Clive and I have lived in Castelmoron-sur-Lot since 2003 and we run a bed-and-breakfast in the town.  I’m originally from the Netherlands and Clive is Welsh. We’ve been married for 41 years in the UK and for one year in France, having renewed our vows last year.  Unfortunately, children did not come our way.

I worked as an Occupational Psychologist and Careers Guidance Counsellor then as regional manager of a public office in Surrey.  I enjoyed the people but  hated the target driven stress from above.

We own three Basenjis - these dogs are a rare breed - which we show, race and breed from time to time.   At the moment we have eight, of which five are pups who will be going to their new homes shortly.  Because of our shared interest in basenjis we now have friends all over the world.

My life is busy:  I am Vice-President of Gites-de-France in the Lot-et-Garonne, I teach French and English every week at local classes and I also set up a small group of women of diverse nationalities that meets monthly. Clive  and I also try to have a few months a year where we are travelling in Europe in our camping car.

My average day, at the moment, is exhausting:  I get up early, walk to the bakers with one or two of my pooches, prepare breakfast for the guests, advise them on what tourist activities to do, general chitchat about them and us.  Then clean out the pups, feed them, play with them.  Clean the bedrooms and bathrooms, do the washing, shopping.  Eat something light at lunchtime. Feed the puppies and their mama, clean them out and play with them. Take the dogs for a longer walk, up to an hour.  Prepare three course meal for the evening if guests require. Serve them and us, clear up, lay the table for breakfast, maybe watch the news and the odd TV programme .  All the while there’s a lot of puppy time as well.  At the end of every day, I fall into bed ... exhausted ... but happy!

My husband, George, and I arrived in Cancon seven years ago.  After a holiday in Italy we detoured through France to visit an old work colleague who’d moved here, and we fell in love with the area.  We later returned in the winter, to see what it was like, then went back to the UK, put our property on the market, talked to our family and - six months’ later - had bought our house here and returned to live.

I was born in Surrey but my family moved to Norfolk when I was eleven.  After school I worked in the cereal laboratory for J&J Colman, testing flour and baby-foods but left when I married and had my children.  I later ran my own playschool but then started caring for the elderly and became manager of several homes.  I really loved this work and like to think that I managed to make the last few months, or years, of someone’s life fulfilling and content.  I still keep in touch with some families and staff.

I had four children (2 sons, 2 daughters) but, after 19 years I divorced.  Four years later I met George who very bravely took us all on.  He and I ran the village shop for five years and built up a very good business, after which we moved to Sutton in Norfolk where we stayed for 17 years until our move to France.  George and I adopted a 6-year old boy, so now my family is 3 sons, 2 daughters, 12 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter!  (As you can see, I was a child-bride!!).

Our other family member was a Belgian Shepherd dog from Phoenix Animal Rescue who was such a good companion but sadly died last year.  

My family is very important to me - my children are my proudest achievements in my life.  They’ve all grown up to be well-balanced and caring people and I am so very proud of them all.  

Since George died last year I have decided to return to England to be closer to them.