Otway on the movie

I am happy to report that Saturday evening was a quiet night in. The only serious activity was to check that the collection of 2005 Rioja Reserva was not getting past its best drinking phase, and I am pleased to be able to report that it has not deteriorated at all. In fact, I believe that it could last for quite a few more years with one codicil, that it does not stay in this house, because if it does, it will be over by October.

Yesterday, under leaden skies, which was almost welcome after the extended sun fest we have experience during August,  and a walk in the forest dodging showers, we were planning a quiet early dinner to see off Charlie, my daughter who is heading off to London for college tomorrow. She however clearly has the genes of that nice lady decorator to the fore as she headed off to the Hop Pole in Antibes for a last blast with her pals at lunch time, in the full knowledge that she is too young to get a drink in London and that her fake ID complete with spelling mistakes that has fooled a number of establishments over here during the summer, will be of no use in the UK.

She arrived back, under serious orders to be back by early evening, in the tender arms of Peachy Butterfield who suggested a drink in Valbonne and before I could say, that’s not a good idea, we have an early start and Charlie has not packed, I was nursing a cold one in one of my favourite haunts. I did learn one important fact though from the all to brief sojourn in the Square, the exact meaning of a the phrase a “Spanish shower”. It seems that this something that Peachy embraces whole heartedly when in Spain. It appears that if one is in Spain and the shower cubicle is engaged, and no other washing facilities are available, one can spray deodorant over yesterdays deodorant and this is  known as a Spanish shower. There is so much more I think I can learn from the big P, but time was pressing so my education had to end there.

My old mate Otway has been on the phone, and is headed to Valbonne to stay with us for his 59th birthday on October 2nd.  I suspect the call and visit presages a request for me to involve myself in more work on his behalf, which always accompany great promises of riches, but in almost every event when I have accepted his overtures in the past it has cost me money, however it is usually such much fun, he knows I will say yes. There was a piece yesterday in the Independent about his determination to launch the movie of his life for his 60th birthday. What is the first thing you do when you decide to make a film? well I am not sure, but I would guess not many film makers book the Odeon in Leicester Square for the premiere. I suspect that his visit may have something to do with this and I have an ominous foreboding that this will cost me time and money.

So two days of quiet will now ensue starting today, with that nice lady decorator flying off to London early this morning ensuring sprog 2 is properly ensconced at her college residence, but I shall remain here working very hard on the launch of Remax Cannes  this Friday 9th September who are not only keen to be involved in the sale of beach side residences in Kenya at Medina Palms, but are keen affiliates of Currencies Direct.

Chris France