A working holiday is just around the corner as more convents and monasteries in France the United Kingdom and Ireland need to be uncovered and explored in time for the next volume of Good Night and God Bless.

One of my favourite tourist destinations is the grand and stately Kylemore Abbey (Castle) which is owned by the Benedictine order and run by a very busy community of hard working nuns.  The nuns are partly self sufficient, as indicated in the Kylemore Abbey Cookbook where photos of the sisters fishing in the lake, feeding the chickens, herding the cattle, picking fruit and of course cooking in the abbey’s vast kitchen are on display.  The sisters offer a fascinating insight into their daily routine and the role food plays in their lives – particularly in relation to celebrations e.g. Christmas, Easter Sunday, Profession Day, Clothing Day and on nun’s Feastdays. Some of the sister’s favourite recipes are included.  I can vouch for Sister Dorothy’s Salmon and Potato Pie and Sister Ita’s Pumpkin Scones, but Sister Karol’s Chocolate Raspberry sandwich sounds more like a sin than a snack!  More details can be found at www.kylemoreabbey.com

I am particularly looking forward to visiting the monastic town of Solesmes, in Frances where there are two grand and great Benedictine abbeys – St Peter’s Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Pierre De Solesmes) for Benedictine  monks and St Cecilia’s Abbey (Abbaye Sainte-Cécile de Solesmes) for Benedictine nuns. The monks and nuns of both abbeys are well-known for reviving the Gregorian Chant in France and visitors can attend any of the services and listen to the singing.  I am told that because the nuns belong to an enclosed order they don’t sing publicly but from the choir stalls where they can be heard but not seen. I am also hoping to have a night at a convent guesthouse for tourists and pilgrims which is next to the nun’s abbey. Solesmes is in the Sarthe region and about 3 hours drive south west of Paris.

‘Til next time…..