Keeping the Dream Alive: A sequel to Peggy Anderson's 'Lilac and Roses' (La Clède Chronicles Book 2)

Jan Bevan takes up the story started by her mother Peggy Anderson in 'Lilac and Roses', which was written in the mid-1970s and published in 2001 – the first of the 'La Clède Chronicles'.

Quite by chance in 1963, Peggy and her husband Alan found and bought La Clède, the ruin of an 18th century Ardechois farmhouse, and Peggy described the subsequent joys and heartaches involved in restoring part of it. It was something she had been determined to do ever since she fell in love with France on her first visit at the age of 18.

So, the 'dream' in this sequel was hers – to have a home in a beautiful part of France and the pleasure of living in it – and with the French – for half the year. And Jan and her partner Mike have been doing their very best to keep that dream alive!

This is their story, of their fateful meeting and their summers in southern France doing up the other, older part of La Clède whilst letting out a made-over version of Peggy and Alan's home.

Phase II of the restoration was completed in 2003, making it a year for great celebration. For it was also the anniversary of the Anderson family's 40 years in the Ardèche, La Clède's 10 years as a gîte, and Joni Mitchell's 60th birthday (Jan is an ardent fan)!

Jan owes her wonderful life, she says, to her parents, her brother, and especially Mike, her 'homme exceptionel'.