A Celebratory Lunch High in The Pyrenees

International Women’s Day. Not only had I nothing special planned, but the day was not even marked in my diary, nor did it feature on any of my many 'to do' lists, as something to be celebrated.

I not feel a need to plan anything special; in fact I didn’t really want anything, special or otherwise, in my diary. I always have too much to do, and all I desperately wanted was to stay at home and get back to some serious writing after what felt like a time of blackness, some kind of hideous block, when all my ideas seemed to dry up. It was as if my head had emptied itself of all useful thoughts. Any writing I had attempted seemed to me to be dull and tedious, lacking authenticity. It read mechanical, I felt mechanical.

As well as getting back to putting words down, I had the idea of painting again; I longed to hold a brush or a palate knife. Also, I had a list of books I intended to read this year and I had already made a good start by buying them. Complete with endless notes lying about on every surface in my little office, I felt I would, any day soon, be ready to re-start creativity.

How clever. In order to kick start creativity, I had done the absolute worst thing possible, by becoming far too much immersed, indeed obsessed, with my own life and my wish to be on my own, my need for an empty diary. When exactly, had I and my wants become so important?

Then, out of the blue, a telephone call. From an enchanting and inviting, vibrantly decorated, converted barn high up in the hills, so high that the Pyrenees are practically in the garden, an extraordinary woman was inviting me to a lunch to celebrate Women’s Day. Nan Ping was born in China, appears to have travelled the world, and spent long periods of time living in various countries. Equally at home in California where she lived for years, or here in the high Pyrenees, she is truly a citizen of the world.

There were seven nationalities at her lunch table, and a memorable occasion it was, one of the highlights the first quarter of the year for me. I renewed friendships with women I already knew and met others for the first time.

The peculiar ease with which women meet and greet each other, settle in at a table to share and enjoy food together, is an elevating experience. The effortless swapping of views and life stories, the ability to encourage each other to continue with a chosen path, be it to write that novel or finally make the journey and trek off to India, has been one of the chief delights of my life.

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A Celebratory Lunch High in The Pyrenees

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