We bought our house in Nébian as a holiday home 1983 but, in 1992 following retirement, we moved permanently.
I discovered Languedoc in 1949 on a school exchange in Pézenas. It had a style of living never previously imagined; three return visits followed, then in 1960 for our honeymoon in Agde.
Our three sons also loved the area so in 1983 we bought our house after a fruitless week of visits in 28 villages. Then we heard of a house in Nébian.
It was in a placette near the church: the owner opened the shutter, golden light flooded the room: we were sold.
We looked to retire near Reading but property was very dear and as we were not churchgoers, did not play golf or bridge and had not voted for Maggie Thatcher we did not seem to fit in.
Jackie suggested moving to France so from August 23, 1992, to October 19 we walked from Ouistreham, Caen to Marseillan Plage, 1,268km, a sort of pilgrimage ‘Manche-Méditerranée’.
Both from Buckinghamshire, we moved to Berkshire for work and I vividly remember returning from France to Reading in about 1980 when I said it did not seem like going home.
Now, my heart gives a bound when we return from holiday and reach the point where the Hérault valley is laid out before us with hills to the north.
We were warmly welcomed into village life. I was president and Jackie treasurer of the Troisième Age club and together we organised the Téléthon for five years. I was also a local councillor.
We like classical music and there is a fine orchestra and opera in Montpellier plus a local GP and gifted musician has created an arts centre in a chateau here.
We both like Nébian better than anywhere else we have lived, it is home.
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