Wild camping in Chateauneuf

May 22, 2010

tags: Cote D Azur, Currencies Direct, Eze Village, Le Jardin Exotique, Living In France, Moving To France, Radish Events, Sunny France, Wild Camping

The social treadmill continued last night at the red radish supper club staged on the terrace of a fabulous villa in Chateauneuf. Seated on trestle tables covered in white linen table cloths under the canopy of a large oak tree under the stars, the other stars of the show, the crowd of well-heeled Cote D’azur extras, enjoyed a convivial evening. The filming was unobtrusive and the producers of the programme called, I believe, “Wild Camping” very content with the footage shot. And talking of wild camping, I see old friend Michael Walker resplendent in pink shirt and salmon (is that the colour?) cardigan, but cannot see why I have linked these 2 subjects.
Many of the guests expressed amusement at the contents of this blog but were very reticent to engage me in conversation! I wonder why? Not Michael however, who took me to task for referring to him as a Yorkshireman – he is Lancastrian, but to us born in the favoured, richer and considerably more civilised south of England agree, both are somewhere up north, just short of the arctic circle, constantly gripped by winter where the unlucky inhabitants live on a diet of lard, and tripe or such like, and cook on peat fires as there is no electricity. I do hope that his hardy constitution was able to withstand the rich food! I wonder also if he would be so daringly attired in Lancaster, or whatever part of the frozen north that he was born?
I see the delectable Jaley with hairdresser husband Lawrence and Jaley’s niece, Lawrence is overheard explaining to his niece that he sleeps with her auntie but quite why he has to explain this is a mystery to me! Deborah Marzohl, nutritionist extraordinaire, often heard on Riviera Radio talking about diet, is also in attendance and tells me happily that she will soon move up market from Biot to Valbonne, which will be handy as she will be exhibiting at the Career And Lifestyle event in Valbonne at the end of the month.
Today will see more back-breaking labour to complete the new terrace. Backbreaking that is for the wife, as I must test out the new pool loungers that we have acquired. She just does not understand that this type of equipment requires rigorous testing before the rental season is upon us, I cannot and will not allow the success of several family’s summer holidays (who have rented our villa this season) having their vital summer breaks put at risk by using untested equipment. Testing is undertaken seriously, by spending at least an hour on each in full costume (ie swimming shorts and sun tan lotion) and trying to replicate fully the type of wear and tear they might expect to receive during the summer. I overhear her busily inviting people to a terrace opening party, but as yet have not received an invite myself….indeed, I do not know when it is planned but doubtless it will be my job to pay for it! more expenses, but at least I see a gradual recovery in the euro against the pound

My picture today was taken on Friday on our trip to Eze.