So my body bootcamp regime has ended for a while but has served it purpose. I’ve been overseas for a family wedding and felt svelt (in my own little head).

Before THE WEDDING Mr Lotus and I took a side trip to France, time out from our otherwise hectic life. Ten glorious days alone, together, with only each other. We were scared we’d bore ourselves to death. (We didn’t). Our escape days revolved around firstly Paris ( a must for any visit to France) and then  down the Atlantic Coast and slightly inland to Cognac.

Not many people know where Cognac is. Naturally as one who imbides most alcoholic drinks, I knew all about Cognac, well, from an alcohol perspective. This very cute  town was extremely friendly and peaceful despite us being there in July,  mid summer and the fact that it is the centre of the world for Brandy manufacturing.

The perfect place for Bootcamp for the brain! Let’s begin:

The setting: my cousin’s villa.

The plea: ‘please stay for as long as you like’. Let’s face it, if someone offers you a french villa and implores you to stay there, it’s a pretty mean spirited soul who won’t help out a relative in need! Let the Bootcamp for the brain begin.

Brain exercise number 1: Catch the train from Paris to Angouleme. Sounds simple enough. Correct station, found, correct train, located, correct ticket, purchased, correct platform found. Run,  run, run, or my God, RUN !!!! Then jump on correct carriage. Sit, catch breath, push memories of early morning bootcamps to one side. Breathe. Read. Do not look out the window. Try not to get dizzy from speed of train passing through French country side. Exercise complete.

Brain exercise number 2: Hire car at Angouleme and drive on right hand side of the road.  This exercise not suitable for Lou, only Mr Lotus could complete.

Brain exercise number 3: Navigate from Angouleme to Cognac, then to small medieval village. Difficult task for Lou’s brain. Had to turn map upside down, read french, translate and then reverse thinking. Mr Lotus likewise had to then interpret Lou’s navigation techniques into audible directions whilst also reaching for gear stick location (reminder Mr Lotus, the gearstick is not located on driver’s door) and navigating roundabouts.

Brain exercise number 4: Convince cousin that we had infact found our way and were actually, yes truly, in his village. Excercise completed and celebrated with much wine and cheese for many hours.

Brain exercise number 5: Take in surroundings. This was difficult to comprehend.  Chez James turned out to be a 15th Century, three story, stone house with white shutters, a blue front door and an idylic garden. The perfect place to just stop,  turn around and listen, (with apologies to MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice, this is my version…) Bootcamp for the brain reached it’s cooldown, medatative stage. Relax.