A Lazy Day in the French Countryside

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Not something you need to act upon right now, of course, but perhaps tomorrow. Or next time you're speaking to a certain friend or loved one that you think may appreciate a recommendation to get sleepy. Our mission is and always has been to help as many people as possible all over the world to get a better night's sleep. The way we see it, a more rested world, is in turn a more prosperous, happy and caring world. With your help, we can spread that far and wide. So all I'm asking is that you share your favourite episode, or perhaps just this episode, with somebody you know that might appreciate it. If you can't think of anyone specifically, then sharing it more generally on social media or the like would also be greatly appreciated. It's hard to quantify the impact of word of mouth recommendations, but I honestly know that it makes such a huge difference. We really do appreciate all of your wonderful support, and we hope your help us continue spreading good rest as far and wide as possible. Thanks so much everyone. Now, let's just take a brief moment to settle in and unwind. Just make sure your body is resting comfortably. And reassure your mind that it can switch off and be free of thinking and problem solving at this time. If you do notice any thoughts coming into focus, be firm but fair and simply say to yourself, not now. With this, you're acknowledging that thought, but setting the very reasonable boundaries of rest, reminding your wonderful mind that it's just not the right time to be dealing with such matters. As you bring your awareness more deeply into the present moment, take a slow, deep breath in, filling your lungs all the way up. Then, just as slowly, release the breath back out. It's time to listen, relax and get sleepy. So now, simply enjoy the sound of a reef's voice and be transported to a charming French town as you prepare to embark on your lazy day by the river. The next morning, it's mid-morning and the day is already lovely and warm. The sun shines brightly in a cloudless blue sky. You are standing in the market square of a small French town. A sleepy historic town located several miles north of the Mediterranean Sea. Today is market day and this is the perfect place to gather food for a picnic by the river. The town square is picture postcard-britied. It's surrounded by pastel colored houses painted in alternating shades of peach, cream and yellow. Each building is no more than three stories high and many feature wooden slatted shutters on the windows. Quaint beastros and cafes occupy the ground floor levels where people sit outside sipping coffee soaking up the atmosphere. In the center of the square you can see a carved stone drinking fountain. It is said to hold some of the purest mineral rich drinking water in the area. Taking your water bottle from your wicker picnic basket you unscrew the top. Then placing the bottle below the spout of the fountain you fill it to the brim. This water will hydrate you throughout the day. Tucking the full bottle securely in your basket you approach the first canopyed market stall. One of around 20 in the town square. The first displays fresh lavender arranged on a white tablecloth. The friendly vendor tells you that she picked the bunches herself this morning from a farm located just two miles outside of town. The fragrance is calming and soothing. You remember that some people put lavender by their bed or under their pillows to help them drift into a deep and dreamy sleep. Next to the small purple flowers are jars of lavender infused honey. Noting your interest the woman hands you a miniature jar as a gift. You thank her for her kindness before moving on, browsing the stalls to procure more tasty ingredients for your picnic. The next stall is stacked with crates of juicy heirloom tomatoes, lettuce and bulbs of garlic. Bunches of herbs are suspended on hooks above the tables. The sense of rosemary, basil and oregano linger in the air. A distinctive fragrance that from this day forward will remind you of this French market. Other stalls nearby display wheels of cheese, walnuts, bottles of olive oil from the region. And the largest red strawberries that you have ever seen. The kind of vendors of each stall realizing that you are having a picnic give you a little of everything for your delicious riverside feast. As you leave the tranquil buzz of the marketplace behind you enter the narrow pedestrianized street. Above, strings of colorful flags are extended between opposite buildings. The small flags below and flutter in the gentle breeze. They have been put up for a town festival that is taking place at the weekend. On the left of the street next to a small art gallery is a boulangerie or bakery. As there is no queue, you decide to enter. A tinkling bell rings as you open the door to step inside. The interior of the shop is charming and old-fashioned. A sign on the wall tells you that the bakery has stood in this same spot for over a hundred years. Looking around, you can see a traditional bread oven to the rear of the shop. On the sloping shelves to your right, delicious, buttery pastries are displayed. And on the walls to your left, different types of bread have been placed in shallow baskets. The baker, a young man, appears from the back of the shop. He is very knowledgeable and eager to tell you about the bread that he baked earlier this morning. He informs you that the most popular bread in the town is called Panda Companion. He points to a loaf on the shelf. It has a thick crust and is made with a combination of flowers. If you prefer, he says the pan o'leva or sourdough bread is also very good as it is made with cereals and whole grains. All of them smell absolutely divine and you find yourself spoiled for choice. The young man smiles. Then, catching sight of your picnic basket, he tells you that a traditional French baguette is the perfect accompaniment. As it is the last one remaining, he pops it into your basket, along with a chocolate pastry which he wraps in brown paper. You thank him and he responds by saying, Da Rien, which means you're welcome in French. You notice that he has used the familiar phrase, one that's usually used between friends and family. Never before have you felt so welcome in a town. The people are proud of their food heritage and keen to share their stories with strangers. Exiting the bakery, you continue walking until you reach the end of the narrow street. It is here that you catch your first glimpse of the river. It is around 15 meters wide and it winds deep into the French countryside. This is the clearest water that you have ever seen and the most unusual color, a crystal clear emerald green. Blogual people say that the green color comes from the vegetation that grows along the riverbed. You step closer to the edge, peering into the water. As the sunlight catches the surface, tiny flecks of light dance and sparkle like shimmering gemstones. To your left, there's a pathway. It leads out of the town, passing numerous antique shops and route. The shops wears spill onto the path and eclectic mix of treasures, ranging from mannequins wearing vintage clothing to old clocks ornate vases, furniture and rare vehicle parts. A little further along, you can see pretty water side restaurants and caperies with tables and chairs arranged on elevated decking. Diner's are protected from the sun by open parasols. Along the rot iron railings, boxes bloom with pink geraniums. Across the stone bridge, on the opposite side of the river, it appears serene and calm. Willow and alder trees set back from the water's edge are surrounded by grass that looks like a soft green carpet. There are no shops or restaurants, just nature. Carrying your full picnic basket, you decide to cross the bridge. When you reach the opposite side, you turn left following the river's side pathway. Tiny stones crunch beneath the soles of your sandals as you walk. As you reach the edge of town and look across the water, you can see remnants of an old stone mill. Outside the mill building is a huge wooden water wheel covered in vegetation. A sign by the river tells you that the water wheel dates back over 300 years. It is a reminder of the region's industrial heritage. The area was once a center for manufacturing paper, silk and wool. At one time, there were more than 60 water wheels spanning the length of the river. Today, only a handful remain scattered along the river bank, some still functional, and others abandoned like this one covered in moss and tarnished by time. As you gaze upon the water wheel, you find yourself wondering what life would have been like back in those days. During a time when boats navigated the river to collect goods from the mills, and transport them from town to town. You are brought back into the present moment by a sound at your feet. Looking down, you notice a little tabby kitten. The kitten has a lilac colored ribbon around her neck with a silver disk attached. You crouch down to read it and the kitten purrs, looking at you curiously with eyes, the same color green as the river. The disc tells you that the kitten's name is Levant Lavender in French. You smile, the name is fitting as there are so many Levant her fields in this area. As you stand back up, the kitten plaitfully bounds ahead. A few minutes later, she stops on a lush patch of grass beneath a willow tree. This is the perfect location for your picnic. Set slightly back from the path and the water's edge with uninterrupted views. You join Levant placing your basket down and slipping off your sandals. Beneath your bare feet, the grass is like a soft spongy carpet. You instantly feel grounded and connected to nature. You stand for a moment inhaling the scent of freshly cut grass and looking across the river. In the distance, you can see fields with goats grazing in them and beyond, a grand chateau stands resplendently on a hilltop. It's a romantic structure, centuries old and similar to the castles that you see in fairy tales with pointed turrets and tall arched windows on the upper floors. Behind you, the rolling pastures lead to olive groves, lavender fields and orchards before finally reaching the foothills of the towering mountains. You take a thin linen blanket from the side pouch of your picnic basket and lay it carefully on the grass. Instantly, Levant finds a sunny corner and curls up into a tiny ball. As she drifts into a comfortable slumber, you arrange your feast on paper plates on the blanket, while nibbling a chunk of the freshly baked baguette. Then, you lean against the trunk of the willow tree, the leaves above you drape like a fluttering canopy of shade as you stretch out your legs. While reading your favorite book, you indulge in your feast, stopping every now and then to gaze upon the river and surrounding scenery. Levant yons widely and rolls over with one eye open, observing you before drifting back to sleep. You smile grateful to be spending your lazy day in such a beautiful place with a wonderful companion. When you have eaten your last strawberry, you place your book on the blanket and venture towards the edge of the river. Sitting on the grassy embankment, you dip your feet and legs into the clear emerald green water. The water is cool and refreshing on your skin. You begin to make slow, deliberate circles with your feet, watching as the water changes and ripples into patterns with each movement. The gentle splashing sound is so soothing. The sun beams down, but it doesn't feel too hot. Thanks to a light breeze, the temperature is just right. A family of mallard ducks pass you by as you sit at the water's edge. The males have a bright green plumage and the females are brown, so it's easy to tell them apart. The ducks drift along the river without a care in the world, seemingly unaware of your presence. You sit for a while, basking in the sun's rays before removing your legs from the water and returning to the picnic blanket. Levant the kitten is on her feet, stretching, ready to move on. You pack everything back into your picnic basket and take a long, slow sip of mineral water from your bottle. The kitten nuzzles your arm before spotting something interesting in the distance. You watch as she bounds away, searching for her next adventure. After slowly folding your blanket, you secure it to the side of your basket once again. When the area is clean and tidy, you stand up, ready to begin the next part of your journey. But just as you're about to move on, a tiny yellow bird, a warbler, swoops down, and lands on a tree branch. It begins to sing the most melodic tune. It's a diverse and complex song that sounds a bit like a chirpy, classical composition. The tune is too captivating to walk away from, so you sit down again, leaning against the tree trunk. And allow the bird to serenade you. The combination of the lylting bird song and the gentle sound of the water-flowing sooths your mind. You look up to the branches of the willow and smile at the little yellow warbler, bringing so much joy to everyone with its songs. As the little bird ends its rendition and flies away to its next concert, you find yourself turning to the tree, touching the bark and closing your eyes. You silently give gratitude for the welcome shade that it provided you. For a moment, you wonder how old the tree must be. Perhaps it has been here for hundreds of years, documenting all of the changes along the river. Slipping your sandals back on, you leave the beautiful willow tree behind and begin to wander along the pathway. After several minutes of walking and orchard appears on your right, perfectly aligned rows of trees are overflowing with ripe peaches. In older, grey-haired man is gathering the fruit from one of the trees, assessing each piece for color, firmness and aroma. He waves when he sees you watching him at work. Then he walks up to the fence and casually hands you a peach. As you are still full from your recent picnic, you thank him and say that you will eat it later. He beams and proudly tells you that this is his family's farm. Tomorrow, these peaches will be on the market stalls and down. As he returns to his work, you continue walking, following the path by the river. A campsite comes into view on the edge of the lavender fields. The scent of the lavender evokes a sense of calm and relaxation, and suddenly you feel rather tired. The campsite would be a lovely place to stay. But tonight, you have decided to treat yourself to a comfortable bed in a boutique farmhouse hotel close by. As you approach the foothills of the mountains, the river weaves around to the left. You look up to the hillside. The chateau that you saw earlier from afar is more magnificent than you could ever have imagined. It is perched strategically on a flat peak so that the occupants of old could see across the lens gaped for miles. Up ahead, an ancient stone bridge leads to the other side of the river. As the sun begins to set and the skies turn from blue to orangey pink, you cross the bridge and join a narrow pathway, following the signpost to the farmhouse hotel. As you enter through the gates into flower-filled gardens, to your surprise, you see Levant sitting on a bench licking her paws. When she sees you approaching, she leaps off the bench and nuzzles against your legs. An elegantly dressed woman exits the front door of the house to greet you. She introduces herself as Matilde, the owner, and smiles, saying that Levant has learned from her mother to find guests from the town and guide them here. The little kitten meows in agreement before running off to play with her mother, a larger tabby cat who is frolicing nearby in the wild flowers. You notice that the farmhouse is very pretty. It's built from warm, honey-colored stone with lilac shutters to shade the windows. The interior is accessed through a large arched doorway. It leads to a hall with checkered tile floors and a dazzling crystal chandelier suspended from the ceiling. The reception area on your right is a refined space, featuring a small mahogany desk with the brass bell on it. Matilde hands you the key to your suite on the first floor and informs you that the riverside bistro is open for supper and that breakfast is served from 7 a.m. You climb the staircase to the first floor and turn the key to enter suite number one. It is opulent and generously sized. A large wooden four-postor bed dressed in pristine white cotton sheets takes center stage. An antique sage-green sofa with gilded claw feet is positioned at the end of the bed. In the corner, a small riding desk and chair invites guests to write about their day's experience by the river. The balcony doors are open, allowing airflow into the room and the wall curtains billow softly in the breeze. Through the delicate sheer curtains, you can see that the skies are now dark. You find yourself yawning. The bed looks so cozy and inviting. Putting your picnic basket down on the desk, you slip off your sandals and step under the cool marble floor. Luce cotton pajamas have been placed on the four-postor bed. You put them on and slowly climb between the freshly-laundered sheets. The mattress is firm but very comfortable, appearing to mold to the shape of your body. On the bedside table next to you is a sprig of lavender. Alongside a bottle of mineral water and a crystal glass, in case you need to quench your thirst. Inhaling the fine perfume of the soothing lavender, you close your eyes. And as you drift off to sleep, you find yourself recalling memories of the day. The playful tabby kitten who befriended you on your river sidewalk. The elderly man picking peaches in his orchard. The warblers bird song in the willow tree, and dipping your feet into the crystal and green river. You also remember the kind vendors that you met in the marketplace this morning. The local people who were passionate about sharing their food heritage with you. As you enter a land of slumber and dreams, you realize that your adventure in this region of France is far from over. It is only just beginning and you look forward to the joy and wonder that tomorrow will bring. 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