthine tunnels, a badger prepares her sett for winter, tree roots extend questioning fingers and mushrooms sprout faster than Lewis Hamilton in a Grand Prix.

And autumn nowadays? I guess that much of what the picture showed still goes on. Moles and badgers dig, the leaves on the trees turn gold, the birds flock before migrating and, perhaps, some children somewhere still play conkers. Yet my adult eyes too often forget to look for it.

But why get wistful? Autumn now has other pleasures. The grapes being harvested ready for bottling, the languid afternoons, more precious for growing ever shorter, the first tang of cold air in the morning, the sunset glowing pink on the nearby mountains. And then there鈥檚 the anticipation of autumn events: BA lunches, fantastic quizzes, drinks in the Vintage, strolls by the sea.

Best if all, perhaps, is the return of many friends from far away places. It鈥檚 not only swifts and swallows who migrate, we do too. And it鈥檚 a great joy to see familiar faces return to Menton to rekindle, so easily it seems, friendship, fun and great good-spirits. Mellow fruitfulness.

We鈥檝e retreated into music, art and the out-of-doors to regain a sense of balance in this country that appears to have gone stark raving bonkers. We live in Westchester County right above New York City, and Westchester鈥檚 many towns offer a wonderful array of worthwhile distractions that help us cope. For instance, there鈥檚 the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College that features musical artists and orchestras playing the same programs they will play a week later at Carnegie Hall in the city. There is also the Symphony of Westchester and the Jazz Forum in Tarrytown [pictures attached]. At the latter, noted jazz artists, many in their 80s and still going strong, perform with up and coming musicians that will carry the torch in the future.

Yesterday we drove an hour or so to Storm King Arts Center, above the US Military Academy at West Point, to explore the vast array of outdoor sculpture and installations sited in a 203 hectare natural expanse. Although it was intermittently cloudy with a few patches of sun now and again, we thoroughly enjoyed taking a tram through the preserve to see works that have been specifically sited for the exact spot in which they鈥檙e installed. It was a tonic to be out in the crisp Autumn air and to experience those magnificent works!

We鈥檒l be going to Boston this weekend to see daughter Abby, who鈥檚 coming in from her job in Rio de Janeiro for a conference. We鈥檒l also be getting together with our close friend, Steve Conway [a frequent visitor to us in Menton]. Naturally, we got a list of critical items to buy that we鈥檝e stuffed into a large piece of luggage that Abby will be on her own to maneuver back to Rio. Thankfully, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series early so we鈥檒l hopefully miss the parade and madness that comes with winning a sports championship.

There you have it! Music, art, travel, family and friends. We also spend some time at the gym to keep fit for whatever life presents us next. Don鈥檛 need no fiddle...yet!

When the total irrationality of Wonderland starts looking more attractive than life in the US, it鈥檚 time to reorder one鈥檚 priorities.  If only France weren鈥檛 so bureaucratically constipated and, at least, lived by the rules and regulations they promulgate, one would have an easier chance at political asylum.  Once more, c鈥檈st la vie.

So, what does one do when 鈥楻ome鈥� is burning?   Discover new and previously unexplored outlets for maintaining our sang froid.  What鈥檚 that fascinating film festival in Yonkers?  Wow!  A jazz venue in Tarrytown!  An exciting entertainment theatre in Mamaroneck!  You get the drift; for sure those and other diversions have been there for quite some time, but it often takes motivation to explore our own surroundings.  As we no longer read the top of the newspaper, Jayne and I find other sections in which to immerse ourselves.  She heads for The Arts section, I the Mini Puzzle, then Sports.  We鈥檝e also gone back to reading books, preferably the ones that are contained between hard covers and are printed on actual paper.  We do miss the innocuousness of Nice Matin.  Bient么t.

You say, 鈥淗ow dare you avoid the mess and mayhem of reality?鈥�  We have Netflix and Hulu for that.  Dial up some angst with some mayhem thrown in?  Wallander.  DCI Banks.  The list is too long and delightful to get into.  We channel our angst healthily into finding a bigger flat in which to live.  It鈥檚 more than a chore hunting for a decent place that has enough room for two people to disappear from each other for a while, parking, a lift [if on an upper 茅tage], a patio or terrace, and a functioning kitchen, which allows access to all appliances.  In other words, a jumping-off and landing space.  Just call us Don & Donna Quixote.

Meanwhile, when Jayne isn鈥檛 apartment hunting she鈥檚 looking for volunteer/part-time opportunities in which she can leverage her extensive organizational talents accrued from a lifetime of corporate positions.  [The preceding sentence is typical of the sort of stuff with which I used to fill countless senior-level executive r茅sum茅s for more than 25 years.  I just wanted to see if I still had it.  Unfortunately, it never goes away.]

脌 bient么t]

Welcome from the Sundered States of Dystopia. The circus continues!  Watch the clowns juggling stupid!  See the wild beast tamer running for her life!  The only ray of filtered sunshine has been DJT鈥檚 plan to withdraw from the World Trade Organization, to be replaced by his proposal for a Fair and Reciprocal Tariff act, or FART, as its acronym suggests. It doesn鈥檛 take a genius to understand the welcoming responses on the Internet and in the press, such as the following limerick:

The POTUS would like, for a start,
More power to rip trade apart,
Reported the press
Upon its success
In catching a draft of his FART.

There are a few cruder, but you get the drift.

We had a July visit from John & Julie Barr, some-time Mentonaisse, who鈥檇 been touring the wilds of the Northeast 鈥� Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire 鈥� in our aerie in The Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. We were at a time-share resort, Vacation Village, in our 鈥渙ld鈥� neighborhood of Hancock, MA. The place was packed with cars from all over and people from our new enemy, Canada, as well as Europe and the Middle East. It had everything one could desire in a family resort 鈥� pools [indoor & out], gas barbecues all over the acreage, a game room for kids, etc. For us, it was a base to visit local friends, see the new exhibits at the three world-class museums close by, go to baseball league games, attend concerts, summer stock theatres, sit by the lake reading a book, and so forth.

Our daughter paid us a brief visit in mid-July and texted her beer preference [Red Stripe - Jamaica] before she flew to Rio to work as a Counselor at the American School for two [or more] years.

Weather here is in the high 20C to mid 30C, but dark, rainy, and gloomy in the late afternoon.  We wait for the rain to break the humidity, but when it's over it's another round of heat and humidity. Ca dommage! 

I went into NYC yesterday for an eye checkup, and, because the doctor's office is across the street from Eric Kayser, I came home with a bag full of croissants.  We had just scored a few croissants and baguettes from another Kayser shop in Manhattan on Saturday, but of course the croissants are always the first to go.

We've selected a real estate agent to put our apartment on the market in preparation for renting a 1-bedroom, plus den, flat in a neighboring town.  Jayne was busy plowing through the agent's contract and deleting the onerous BS.  Jayne reads EVERY legal document, word for word, and it was her due diligence that prevented us from buying a flat that, upon reflection, was involved in a RICO [Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act] law suit.  She's a keeper!

I can鈥檛 express our shock and sorrow upon reading of the collapse of the A10 bridge in Genoa and the horrible loss of life!  To think that we鈥檝e driven over it a number of times! The lack of attention to aging infrastructure isn鈥檛 only an Italian problem; it鈥檚 one that鈥檚 even plaguing the US.  Proceed at your risk seems to be the answer of governments elsewhere, as politicians spend our riches on needless waste and pork barrel projects.  End of diatribe.

At this moment, we鈥檙e busy checking out all kinds of events in Tenerife in preparation for our residence there for January and half of February 2019 (of course).  We鈥檙e also looking forward to getting together with Joseph and Marilena LoPresti when they motor north in a couple of weeks.

We hope your summer endured, even through the hellishly hot and humid weather. It鈥檚 really rough not being able to walk a couple of blocks for a croissant or tarte aux raisin.  We look forward to seeing you ...sooner rather than later.  Jusqu'脿 plus tard.
听

On to Toronto.  The city has changed.  Growth and gentrification have overtaken the entire city.  We were amazed at how a once charming neighborhood-friendly city has assumed the same hustle, bustle vibe as New York, with traffic to rival Los Angeles.

However, there remains lots of performing arts, museums and events.  One evening we went to the theatre to see Come From Away, an original Canadian play that went to Broadway then came back to Canada.  It was about the people and events surrounding the 32 planes forced to land in Gander, Newfoundland, on 9/11.  A town of 5,000 people hosted more than 7,000 passengers.  If you can believe it, the play was a dramatic musical that made you laugh and cry.  Stunning theatre!

听

On the tail end of our stay we went to a professional baseball game in Toronto鈥檚 Rogers Centre Stadium to watch the Toronto Blue Jays play against the Oakland Athletics.  We had great seats and, since both Jayne and I are native Bronx, New Yorkers, we rooted for Oakland.  The Blue Jays play in the same division as the Yankees, so they鈥檙e rivals.  It was a lot of fun, and the Blue Jays fans who surrounded us engaged us in good-natured, game-long banter as we rooted against their home team.

We came back to New York just in time to read that the nuclear summit was on, whoops, off, whoops, on, off, maybe, and all the consumer protections that were put in place for the last several decades are being dismantled, including the Dodd-Frank law, enacted after the 2009 global financial crisis to prevent financial institutions from misleading/fraudulent lending practices.  The atmosphere has, if anything, continued to deteriorate.  We try hard to insulate ourselves from the daily political and societal deterioration, but it鈥檚 not possible.  We recently read that there is $1.3 trillion [鈧�1.12 trillion] in outstanding student debt [more than 100 people also owe more than $1 million in student loan debt each&苍产蝉辫;鈥�&苍产蝉辫;what could they have been studying?!]  Kids graduating from college today can鈥檛 get jobs to pay back the debt.  Interest rates are up, health care/drug costs are astronomical, and housing prices are once again going through the roof.  Hard to figure it out.

We miss our Menton times and surely Martin鈥檚 QUIZ, but Martin provided the questions, and NO answers.  Great questions, but he didn鈥檛 give us enough time to cheat to answer them all.  Hats off to him, though; it鈥檚 quite a labour of love.  NB:  Jayne especially missed her 鈥淗ot Chicks鈥� teammate.

A VERY BRIGHT SPOT!  As you all know, there鈥檚 an Eric Kayser Boulangerie, in Menton.  However, we didn鈥檛 know that Eric Kayser has at least 10 stores in Manhattan, and we just happened to stumble upon one.  We ducked in for a caf茅, croissant and baguette, and it鈥檚 the real thing!  What鈥檚 really amusing are the wait-staff dressed in what Kayser thinks Americans envision of Parisians:  striped jerseys, berets, and black aprons ...Oh, where did you go Gene Kelly?  Pricey, but worth it [鈧�2鈥�70 for one croissant].  We happily sat there drinking our coffee, eating croissants and baguettes and imagining ourselves at the Viennoise caf茅 in Menton.  We mapped all the locations of the Kayser patisseries in Manhattan in case of emergency.  HAPPINESS IS A DAMNED FINE BAGUETTE!

Enough of the good news!  We returned to Spring!  The weather has been most auspicious to the point of permitting us to get back to golf, although today we had to cancel an outing due to rain.

Jayne is once again a happy camper; as soon as her tiny feet hit the shores of the new world her phone started ringing with requests for her services.  We rationalize this as one of the best ways to earn money to return to Menton without having to break the bank.

One thing you notice right away is the almost complete absence of motos.  Instead, we鈥檙e cut off and harried by drivers with road rage, hardly a more civilized manner of navigating the roadways.  The motos were always predictable, the road rage drivers are not.  Always have to be 100% alert for the crazies.

Other than chafing at the lack of baguettes and croissants de abricot, not to mention Sophia鈥檚 cream puffs in Ventimiglia, and shopping at the March茅 and Carrefour Monaco, it鈥檚 back to good ol鈥� American supermarket shopping.  We are still not used to seeing vegetables that look as though they have been recycled and the prices for those items are very high.  Example:  tomatoes for 陆 pound which is about 录 of a kilo are $5.99 and they鈥檙e not farm fresh. 

I鈥檓 sure the Cookie Lady on Avenue Carnot is wondering what became of the old guy who used to clean her out of the best chocolate chip cookies in the universe. 

But, MOST OF ALL, we miss the joy of getting together with you on Saturday mornings and the week through.  We guess you must know how lucky you are!

It鈥檚 off to Toronto tomorrow to look in on Mark鈥檚 closest cousins who are not doing too well, back to visit a dear friend in upstate New York for a couple of days, and then to Albany, NY, to scout possible living quarters and reconnect with some good friends in Albany who are the guardians of Jayne鈥檚 gardening tools and a few cases of our wine.

We send our love to you and wish you an active, fulfilling summer season!

Please! Please!  Let us know how [and what] you鈥檙e doing!  We need and treasure your input from across the ocean.

Mark & Jayne

Youthful looking Irene Diederichsen, celebrated her 100th birthday on 17. April. Pictured here with her husband Jurgen. Irene and Jurgen live in Monaco.

These two are soul mates. Loving each other today perhaps even more than when they first met many years ago.

Irene was delighted that children and grandchildren attended her very special birthday celebration.

On behalf of all members, I would like to wish Irene good health and many more wonderful years with Jurgen.

Over the past 50 years many books have been written and films created depicting the race-against-time Alan Turing and his brilliant team of code breakers had in trying to crack the 鈥淓nigma Machine".  Hunkered down at Britain鈥檚 top secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park during World War II the Turing team and the country was facing the
prospect of a German invasion.  Much was resting on their shoulders.

With the Official Secrets Act being lifted in the 1970鈥檚 we now know that Janet Edmonson (Howe) 鈥� Woods who lives in Pegomas (and will reach the ripe old age of 102 on 19 March 2018) was an integral part of the team that cracked the Enigma Machine.

I thought you would appreciate some background information on Janet

BMN

_____

Janet was very active in England as a German linguist, having been called back to the UK by the Home Office from her German studies in Heidelberg just prior to the outbreak of the second world war. She had an active role as a German code breaker at the famous Bletchley Park where the first electronic computer was invented and where they broke the code from the German Enigma machine. Subsequently, she was one of the original British representatives to the Council of Europe which was founded in 1949. In March 2016, Janet received a 100th Birthday card from the Queen, then for her 101st birthday on 19 March 2017, she received a medal and Certificate of Honor signed by Prime Minister Therese May and Commendation from British GCHQ* for her services at Bletchley Park during the War.

It all started around a Sunday lunch table in La Turbie鈥�.. 鈥榊ou must come鈥�, 鈥業t would be great if we all go鈥欌�︹��

By the time I heard 鈥楾he insects are really only the size of dinner plates鈥� I was both terrified and intrigued. This is how I found myself on a plane to Lusaka via Dubai on Friday August 11th this year. 

Very exciting in Dubai, a quick overnight in transit, tapas, happy hour at midnight and a fabulous hotel with lots of freebies.

We arrived in hot and dusty Lusaka on Saturday afternoon and joined up with the rest of the team. Saturday evening and Sunday three of us spent at Chaminuka Game Reserve. We saw the most amazing wild animals close-up, admired the art work, had a bit of cheetah interaction and a lovely brunch.

The cheetah interaction consisted of me plus a group, a couple of gorgeous cheetahs and their guides. We were able to stroke the beautiful animals and walk them on their leads. This was designed especially for the tourists but I was assured  the cheetahs were not drugged and had indeed been brought up used to this. My colleagues had already had the experience on a previous trip and turned down the trip, not wanting to be licked by their sandpaper tongues again! 

Then on to Chongwe, the nearest town to Shiyala Village. This is the location of the school which was built and completed this year, thanks to the Mothers of Africa charity with which I work.  Our lodge was set back from the main town, with a nice garden, 24 hour guard and a large gate鈥�.not much water though! But, we had gospel singing at 7am each morning as the delegates of a conference being held there got together to start their day.  Certainly an uplifting and upbeat way to start!!

Chongwe town consists of a main road and lots of shacks as shops. It is home to the Chiefteness of Zambia and her Royal Conference Hall. There are people and cars everywhere, dusty roads and brightly coloured outfits, chitenges and babies strapped to their mothers, women selling giant cabbages and all sorts of fruit, veg and insects to eat, as well as small children sweeping the road with sticks tied together. Chongwe is vibrant and alive and everyone says 鈥楬ello, how are you today? I鈥檓 fine鈥�.

Lying awake most of that first night, intently focusing on a loud scraping sound that seemed like I could be one of those 鈥榠nsects the size of dinner plates鈥� I finally found a rather large cricket sharing my pillow. That was it I thought, it cannot get any worse. I can survive the cultural challenges!

Monday morning, a burst of hot water and the quickest shower ever! Oh dear I think I used the whole supply as no one else had any that day!

A bumpy taxi ride to our school, 25 excited but wary faces in class, and an amazing eagerness to learn. Holiday school begins!! It is actually the dry winter season and not summer at all, though temperatures are almost the same as in France.  Geography, English school games, vocabulary, mindfulness and movement, reading and writing workshops鈥�. A great interactive plan which became very flexible as the days unfolded, with intermittent bursting into song and dance African style by the children.

Very formal presentations of toys, sports equipment, gifts, lunch prepared in a large pot over hot stones and eaten with our hands. An amazingly dedicated team of teachers and workers on the second phase of the school. Friendly, open, natural, beautiful Zambian people.

An evening at the local market encouraging my colleagues to taste the crunchy caterpillars and locusts. Not an experience I felt I needed myself.

No phone or internet connections was a highlight and meant we actually talked to each other. The one night we were invited to a private house to use the wi-fi the contrast was quite shocking and extremely anti-social.

Evenings spent with Zambian beer, crisps and banana sandwiches as dinner took 3 hours to arrive so we gave up. Discovering cider on Thursday was so refreshing and a real treat.

Suddenly the week came to an end. Friday, the last day, hugs and tears. We did not want to leave and the children wanted us to stay. Lots of photos, selfies and memories.

Back to the city of Lusaka, traffic, loud, high buildings and a restaurant with wine!

And the saga of the flights home is a whole other story!

Life changing, motivating, a great experience!!

My involvement with Mothers of Africa

I continue to invest my time and energy in the charity which has already achieved great things. Mothers of Africa is a UK based charity, founded by professor Judith Hall OBE in 2004, when she realized that so many mothers were dying unnecessarily in childbirth in Africa.   We organize events here to raise funds for this very worthwhile cause and are currently setting up an association in Monaco. We believe in supporting women in Africa to implement change via education and infrastructure.

I got to know Janice (Judith鈥檚 sister) when our eldest children where at the Mums and Tots Group in Monaco together 21 years ago! When we met again a few years ago I remember thinking  how strange it was we had ever lost contact and that we were definitely due to keep in touch as we literally kept meeting by accident!!

After a few lunches together I had heard the story of the Mothers of Africa and all the wonderful work being done on the projects. Janice was wondering how to help her sister and I love organizing events and bringing people together to make a difference!

So, the first MOA dinner was organised in Menton in 2015. We had great fun, raised awareness for the project and raised some funds with the tombola. This was followed by a sponsored walk up in Eze   the next year.

During summer 2016 I was invited to Grasse to take part in another charity holistic wellness day. There I met an amazing African dance teacher who kindly agreed to come to Monaco to run an African Dance Class for us.   This took place in the hall where the original Mums and Tots was held and we ran a second event at the Plateau de la Justice in Eze a few weeks ago!! 

Awareness raised, lots of fun and new people wanting to help out and fundraise for us!!

We took a group of supporters to a lovely Classical music concert on International Women鈥檚 Day also helping raise awareness of the organisation involved and MOA at the same time. We were then invited to another concert / recital where proceeds of our ticket sales were given to MOA. 

In June we held a dinner in Monaco with the help of some lovely friends who have been coming to our events and more recently another supporter dedicated his birthday party to the charity and we raised nearly 鈧�3000. 

Part of what I love about this are the coincidences, the chance meetings, the lovely team of people who have come together to help. I really feel that when something is right, it just works! This charity just proves it.

For more info please check out 鈥�

Facebook :     mothersofafricacharity
Twitter :        @mothersofafrica
Instagram :    @mothersofafrica

To view the recent Mothers Of Africa Newsletter click here

Recent

When I left school, I knew more about Shakespeare than I did about personal finance.  While we gain academic knowledge through education, and professional knowledge through work, there is no formal channel for learning the key life skill of money management.  Most of us pick it up in the same way we acquire our wealth 鈥� very few have a strategy, even fewer have a plan. 

The problem is that personal finance can be complex, sometimes very complex.  Mistakes can be costly.  This is especially so in France, even for the French themselves.  How much more so then for those of us whose first language is not French.  And one of the most complicated areas of personal finance in France is estate and inheritance planning. 

Successful personal finance is not just about organising our financial affairs so that, while we work hard for money, our money works hard for us.  It is also about putting in place arrangements to transmit that resultant wealth in the best conditions to the chosen ones we leave behind. 

The passing of a loved one can be one of the most stressful moments of our lives, one where our families are at their most vulnerable.  It is then that we need to rely on the robustness of the arrangements that we have already put in place.  In spite of this, most of us do not have even a basic will.   

The starting point of any successful estate planning starts with defining the ultimate goal.  There are three aspects: -

1. The capacity to transfer at death whatever assets remain to your preferred beneficiaries in proportions of your choosing.
2. In the most cost efficient and tax intelligent manner with the minimum amount of deductions.
3. While ideally retaining and maximising as much control as possible during your lifetime.

The bad news is that in France 鈥榝orced heirship鈥� succession law and inheritance tax rates of up to 60% can make this difficult to achieve. For families with complicated situations, such as step children, this can be especially problematic and UK arrangements will not necessarily function in France and may have unpredicted results.  Moreover, finding a proactive English speaking French lawyer prepared to take the time to fully understand your situation and needs can be both challenging and expensive. 

The good news is that there is also a complexity of legal and financial planning strategies that can be used when defining your plan to help you achieve your goals and get you nearer to the ideal goal, as defined above.  Here are some examples: -

1. A will with the possible addition of a 鈥榗lause d鈥檃ttribution int茅grale au survivant鈥� or 鈥榗lause de pr茅ciput鈥�.  Given Brexit, hand written wills in English should not be relied on in practice.  
2. A change of marriage regime, typically from 鈥�s茅peration de biens鈥� to 鈥�communaut茅 universelle鈥� to protect the surviving spouse
3. Brussels IV (EU Regulation 650/2012) allows you to avoid French succession law (not tax) by opting for the law of your country of nationality rather than of your residence
4. Adoption of step children
5. Gifts (鈥榙辞苍补迟颈辞苍蝉鈥�)
6. A strategy of dismemberment (鈥榙茅尘别尘产谤别尘别苍迟鈥�) of real estate into life interest (鈥榥耻-辫谤辞辫谤颈茅迟茅) and usufruct (鈥榰蝉耻蹿谤耻颈迟鈥�).  This can significantly reduce the inheritance tax bill, especially if done sooner rather than later via a will at time of death
7. Use of assurance vie as tax optimisation wrapper for financial assets, ideal for transmitting inheritance to distant relatives, friends or third parties
8. Careful editing of the beneficiary clause within an assurance vie policy
9. A strategy of dismemberment can also be applied to certain assurance vie policies. 
10. Use of inheritance tax free allowances 鈥搕he standard 100,000 EUR per child per parent and a second one via assurance vie adds another 152,500 EUR per beneficiary. 

So make it easier on your lawyer and help him to help you.  Given the complexity of both the issues and the solutions, ask for a free holistic review of your situation from your financial adviser so you can already begin to define your needs and goals, and have an idea of what strategies are possible.  Thus prepared, you will make your lawyer鈥檚 job easier and so less time consuming.  As well as achieving peace of mind, you might even save yourself some fees!

 Sean Webb ACIB, MA (Oxon.)
International Financial Planner, The Spectrum IFA Group
E: sean.webb@spectrum-ifa.com
T: +33 (0)6 15 23 80 43