As it’s been 6 months already, and with my blog being introduced to new communities since it’s reset and relaunch earlier this year, I thought it’s the perfect time for a personal update.
The long story short, for context: In January of 2026 I moved to France after living in the UK for 15 years. The last decade in the UK was spent housebound due to illness. I had pretty severe ME/CFS until about 2023 when I finally had some improvement and became less dependent on my sister for assistance (she had been my full time carer since I fell ill in 2015).
I then injured my back in 2024, most likely due to weak, deconditioned muscles, and spent the following year in the worst pain and disability I’d ever experienced. Fortunately, I had good support from my family and the NHS. A doctor on the phone, a physio doing home visits and a whole hospital stay later, I came out of it on the other side with a plan and got my mobility back, all just in time for my move which had been in the works for years!
Updating: How Things Are Going Now
Click here for my previous update: Health Improvement: from Severe to Moderate ME/CFS.
How The Summer Heat Is Affecting Me
Since my last update, the summer has come on in full force and I have been struggling a bit more than I expected. I guess after 15 years in the UK, with the super mild summers there, I was bound to have a bit of a shock to my system.
It’s been very uncommon to have 30 degrees (86F) in the UK, so having that as the default for June and July so far, is pretty intense. This week we thankfully had a slight dip in the temperatures and I found myself saying things like “It’s lovely and cool this morning” only to discover it was 28 degrees (around 82F).
This is the same temperature that, just a few weeks ago, was feeling super hot and uncomfortable for me. I can already see how I’m adjusting, but also how the slightest dip or increase makes a difference.
My main issue with the heat has been fatigue. Just generally finding it harder to get things done or focus on anything for long. Everything takes longer to do.
I’ve found various ways to cope with the heat though, including tying ice packs around my neck! I’m just hoping to make it through unscathed and that things will improve again once the weather cools down in autumn.
Funny how, in the UK, the winters were my worst time, but here it might end up being the summers. I’m in a no freeze zone now, so winters should be more manageable. Maybe?
In the early stages of my illness, going back to Italy in the summer was beneficial. The heat felt so good, but I had only been out of Italy for a few years and had been returning every summer anyway. My body was likely still used to those high temperatures. It has since got used to a much milder climate. So I cannot even predict how my body will respond throughout the seasons here. Only time will tell.
In the meantime I’m taking each day slowly. I wake up early to take advantage of the cool of the day (28 degrees these days) to get things done, like blogging or watering the garden. Then spend the rest of the day reclined on the sofa in front of the fan. Doing whatever I feel I can manage in the moment or resting.
There’s lots of greenery outside the windows here, so even if I’m not doing anything actively, I can look out and see nature, hear the birds. No traffic sounds, not much human noise either, it’s pretty tranquil here.
It’s quite a change from the bricks and rooftops I saw out my bedroom window at my previous house in the UK or the sounds of traffic from the main road a block away. None of which is a problem for most people who can go out and see other things everyday, but for somebody who can’t leave the house much, it was not ideal. So I’m really grateful for the beautiful area I’m in now.
As you can imagine, I quickly settled in here and feel really comfortable and happy to be here. This year will just be a lot about learning how things work here and adjusting to a new normal.
Bracing Myself For The Rest Of Summer
At the moment the temperatures are hovering between 30 and 32 most days with night time coming down to 28 or 29. Inside. Outside it’s much hotter in the day and about the same temperatures at night as inside.
The building radiates heat at night, so it’s technically cooler, but that coolness doesn’t reach the apartment because the walls are radiating heat. For this, and so many other reasons, I am glad to not be in a concrete jungle of an area anymore.
The greenery really does cool down the air. If I wave my arm over the balcony railings, the temperature is significantly cooler just past the railings. You can feel it increase as you walk back towards the apartment. It really makes quite a significant difference having lots of trees around.
That said, the balcony, or terrace, is a heat trap and my new garden has suffered a lot because of it. Things I’m growing out there, which are supposed to be summer/heat loving plants, are just turning brown and crispy. I’m having to re-learn how to garden all over again.
I’m worried about some of the fruit trees and bushes I got. I’ve invested a lot into the garden – money and energy – and a lot of it is just shrivelling up in this heat. And summer has only just begun!
So I’m bracing myself for the worst of summer and adjusting expectations, because I have no idea how it’s going to go. I’m dealing with a micro-climate within a brand new to me climate. It will likely be a matter of survival of the fittest and I’ll just learn from there how to proceed in the future.
Recommitting: French, Art, Exercise
There are many things that I start and then somehow let go of or just simply forget to do or complete. My memory is really bad, so if something is not in my view, literally in my line of sight, I will forget it exists. Doing these sorts of reassessments periodically really helps me to stay on track and pick up any projects, goals or routines I might have lost sight of. Because yes, I even forget about things I really want to do!
1. Learning French
I can already speak 3 languages fluently, but now I’m in France and need to learn a fourth. So I want to recommit to learning French. I have been learning, really slowly, for years. But not having anybody around me to practice with, meant that I was relying entirely on the apps I was using and progress was slow.
I really want to understand things that are happening around me here. Family conversations, TV, reading packaging labels, communicating with the mail and delivery people, and catching up with my neighbours when I meet them around the building on the odd occasion that I go to the mailbox or leave the apartment for whatever reason.
I learned Italian with full immersion after I moved there years ago. So I am hopeful that I will manage to learn French the same way. Although I now have brain fog and memory issues, which I didn’t have back then.
Also, quite different to Italian, French is not written how it’s said, it is not pronounced the way it is written. I find it quite complicated. Italian is an easy language to learn, in comparison.
2. Making Art Every Week
I have also recommitted to making art regularly. Whether it’s painting, drawing, lettering, embroidery, whatever. Being creative and messy and just enjoying the process of creating lovely, colourful things.
I recently relaunched The 52-Week Art Project, which did really well back in 2020. We are only on week 3 of the weekly creative prompts and I’m really enjoying the process so far. I’m getting reaquainted with all my art supplies and having so much fun making pretty things.
It’s a personal project for me, but it is open for anybody to join in, at any time, for some community and accountability and lots of inspiration if last time was anything to go by.
Here is an overview of the project, in case you’re interested:
- A no-stress project or those of us who can’t create daily, for whatever reason.
- There is 1 prompt per week to interpret in any way & take your time with.
- Use any medium (collage, clay, paint, photography, baking, knitting, lego, fabric, etc)
- Share your creations to the gallery & be inspired by others creations. (optional)
- No social media accounts needed.
- You can drop in and out as you wish. Your health and wellbeing comes first.
Visit this page for more details.
3. Being Intentional About Exercise & Rest
The third thing I want to recommit to is doing my exercise more intentionally. With ME/CFS and what is likely a lifelong back injury – it is a fine line between help and hurt. Both conditions have opposing treatments: ME requires rest, while the back injury requires movement.
So I need to be intentional about moving regularly throughout each day, doing my physio prescribed and mobility exercises as well as being intentional about resting well, so my body can recover properly.
I’ve been using a timer that I carry around the house with me, so I am reminded to move or change positions or activities every 30 minutes, to avoid back spasms.
I want to set up some sort of illustrated exercise routine that covers movements and exercises for all the points of interest. It needs to be flexible or adjustable too, according to my ME state on any given day.
I have an idea of how I want to set it up, but I need to finalise the details and get it done. Because again, I forget exercises or stretches that I am supposed to be doing and end up doing the same few over and over while neglecting others. I need the visual reminders.
Documenting All Aspects Of My Life
I recently shared a post about my 5 new disc-bound journals. I have been trying to be consistent in documenting things this year.
There’s my health and wellness journal which includes tracking nutrition and weight management as well as beauty treatments and exercise routines.
I have my daily ta-da journal which is a place to note what I have done in a day and any future appointments or events can be jotted in there too. I prefer a ta-da list vs a to-do list since living with a fluctuating chronic illness makes it hard to tick off items on a to-do list and that’s just disappointing.
A ta-da list is way more encouraging, it helps me remember what I managed to get done and I can celebrate those victories instead of feeling like I failed the day with a list of unchecked boxes on a to-do list.
Then there’s my garden journal documenting when I sowed or watered or fed my plants. How they’re growing, pest issues, etc. Basically record keeping for future reference.
I have an creativity journal too, this one is for tracking any creative projects I’m working on. For example, if I’m doing a digital piece, which pen or colours I use.
For crochet, I can keep track of the patterns, stitches, yarns, hook size, etc. And some pages I just end up drawing or painting on.
It’s a catch-all for anything related to my creative projects as well as a place for notes if I take any creative lessons online.
The notes are really helpful in cases where I stop working on something for whatever reason, because then, when I come back, I can pick up where I left off as apposed to forgetting what I was even doing and having to start over.
I also have a blogging journal to keep track of post ideas and behind the scenes admin things and I have a gaming journal where I keep track of what I’m doing in each game I play.
As I said, if I stop for whatever reason, I will forget what I was doing and that makes it very difficult to continue on a saved game. I’ll end up having to start over again and again, replaying the same storylines over and over.
Keeping notes in a journal means that I can progress in each game. So even if I don’t play a particular game for months or years, I don’t have to replay the same storylines over again when I finally return.
Pampering Myself
With my commitment to intentional rest and movement, creating the exercise routine, as well as the health and wellness journal, I am hoping to be more on top of personal care and self-care.
Doing things that make me feel healthy and good about myself, within my skin. After many years of being mostly bedridden, I hadn’t done much personal care and many things started going wrong.
Some months before moving I had an emergency dentist appointment because my mouth was in a bad state. They were actually impressed with what a good condition my mouth was in considering how poorly I had been taking care of my teeth and gums for those bedridden years. And they reassured me that the issues were not serious and with routine care they would heal up and be fine. They were right.
I know that my skin and nails are also really resilient, and with little, but regular care, they will look and feel good.
So it is up to me to be more intentional about pampering myself. Taking care of this body because it’s the only one I have and it works so hard to keep functional despite the illness that it’s dealing with non-stop. I owe it to my body to look after it and help it stay as healthy and functional as I can.
So I’m planning to incorporate a weekly pampering session on rotation. I cannot realistically do all the things every week. So I want to cycle through them, giving myself a manicure or pedicure, skin treatments, hair treatments, etc.
I can incorporate things like dry brushing for lymph drainage and skin texture, gua sha for working on smaller muscles and I have wooden rollers and spiky balls for treating fascia and muscle tension on larger areas.
I’ve already been getting into the habit of getting dressed and wearing matching jewelry regularly. I know it’s a small thing that seems normal and obvious to most people. But when you’ve been living in your bed for most of the last decade, just the act of getting dressed, while exhasuting some days, makes you feel more ready for the day.
Looking cute in a well put together outfit can make a difference to your mental health and can have a positive effect on how you feel for the day. I’ve enjoyed being able to wear my clothes and jewelry again. And I look forward to slowly adding more to the routine, like matching my nails to the outfits too!
In Conclusion
The last 6 months have been a time of transition. New home, new country, new language, new climate, new life with new routines, all thanks to recently improved health and energy levels.
I’ve enjoyed every bit of it and look forward to the next 6 months and all the possibilities it brings. The key, as always, will be pacing. Balancing intentionally and carefully between activity and rest.
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Hi Char,
I am so happy for you that you’re finally able to meet your goal of moving to France! I’ve always dreamt of living in Europe for a couple years, but it’s so terribly difficult now with all the non-stop, ongoing health issues, lack of finances, and all that.
If I may ask, what do you work as, or are your retired? It seems you are coping quite brilliantly there alone, and are very disciplined with your pacing, and know your body very well 🙂
As for the weather, I suppose it’s all relative as 30 degrees celsius is the norm here in Singapore haha. It’s the humidity that really saps me of all energy, though. I grew up in Hong Kong; whilst the seasons were milder as compared to the UK or France, I truly enjoyed the transitions.
I love all your arts and crafts work, too! Thanks for peppering your post with photos — it helps liven it up quite a bit 🙂 P.s. I tried to click on your “Health Improvement: from Severe to Moderate ME/CFS” link in this post, but it led me to a photo instead.
Sending you lots of love!
Hi, Sheryl. Thanks for the lovely comment and the heads up. I’ve fixed that link, thank you!
I can see how moving to Europe would feel very much impossible now. I would also not be able to do it without my partner. He and his family are my carers now. We had been together, long distance, for over 5 years before I moved.
I don’t work. I have been unable to work since 2015. My condition, although much improved now, is still too debilitating, fluctuating and unpredictable to commit to any job. I can just now do the basics alone at home every day, which does not include chores, cooking or even daily showers. My partner takes care of the cooking and cleaning and finances. He’s a rare gem.
The humidity really does make such a difference! I’ve noticed that today actaully. Feels so very hot, but it’s actually only 28 today and overcast, but the humidity is 72% which is the highest it’s been since I’ve been here. I’m sure I will get used to the warmer climate in time. And yes, having different seasons is lovely. I like how the landscape around me, the weather and my wardrobe can all be varied throughout the year. And now that I have more energy, and space to allow for dedicated zones at home, I can also practice a variety of activities throughout the seasons.
I’m glad the pictures were appreciated. I just thought, since I had written so much, it would be much easier to read if there were pictures scattered throughout. Thanks again for signaling the broken link. Take care. I hope you get to go home soon. Hugs
You’ve made a huge change with your move, and I wish you all the best there. I think your journals are so cute and like the fact that you have each one separate. Journaling is so useful for looking back and seeing the big picture.
It sounds like you’re settling in really well to life in France and I’m sure you’ll pick up the language from being immersed in the country. Add to that you’re a linguist already! I did a French degree back in the day and loved the year I lived there.
I love the idea of separate journals for different things. I have a free writing journal and what I call a daily book where a combination of everything goes, but I do forget things. Maybe having different books would help with that (and would give me an excuse to buy more stationery…)
All the best
Sarah x
What an exciting move to France and how great you got your mobility back!
The heat has really knocked me too, it is too much but this week seems a lot cooler here in England. All the greenery sounds wonderful, it sounds so peaceful for you.
I would love to live somewhere else but I worry about all my health issues. I’m glad you are getting on well, the weather is so hot back here in the UK hitting nearly 30c every day. I went to France the 2nd week in June and it was so hot, then came home to a heatwave! I love your journals and your projects, I’m glad you have so much to keep you occupied.
This is absolutely an amazing update and glad that you’re doing so much better Char.
Thank you for sharing with us at SSPS 419. See you soon, and do not miss checking what’s new tomorrow, July 16
Hi,
Wow, your art is lovely, I’m having a look at your Instagram.
I like the idea of a TA-DA journal rather than to-do (i might steal this idea).
So glad you can be surrounded by greenery now, rather than bricks and traffic. I know that makes a big difference for me.
Here in Cambodia we already finished our hot season (March April) and Im so relieved to be through it- it zaps energy so much. I used to live around bricks and traffic- it was so hot. I now live a bit further out, so we have airflow and trees. It really does help!