Socks on flagpole horror

July 25, 2010

tags: Cote D Azur, Currencies Direct, Living In France, Moving To France

As we check out of The Red Lion on the Thames at Henley, I notice the room rate is £750 a night for a four-poster bedroom during Henley Regatta, some 10 times the rate that I paid. I ask idly if there are any vacancies for the 2011 Regatta and was told there were not! Recession? What recession?

Perhaps we may not be welcome back to this hotel after I discovered that nice lady decorators socks drying on their flagpole outside our bedroom window, as my picture today shows.

View from The Red Lion in Henley towards The Angel On The Bridge pub, with The Thames in the background, ruined by someones socks and a dodgy flag on the flagpole

As we motor to Kirklington in mildly summer conditions. I begin to believe that Linda Warmbottom will be lucky enough to get the only dry day of summer, but now that the nights are now noticeably drawing in, the chances are remote and then it happened in late afternoon, a shower, keeping up the unenviable record of raining at some stage every day since we arrived in England in July 4th.

At the wedding reception, I meet an old friend, Ian Nicholson, who seems to have mislaid most of his hair since he was a thrusting youth when I first encountered him at the Shoulder of Mutton at Little Horwood some 25 years ago. Married now for the 4th time, I do hope the current Mrs Nicholson can find it in her heart to continue with her gracious community support programme by remaining married to him despite the very obvious difficulties she will encounter, indeed is already encountering.

I am criticised at the reception for wearing my favourite, well only, tie. It is green with lots of little banana skins. My response is that entering into marriage, as I know only too well to my own cost, is strewn with difficulties, one can slip up without warning, so my choice of banana themed neck wear seemed, to me at least, appropriate.

I also meet for the first time Paul Clark, who is in “insolvency”. I sometimes have the same problem when the alka setzer is slow to dissolve. In essence, he has a career made out of other people’s failures.This sounds like my old pal John Otway who has similarly been very successful as a failure.

Paul’s resemblance to Harry Hill, the alleged (but not by me) comedian is startling, but he was far funnier even although I do believe he was trying to be serious.

Budgetary control in their own household however seems less certain as delectable wife Tania revealed that having been given a generous budget for her 40th birthday celebrations had managed to exceed it by £7000!

Everything at the wedding was perfect, great venue at Kirklington Park, masses of champagne, great food, string quartet, great characters, makes me feel like getting married again, I wonder who I would choose?
Don’t worry, that nice lady decorator never reads this column so I a safe, for the moment….

Today, we travel to Weston Turville where we will be guests in our own house currently rented to friends. At least Jeff Newton will remain a friend as long as does the decent thing and loses to me at golf on Monday. Also expecting to part with the customary £10 are Paul “Corkscrew Slice” North.

Tonight a gathering of old friends at The Chequers in Weston Turville, all no doubt wanting to buy me drinks, so joyful will they be at my presence.

Chris France

buying a house in France, moving money? www.currenciesdirect.net/chrisfrance

Latest local news? http://www.fr2day.com/

Best Estate Agency in Valbonne? http://www.rivierarealty.net/

Best French Riviera Property Agent?

http://www.afa-international.com/

http://frenchriviera-properties.com/

rent my house in summer? http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p412514

Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/

Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/

Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/