Gaillac

All my introductions recently seem to have started with an apology, and this one will be no different: I am sorry we have been silent (again) for such an age.

However, now we can share our reasons for it ...

WE MOVED TO FRANCE!!!!

Writing that as a fait accompli has just made me go all shivery. It's only just starting to sink in that we've left London behind us, and that we've got a whole new big, beautiful, bonkers country to make our home.

We're staying in Gaillac for a couple of months, trying to chase down that elusive Indian summer the weather forecasters have been talking about, before moving across country to Lyon - the French foodie's paradise. 

Gaillac's a gorgeous, crumbly red-brick town in the south west of France, near Toulouse. We've only been here a couple of days, but already I love the colour of the houses as the sun hits them, and the sound of the river as it rushes past.

The food's already got us hooked. Even the tiny Sunday market (the smallest of 3 weekly markets that take place here) was bursting with juicy white peaches, squashes in every shade of orange imaginable, pink tinged and perfumed strings of garlic, compact little cheeses and fresh shellfish. We can't wait to get in amongst it all and cook up a storm.

This area is particularly well known for its wines - we had a sparkly little number with dinner this evening - and we're looking forward to venturing out among the vines and meeting some of the local producers.

So, I hope you can forgive us for having been absent for months on end. Recipes and ramblings with a French flavour will be more forthcoming from now on.

Jen xx