Each month you will meet one of our members and learn a little more about what makes them tick.

This month meet Jennifer de Bonnafos who has has recently started teaching Art in English to small groups of children
during the school holidays.

What is your greatest achievement?
I suppose that finding a fantastic Frenchman to father a family, enjoying a successful marriage for a couple of dozen years, living happily in spite of a household of adolescents and persevering for a lifetime working as an Artist are about as great as itll ever get.

What makes you get out of bed in the morning?
The list of ideas Ive been jotting down during the night, birdsong and a cacophony of everybody elses alarm clocks, radios, showers and hairdriers mixed with a strong sense of motherly duty to be around, dressed and ready to say, having emptied the dishwasher Have a good day! enthusiastically as everyone goes off to work and school by eight oclock in the morning
nowadays. I love going out to work in my studio.

What is the most important lesson that life has taught you ?
I try to avoid feeling hopeful, though I come from the Cape of Good Hope.

What or who is the most important thing in your life?
My paintings are important but my children are my real works of art.

What is your favourite French expression?
Bon appétit!

What do you like most about living in France?
The seafood, fruit and vegetables on the markets.

Why did you move to France?
By accident, really. I came to work on a summer art school in the South West called Cubertou. I took a night train to Nice and had my baggage stolen at the station. My distant family welcomed me as a fille au pair in Paris. I learned French looking after a wonderful little three year old called Celia. I didnt say a word for three months and then I met my husband. I was made
to feel at home here and nowhere else.

What has been your most memorable day?
In 1982 when I left South Africa there was no way round apartheid. In our lifetime a miracle has been accomplished and the people of my country have liberated themselves. My most memorable day is Freedom Day in South Africa which we celebrate in April

What is your favourite place in Nantes?
Theres a moving place for me, Sue, its the Place Dulcie September. Its named after a fellow Capetonian who was assassinated in Paris at a dangerous time during the apartheid struggle.

What made you join the Knowing Nantes network ?
Meeting you, Sue, made me want to join the network and Im glad I did. Im enjoying meeting some really interesting people and getting to know Nantes all over again.Thanks to you.

The dates for Jennifer's Art in English classes in Summer and Autumn will be available at the end of March.