As someone who grew up in the 90's (and bitterly disliked them), I now find myself becoming nostalgic for some of those days; the simplicity of communication, how much bigger the world was. These feelings are deeply rooted with finding your first book on a warm spring day after the turn of the century. I've been quietly trying to explore and unpack what they mean ever since. I look forward to your posts, and maybe you could touch on what nostalgia means for you?
Good question. I was preoccupied with that when writing A Place in the World. It's odd when you reach an age that the present seems diminished compared to the past...
When I wake up in the morning , the first thing i do is add 6 hours to the current time. Then i say to my husband , love its 2pm in the piazza….. why are we not there?… (a heavy sigh) One day, one day….. Lots of patience until then. Thank you Frances for this!
Home is definitely where the heart is. We have once again looked at a new place close to where our children live, albeit we are only half an hour away, for them too far! BUT after checking the pros and cons we decided that nothing so far can replace what we have. I am at the creaky age and after travelling extensively as much as I want to keep going, unless I fly at least business class and I’m not walking my legs off we decided to bring our family out from the UK instead. I would love to return to Italy, and like may 1,000s I have read your book, seen the film, gave away the book and bought it again because I missed it being in the shelf, so, now you have joined Substack, of course I have subscribed. I will look forward to your forthcoming posts. Welcome Frances.
My husband is unable to travel any more so after many years of adventures we are confined to our home in the mountains, however I shall travel vicariously through your writing which I enjoy very much.
Your comment, "The house, as Bachelard revealed in The Poetics of Space, should protect the dreamer. At home, I have a strange feeling that the house shelters the person I dreamed I would be: a writer, free, a dreamer of voyaging in the world, a safekeeper of those I love" ... really captures me. Having given up my home a few years ago to become nomadic, I am poking into the future to see when and how I will again park my belongings in a stationary home where I can leave my treasures and still explore the world. I am beginning to long for the writer's cottage that will tether me, rock me in safety and calm when I tire of the chaos of adventuring. Thank you!
Hello Frances - I am thrilled to stumble across you here on Substack. I am quite new myself, only three weeks in, but I have felt reborn since the day I created my About page and my Welcome email…. And posted my first, hesitant article. I have been a world traveller myself, and before Covid and now Ovarian Cancer clipped my wings, went to Italy more than a few times because we fell so much in love with everything about it. My husband and I had a luxury travel website that became quite popular, became “influencers” before there was ever a term for it (I even hate saying that word out loud). We had our own online travel magazine (which still exists online if you ever want a link) and we lived, ate, breathed travel - all while holding down “regular” full time jobs to help pay for the heady, addictive experience that travel is for some of us. Anyways, I could go on….. but I want to say welcome. It’s so good to meet you. You can find me at The Wistful Neo-Druid if you should ever be interested :) Kindest Regards!
My gut tells me that you believe in divine providence... not the religious concept, but a spiritual one. Somehow I managed to run into this substack place and your association with it. I'll admit that I watched the movie, Under The Tuscan Sun before I read your book, but either way, I was captured by a sense of higher, appreciative consciousness. Anyone who decides to buy a Villa in Tuscany on a whim, perhaps that's not the right choice of words.... perhaps gut feeling or that a higher consciousness is involved, somehow is making the right choice. Somehow I'm getting the feeling that looking forward to what else you will be discussing here will be well worth my effort to listen. Continued happy journeys..... to everyone.
What a surprise gift 🎁!! Frances, I’ve been hoping for another memoir…just love you and your world, and your wise comments on everything!
This is the best place for you to land!
Welcome 🫶🫶
Your comment appears four times, so thanks four times!
A rare sanctuary in todays online world! Thank you!
Mille grazie!
As someone who grew up in the 90's (and bitterly disliked them), I now find myself becoming nostalgic for some of those days; the simplicity of communication, how much bigger the world was. These feelings are deeply rooted with finding your first book on a warm spring day after the turn of the century. I've been quietly trying to explore and unpack what they mean ever since. I look forward to your posts, and maybe you could touch on what nostalgia means for you?
Good question. I was preoccupied with that when writing A Place in the World. It's odd when you reach an age that the present seems diminished compared to the past...
I’ve been waiting for you on Substack Frances!!! I am so excited to read everything you post. Grazie!
Looking forward to reading more Frances!
Welcome to Substack, Frances! I’m so very happy to have your beautiful words here too. Can’t wait to travel along with you and Will!
You, too, Laura. Grazie!
When I wake up in the morning , the first thing i do is add 6 hours to the current time. Then i say to my husband , love its 2pm in the piazza….. why are we not there?… (a heavy sigh) One day, one day….. Lots of patience until then. Thank you Frances for this!
You’re funny!!
Substack has grown by leaps and bounds. However, your writing always stands out as some of the best! Merci!
Home is definitely where the heart is. We have once again looked at a new place close to where our children live, albeit we are only half an hour away, for them too far! BUT after checking the pros and cons we decided that nothing so far can replace what we have. I am at the creaky age and after travelling extensively as much as I want to keep going, unless I fly at least business class and I’m not walking my legs off we decided to bring our family out from the UK instead. I would love to return to Italy, and like may 1,000s I have read your book, seen the film, gave away the book and bought it again because I missed it being in the shelf, so, now you have joined Substack, of course I have subscribed. I will look forward to your forthcoming posts. Welcome Frances.
A nice break in Italy might be clarifying!
My husband is unable to travel any more so after many years of adventures we are confined to our home in the mountains, however I shall travel vicariously through your writing which I enjoy very much.
What a surprise gift 🎁!! Frances, I’ve been hoping for another memoir…just love you and your world, and your wise comments on everything!
This is the best place for you to land!
Welcome 🫶🫶
Your comment, "The house, as Bachelard revealed in The Poetics of Space, should protect the dreamer. At home, I have a strange feeling that the house shelters the person I dreamed I would be: a writer, free, a dreamer of voyaging in the world, a safekeeper of those I love" ... really captures me. Having given up my home a few years ago to become nomadic, I am poking into the future to see when and how I will again park my belongings in a stationary home where I can leave my treasures and still explore the world. I am beginning to long for the writer's cottage that will tether me, rock me in safety and calm when I tire of the chaos of adventuring. Thank you!
Sometimes I think I could just keep traveling... but then after a long trip I really sink into home!
Hello Frances - I am thrilled to stumble across you here on Substack. I am quite new myself, only three weeks in, but I have felt reborn since the day I created my About page and my Welcome email…. And posted my first, hesitant article. I have been a world traveller myself, and before Covid and now Ovarian Cancer clipped my wings, went to Italy more than a few times because we fell so much in love with everything about it. My husband and I had a luxury travel website that became quite popular, became “influencers” before there was ever a term for it (I even hate saying that word out loud). We had our own online travel magazine (which still exists online if you ever want a link) and we lived, ate, breathed travel - all while holding down “regular” full time jobs to help pay for the heady, addictive experience that travel is for some of us. Anyways, I could go on….. but I want to say welcome. It’s so good to meet you. You can find me at The Wistful Neo-Druid if you should ever be interested :) Kindest Regards!
Will check! And hope your wings are not pinned for long. All the best!
Thanks very much Frances :)
Ciao Frances,
My gut tells me that you believe in divine providence... not the religious concept, but a spiritual one. Somehow I managed to run into this substack place and your association with it. I'll admit that I watched the movie, Under The Tuscan Sun before I read your book, but either way, I was captured by a sense of higher, appreciative consciousness. Anyone who decides to buy a Villa in Tuscany on a whim, perhaps that's not the right choice of words.... perhaps gut feeling or that a higher consciousness is involved, somehow is making the right choice. Somehow I'm getting the feeling that looking forward to what else you will be discussing here will be well worth my effort to listen. Continued happy journeys..... to everyone.
Ciao. 😊🌹❤️🙏😇😊😘🤗🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Yes, higher consciousness disguised as whim!! Thanks...
Less we forget that our childish innocence is the most important thing in life Aka searching for happy. 😉😎🙏😇😊🌹♥️
How wonderful to find you on Substack! Love the name you’ve chosen—so apt—and looking forward to more of your wonderful writing/musings. 😊💫
What bliss to wake up to this lovely news, in Wattle Flat, Victoria.