Oracle of Consciousness

Journeys of the Soul
Alive in Provence

Thanks to Angelique’s grandmother’s extraordinary generousity, the couple had a healthy bank balance from which to buy the campervan and as it turned out, the lovely stone cottage they fell in love with at first sight.

Jake was a little reticent to go ahead, solely because he had no funds to contribute to the purchase, but Angelique seeing how excited he was about using Provence as a home-base, was keen to proceed.

“Besides Jake’ Angelique said, as I am French, it will make the whole process of purchasing the property in my name so much quicker. And, she quipped, as I will be the owner, I get to be the boss!”

“I will enjoy sitting back sipping my café au lait, filing my delicate fingernails, watching you do the dishes and all the hard, manual labour!”

“That is another thing I love about you Angel, your ‘bizarre‘ sense of humour,” Jake responded dryly.

Provence, France

The older couple from whom they were buying the house and land, had lived there for 37 years and the property with its lavender fields, orchard, a small vineyard and multiple flowerbeds was getting too much for them to handle.

With no offsprings, they felt the need to downgrade to a simple apartment they had seen in Avignon, some thirty kilometres away.

‘Chant Oiseau’, meaning birdsong, was aptly named for the two-storey cottage, as their daybreaks were always filled with the melodies of the Calandra Larks happily greeting each new day.

While the sale was under a speedy process, the young couple explored the stunning southern coast of France from Marseille – Toulon - St. Tropez – Cannes – Nice, right up the border, saving the Italian Rivera for another time.

And of course, a stopover and rendezvous with Jean Pierre for the three days leading up to and including the Monaco F1 GP, where Ferrari and Charles Leclerc came out victorious.

The Amazing Côte d'Azur

The campervan is the perfect mode of travel for this region, giving the couple the mobility they need and a base from which to explore this part of France.

Six weeks later, Angelique became the proud owner of ‘Chant Oiseau’, complete with furniture and a well-stocked cellar of locally produced wines, kindly left by the previous owners.

Cause and pause to celebrate!!

Their new home would need some renovation and upgrading, but was sturdy and soundly built, with no leaks!

Angelique’s parents visited three weeks after they moved in and Jean-Pierre jumped at the opportunity to drive the Porsche for approximately 6 hours from just outside Paris to Carpentras, in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, claiming,
"Once a 'Petrolhead,' always a 'Petrolhead'!"

They too were impressed with the cottage, location and land.

Together they gardened, pruned fruit trees and grape vines, harvested lavender, weeded and took most of their meals and lengthy conversations under a gnarly old olive tree.

Jake announced, a little choked up one balmy evening that, “This is the first time in my life I have really felt what it is like to be part of a family.”

“Well, you are family Jake, said Angelique’s mum, giving her daughter that knowing look, while Jean-Pierre patted him on his back in approval.

Jake had turned his life around 180 degrees, from being an angry young man full of judgement and resentment, to a softer, more conscious and caring human being.

He had made his heart the master and his mind the servant, instead of the other way around.

“I want to add value to this place from just being our home, and turn into a little sanctuary, where guys and girls our age, looking at angelique for approval, can come and find themselves when they feel lost, as I was.”

Angelique added, “I can teach some basic yoga and Pilates, along with healthy eating, food growing and preparation, along with living from our hearts.”

“Initially we can be outside or use the barn until we build the yoga shala, which will be multi-functional for art and other activities.”

These statements left Jean-Pierre both highly impressed and extremely proud.
“My little girl has grown up magnificently!”

“Well dad, Angelique replied, you and mum showed me the way and now it is my turn to carry on the family entrepreneur spirit and values.”

With that, came a healthy clink of glasses as they toasted to their success.

The barn had been neglected for more important chores by the previous owners and was in the state of needing some Tender Loving Care (TLC), but it proved to be sounder than expected.

Angelique was already eyeing off the loft as the perfect place to continue her love of painting.

Her parents offered to stay longer and help with the gardening and big clean-up, but the young couple graciously declined their generousity, so they could share more leisurely, quality time together.

Their new, creative adventure and dreamed-of lifestyle was coming together very nicely!

As they stood together watching the Porsche pull out of their driveway heading to back Paris, Jake and Angelique sensed an immeasurable and over-brimming feeling of love wash over them, not dissimilar to what they experienced in Nepal, Tibet and Cornwall.