Life in the slow lane
aka, Canicule 2022
July 19, 2022
As I write this from the cool basement studio attached to our beautiful rental property in Southwest France, the sun is high in the sky, and the temperature is hovering around 30˚C. Temperatures were close to 42˚C yesterday afternoon: most days, we’re laying low in the afternoon, having risen early and been out while there was still some semblance of cool air (it typically does get MUCH cooler in the night - around a 20˚C difference, so mornings are quite pleasant). Welcome to life in the slow lane or how to survive a 10+ day canicule (heatwave).
On the note of “welcome,” - a huge HELLO to all my new subscribers! So many of you in the past couple of weeks! I am SO happy to have you along for the ride for my monthly (sometimes more) missive which is one of my favourite things to write. If you’re completely new to my writing, check my “About Me” page on my blog, and you can always read archived issues of this newsletter here. And, hey, thanks for joining me!
To be honest, the slower days are very welcome - the last school year was a tough one that drained me mentally, physically and emotionally. So maybe not the wisest decision to hop on a plane literally hours after my last school commitment to arrive in France completely exhausted with just a few days to complete a changeover at the house, then fly to meet friends and Neil in Spain to complete the last leg of the Camino de Santiago (see below). Camino over, four of us headed back to Nérac, where my parents were waiting for us (the first time I have seen them since March 2020, they made the long trek from Australia). For a while there, there were seven of us on vacation together. Fun but not exactly restful. Now we are just three and relishing life in the slow lane. Sometimes, Mother Nature dictates how you organize your days; sometimes, it’s exactly what you need. Our hearts are with the thousands of people displaced by the wildfires and those fighting them not so far away, and we’re all hoping for cooler temperatures (and some rain?) in the next few days.
What about you - is your summer fraught with activity, or are you taking it easy?
I finally finished walking the Camino de Santiago!
42 days total walking ✅
Five stages over five summers (but seven years thanks to C*vid) ✅
779 km ✅ (have to admit it feels a bit like “that’s it?” 🤣)
Camino Francés ✅
What started as a sort of a friendly challenge from a friend turned into a wonderfully fun first stage with a friend, then a second stage with Neil, two beautifully meditative solo stages and one final stage with close friends and family ❤️
Without a doubt, one of the best things I have ever done.
I’m sorting out my (2000 !) photos and writing up the last stage, but if you’re interested in the four other stages, you can read all about them here.
you might have missed - #summerreads
Check out my recent #summerreads picks on the blog here.
join me for a cooking class - from anywhere and soon, in Toronto!
I’m still teaching online cooking classes for Context Travel! Use the code MMICHELS20 for 20% off registration (new Context clients only). Join in from anywhere in the world! Classes are listed for July (one coming up this weekend!) and August - with more classes being added soon!
TORONTO READERS: In the next couple of weeks, I’ll have some in-person cooking class dates at the beautiful St Lawrence Market Kitchen to share! Stay tuned!
links you might like
eat
France faces a shortage of mustard, its uniquely beloved condiment, via The New York Times (article unlocked). Gasp! Time to do some Dijon-hoarding, methinks!
How Jacques Pépin reduces food waste via Tasting Table. Did you know that in 1967 Pépin authored a book called “The other half of the egg or 180 ways to use up extra yolks or whites”? Nope, me either. The original anti-food-waste champion!
In defence of garlic in a jar: how food snobs almost ruined my love of cooking via The Walrus. I mostly always have chopped garlic in a jar in my fridge for emergencies - do you?
live
Cult Shop: The Breton outfitter beloved by Picasso via FT. I have a fair number of Armor Lux items myself. Ahem.
The rise of the Swiffer empire via Food 52. Did you know there was a version of the Swiffer in Japan in the 1990s? Are YOU #teamswiffer? I know it’s a bit polarizing, but they are suitable for some jobs!
Should grades matter? Why this teacher is shaking up everything we know about report cards via The Toronto Star (possible paywall). The last two years have had us rethinking a lot about education - this is a refreshing take on what “progress” can look like aside from traditional grades.
travel
Turbulence on the ground at Toronto’s Pearson airport via The New York Times (article unlocked). Airport chaos is NOT why you want to be featured in the NYT!
There’s a league table of tourists in France, and holiday renters are definitely at the bottom via The Telegraph (a free trial subscription may be required). Well, then! Hey, WE were those people for a good decade before we bought maison de la fontaine! Like the author, I do love people-watching from our terrace or the patio of a café in the summer and trying to guess who is who - better than TV!
write
The American Library in Paris Book Award Shortlist via The American Library in Paris. I found instant inspiration in this list (see #summerreads above!)
Why is every cookbook a memoir now? via Bon Appétit. Do YOU love cookbooks that “teach us as much about life as they do food?” (I do!)
what we’re watching
You don’t know me. “A young man stands accused of murder. The evidence is overwhelming. But at his trial, this man tells an extraordinary story.” I’ll admit I chose this based a little bit on it *only* being four episodes, for the plane ride over to France. Pleasantly surprised and hooked from the first episode. Well-written and acted.
Behind her eyes, “It follows Louise, a single mom with a son and a part-time job in a psychiatrist's office. She begins an affair with her boss and strikes up an unlikely friendship with his wife”. Ok, this started well (also, only six episodes!), but around episode 5, I realized what was going on (sometimes it takes me a while!) and ugh - a really good story a little bit ruined by a paranormal side story. Still worth watching but be warned!
The Hidden Life of Pets “Bow wows and purr-fect pets. Meet amazing creatures from around the world and dig into the latest science on our animal friends' senses and skills.” ‘Nuff said. Animals being smart and cute. What’s not to love?
Elvis. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this film (though I have loved Baz Luhrmann’s previous films - Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge). If I am being completely honest, I was more excited about the air-conditioning in the movie theatre here than the film. But wow - what a film. I had no idea of most of Elvis’s story, his humble beginnings and how Col. Tom Parker fleeced him (I know, how has this passed me by?). A roller coaster ride.
buy my books
Don’t have my books? Read all about them and find links to purchase near you here!
rent our holiday home in southwest France!
“If you’re looking for a home away from home, this place is for you. Live like a local and experience all the hidden gems that surround the beautiful area of south-western France.”
Our charming house in Nérac, halfway between Bordeaux and Toulouse in the heart of Gascony, still has a little bit of availability this summer and fall - or book ahead for next year!
Read more and book your stay here!
Thanks for reading!
Stay safe xo
Mardi