Observing Small Things

Before I left for my recent family holiday in France I wrote about the books I was taking with me as travel companions. You might remember my list and thought to yourself how very optimistic I was in aiming to read them all …

Well, you were right! I didn’t get much reading done but The Art of Travel by Alain De Botton proved to be my favourite. I really looked forward to reading little bits as time permitted and I truly think it heightened my awareness of the many small things, the little details along the way each day.

Wandering a tiny lane I noticed this brilliant blue door and then I stopped to look at the amazing stone textures surrounding it and all the shades of grey. I wondered where the door led, how long it had been there, who had passed through it …

I’m sure it’s because I stopped and mused about what I was seeing that I can now remember other big and little details of that day too. Instead of it being ’some village in France’ I know it was - Saint Paul de Vence - and I can remember a black and white cat sitting in a cane window box in the sun; the lovely old inn where we had a coffee; a flower box of brilliant vermillion cyclamens and much, much more.

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