Bonne année - wishing you all a healthy, happy and good 2026!

A warm welcome to new subscribers : ) it’s lovely to have you here.

One small request: if you enjoy A&A, I’d be hugely grateful if you’d share it with family and friends you think might also enjoy it.

One of my aims for 2026 is to grow this little A&A community and word-of-mouth is very much how it finds its people – thank you in advance!

Let’s begin : )

Alethea x

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Since the last edition, Père Noël has visited our village, complete with a team of elves, gifts for all the children in the commune, and a dinatoire (walking dinner) afterwards for all in the salle des fêtes. Friends visited from the Netherlands en route to Greece, which was super lovely of them 😘 and just a slight detour (!). There were internet issues (fibre optic cables hanging in the breeze or interfered with by the wisteria being prone to snapping 🤦‍♀ ), chauffage issues (thankfully resolved, as like much of Europe we’re experiencing unusually cold temperatures, minus 9 anyone?), and my latest TBI treatment finally kicked in just before Christmas, bringing some headache relief and allowing me to enjoy a lovely festive lunch with friends : )

I also took a long-overdue, slow and slightly circuitous roadtrip to visit friends in Mougins, near Cannes. Avoiding the manifestations agricole (farmers protesting and blocking the autoroutes) meant sticking to back roads and quite a scenic route: via Rodez, across the snow-covered Massif Central, over the incredible Millau bridge, an overnight stop near Uzes, and a morning walk at a deserted Pont du Gard before tackling the final, hectic stretch between Aix-en-Provence and Cannes – always a busy and demanding segment of the drive.

Back home, unlike northern Europe, we don’t have snow (though there’s the slight possibility tonight) but we do have exceptionally cold temperatures. A supply run to Salviac, home to the nearest supermarche, registered minus 12. Ykes!! If it were up to me, I’d remain cosily ensconced inside, however, Miss Romy loves, loves, loves the frost. So, I wrap up Michelin-style to accompany her on her excited frost-rolling, frost-zooming expeditions – and it definitely brings a smile to your (frozen) face!

La Petite Maison is available for longer term rentals between now and March, by direct arrangement. If you, or someone you know, is house-hunting, renovating, needs some peace to write or just fancies a few week’s quiet - do get in touch via this email 😄 )

Apparently, it’s one of the most loved homes available for rental on Airbnb 😃

It’s not possible to encompass all the things I want to share about this renovation in one snapshot, hence this little series…!

It’s April 2024, and I’m pacing a hotel room on the outskirts of Bordeaux. Work as a distraction is not working, and I’ve taken to doing circles of the room in between Teams meetings. Five minutes away, Romy is undergoing surgery on her knee. Meanwhile, my phone is surgically attached to my hand, awaiting the vet’s call. I’m doing my best not to pattern-match to events surrounding her last surgery, on the other knee, two years earlier.

We’d arrived at the Anicura Veterinary Hospital in Bordeaux the afternoon before.

Following a whirlwind hour between the hospital call and departure - during which I’d prepared Digby to be collected and looked after by a friend, grabbed my laptop and a handful of entirely random items, and fielded renovation questions before abandoning quite possibly the busiest week of the project so far to the maitre d’oeuvre’s (R’s) capable hands - I bundled Romy carefully into the car for the three-hour journey.

On arrival, and as suspected, Dr Grand took no time confirming my fears: Romy now needed surgery on her left knee too. The good news, he explained, was that this was a ‘clean’ cruciate snap. Easier to operate on, with a quicker recovery. Unlike last time.

Then, aged one, a sudden limp had been repeatedly misdiagnosed over a three-week period by both our vet in The Hague and our first vet in France. The prescribed muti and rest for a ‘sprain’ had no effect whatsoever. After seemingly endless vet visits, scans, a growing sense of being palmed off, and repeated instructions “to be patient” despite no improvement, I’d finally trusted my gut and gone direct to Dr Grand, the canine orthopaedic specialist in Bordeaux.

Within minutes of seeing Romy, he diagnosed a fully snapped cruciate, a misplaced patella and accompanying bone issues. We’ll never know whether that intervening period compounded her injury, he says not, but I wish I’d found a specialist sooner. What followed was a complicated three-hour surgery, involving metal plates and a long, touch-and-go recovery, further complicated by liver failure, kidney issues and more in-hospital stays. It was a distressing time for Romy, and for me, hence my pattern-matching antennae were now on full-alert. So, with this limp, I’d wasted no time and gone straight to Dr Grand.

A text message interrupted my continued pacing.

 “Can you speak, or is it a bad moment?”

“It’s fine, I can do with the distraction” I replied. I knew there would be a lot of artisans on-site today, so had fully expected the odd question, though R was doing a brilliant job of shielding me from it.

“How’s it going? Still waiting to hear?”

“Yup, but I can drop this call if they call, so shoot…”

“Ok, here’s your distraction. It’s absolute madness here today. There are nine vans…”

He went on to explain that the field in front of La Petite Grange had become an impromptu car park, two coffee machines were in near constant action, and he was mediating between sixteen artisans all pulling him in different directions. Yikes.

“I’ve escaped to the pool terrace for air and to call you. I just need to check you’re happy with one new radiator position they’re doing today… hold on, mon dieu…”

His voice tailed off, replaced by the aggressive whirr of a chainsaw.

“Hold on, for ****’s sake, now what?  Oh my God, there’s someone with a chainsaw at the end of the field. I need to deal with this.”

A yelled ‘Oi, arrete’, the clang of the pool gate and frantic footsteps indicated R was racing off to confront the perpetrator.

“It’s ok, that’ll be Baptiste.” I shouted down the line.

“What? Who? Is he meant to be here?” R was still on the move.

“Yes, he’s the tree surgeon. I completely forgot he was due today. Desolee!”

“Oh my God. Seriously. Ok. I thought it was some random guy. Today is nuts.”

Luckily, he saw the funny side.

At that exact moment, the vet called.

“I’ve got to go” I said, hanging up unceremoniously.

“Qui, tout va bien?” I launched, urgently.

“Qui, c'est très bien. Elle reste ce soir et pourra rentrer à la maison demain matin. Je vous voir demain matin à 9 heures.”

“Merci, Dr Grand, merci beaucoup.”

I stopped pacing. Tears arrived immediately, the good kind, pure relief, then mixed with smiles buoyed too by the absurdity of the chainsaw incident moments earlier.  

The following afternoon, back at Les P, and once a slightly drugged up but happy-to-be-home Romy was settled comfortably in her bed in our temporary La Petite Maison digs, I ventured on-site.

Ooh… the giant terrace blind was up*. There was a wall in the buanderie, a sanded, renovated kitchen floor, new pipes everywhere and radiators going in. Three days progress made visible, very satisfying. I went in search of R.

 “Only eight vans today, so no escape to the pool terrace required then?!”

“Haha, not yet, no. Welcome back. Where’s Romy?”

After visiting Romy, R continued: “Yesterday was madness. Everyone’s calmer today - plus there’s no random tree felling going on” he laughed.

“I brought you wine…”

“Thanks, definitely necessary!”

*Excited by a terrace blind going up?! Er, yes, totally! This four-metre-wide terrace blind has large extendable electronic metal arms, much like you get on a restaurant terrace, and weighs an absolute ton. Boxed up, it had been getting underfoot on site for ten months. It’s never as simple as ‘just attach it to the wall’ here.

The old stone is beautiful but provides a wildly uneven surface. So installing the blind required a specially made four-metre metal bar in turn supported by large metal rods secured in the stone. Videos R took of the installation show it required a team of six to install the bar, raise the blind and fix it all in place. Now, I simply press a button and hey presto, terrace shade : )

 **Needless to say, after Romy’s first knee operation – and all the misdiagnosis - I immediately registered her with a new local vet who is excellent. With two bionic knees, my heart still skips a beat when I watch her do zoomies : )

More Snapshots of the Domaine Les Plonges ‘journey’ every edition.

Possibly you found your way here via Instagram? @domainelesplonges? If so, an extra Bienvenue! You’ll already know I love a good visual. So here I’ll share others and a little more context behind the images…

Whether it’s discovering unique work by artists and designers from near and far or rummaging through vide greniers, brocantes, and hidden treasure troves, I’m always on the lookout! I’ll be sharing my favourite artists, designers and sourcing spots here 😄

With media of every type being chock full of end of year round-ups it’s hard to escape a little fin-d’annee reflection. In all transparency, 2025 has not been the easiest year here (my January accident and TBI has a habit of calling the shots, helaas pindakaas*) but the year hasn’t been without its good things either : ) so here’s my Les P themed round-up, in no chronological order: 

People

Family and friends, here, near, far and those who made the enormous effort to be both, have meant the world this year. None of it is taken for granted, and all of it is appreciated – at every juncture.

Four legged unconditional love!

The constant presence of a furry creature remains one of life’s great stabilisers IMO. Romy’s companionship, zoomies and silly quirks have kept me smiling. So too, Nala’s gradual de-sauvaging and increased cuddling : )

Confirmation of renovation decisions

Having the air conditioning during two major canicules removed any lingering doubts I’d had on whether it had been unnecessary or a good investment!

Still learning about the region

My first visit to Chateau de Beynac (I know 🤦‍♀ ) delivered a proper wow moment. Like Marqueyssac, it’s one I’d happily re-visit over and over.

Quiet progress

Perhaps not the craziness and speed of 2024, but there was still some significant renovation progress with the commissioning of the solar panels, beautifully housed on their abri – ‘a big deal’ and much needed to power the property!

Community

I feel lucky to have landed in this warm, local commune with a such lovely people : ) and I’m enjoying the lovely A&A community that’s growing alongside this newsletter… Which brings me to ⬇

This newsletter

Launching the A&A newsletter, and discovering, actual, lovely people like to read it, has been one of the highlights of my year. If you read the first one, here, you’ll remember how nervous I was. Thank you for being here, responding and making it feel like a conversation not a broadcast : )

Guests

A steady stream of guests in La Petite Maison (thanks to friends who helped keep LPM rolling this year) from all corners of the world brought perspective, stories – and comedy moments, including the calmest response to a bikini being stolen by Paillette! 🤦‍♀

No building dust

Having no renovation work in the house remains a novelty – there’s still a few things to finish, but it’s great the dust has literally, and figuratively, settled. Though, Stockholm-syndrome-like, I also miss the artisans… 

Nature

Views, walks, ‘the light’ – and yes, the revived, new lawn (!) – were particularly restorative this year, and all continue to remind me why I started this project in the first place. We really are so lucky to live here.

Simply put, for two key reasons:

There are free and paid subscription options: With a free subscription, you’ll receive a bi-monthly newsletter- just like this one, but different (obvs!) - every other Thursday. With a paid subscription, it’s not just more of the same, you’ll also receive a long list of additional stuff. More details here.

Whichever way you subscribe, I’m delighted to have you along for the adventure - thank you 💛

If you’re interested in the tech I’m using for this, it’s Beehiiv. I did a LOT of research on platforms and I’m happy to explain why etc in more detail, just ask. They’ve also given me a partner link, and this gives anyone using the link a 30-day free trial and 20% off your first three months on any paid plan. Note, it’s an affiliate link and I may receive commission on any purchases made through it.