L’Oreal advert not very circumspect
There is once again ice on my pool. This is not acceptable, I did not pay all that money to live in a winter paradise, just a paradise. I am happy for it to snow and be wintry half an hour away, so that I can enjoy skiing and winter experience in general, but had I wanted to have the full winter experience at my home, I would have bought somewhere in the Alps, and my wardrobe would not have consisted mainly of shorts and short-sleeved shirts. I want a refund please.
Yes, this is my pool covered in ice. If you cant see it get glasses
I take it all back about French Estate Agents. Contrary to what I have might have inadvertently implied yesterday, that all french estate agents do not have a commercial fibre in their beings, and believe service is something you go to church for, today I have met with the lovely Aurelia from EuroFrance immobiliere (estate agents) who is as charming and helpful as she is beautiful. Not only that but she fully understood and immediately grasped the benefit to her of being affiliated to Currencies Direct.
Once again I am writing this as I am camped out on my sofa watching England versus Australia in the 3rd Ashes Test in Perth. However, I have a complaint. Why can they not play under floodlights in the middle of their night so that I can watch in daylight hours? Sounds like to good theme to develop for my Angloinfo blog next Monday – Happy Mondays indeed.
Whilst on my long vigil in front of the screen one tends to get assaulted by the inevitable adverts that blight Sky TV and I have been particularly struck by one from L’Oreal. It starts with a male model type with a strap line that says “For Skin that is itchy, tough, hard or flaking” or something of that nature. The problem for me is the lack of space between the words, the most disastrous of which is the almost entire lack of a space between “for” and “skin”. Now, I am sure that it is a very worthy product, and I am fairly certain it should not be used for any purpose which could be implied by the placing of these two words together without any spacing, but it is also fair to say that I have been sufficiently distracted by the possibility that I have no idea what the product actually claims to do. One footnote to that, if this really is a product for itchy foreskin, I for one do not want to know about it!
Thatsnicemagazine confirm that they would like me to write a piece on The Ashes series as I have suggested. They believe it will attract more male viewers. This I found slightly worrying as it suggests that they don’t have many men readers and thus a story about The Ashes might be misinterpreted by our female brethren as something about burials or death. Whilst this in itself is not overly concerning, the fact that they have asked me to make the submission light-hearted and amusing may have catastrophic bad taste consequences, but then again, when has that ever worried me?
I am however worried about the impending delivery back to these shores of that nice lady decorator. She has just spent the week Christmas shopping, and, as I have become aware today after several calls from American Express, she has clearly been battering the card into the deepest submission. When the credit control people call to say “Do you know how much money has been spent on your account?” then you know you are in trouble.
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
Rent a private villa in Provence? www.cotdazurvillarentals.com
Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/
Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/
Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/
Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com
Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/
John Otway’s New Book? www.johnotway.com
Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html
Living France, Le Blog http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com
Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? www.chrisma.com
Ceramic Cafe in Biot? www.latassedecouleur.com
Rent a villa in Cote D’Azur? www.myperfectvilla.com
Find A House in Cote d’Azur? www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com
Monthly Riviera News? www.rivieratimes.com
Local ex pat information resource? www.angloinfo.com
Bozone shows no sign of thinning
I found a photo of our token Australian Denis Railton who plays golf with the REGS, and it seemed apt to show it as he has made a mess of things, red wine everywhere, and that seemed to me to have some resonance with the Australian cricket team. As I write this I am on the sofa with a bottle of wine and I am be able to report a great start to the 3rd Ashes Test for England.
Denis The Menace - with red wine anyway
Last evening I attended the Inter Nations Christmas get together in Sophia Antipolis where I was once again in the missionary position so to speak, spreading the word about Currencies Direct. The majority of the attendees were female and most quite attractive and so I felt duty bound to arrange several rendez-vous for no other reason in order to try to satisfy my missionary zeal (to save people money, what else did you think?). On the way back at 9pm I see the temperature is minus 3, which is very cold for the cote d’azur, but apparently not as cold as back in the UK. Yesterday morning I awoke to discover ice on my pool which is only the second time in 3 years that this has happened. Early this morning I was just sitting looking through the window with Banjo at the frost. I suppose I should let him in at some stage.
That nice lady decorator returns tomorrow and will discover the house spotless as usual, as long as the contract cleaners show up on time. My daughter will be delighted to see her back at home to resume her cooking duties, indeed my daughter is also delighted to have lost a kilo this week, despite not being on a diet. Clearly the wholesome culinary offerings that are my watchword in the kitchen have had this effect, I just wish it had worked on me. I guess it might be because I reckon I have innate ability in the kitchen and to back that up am prepared to eat anything I create. That nice lady decorator agrees about my abilities in the kitchen area…as long as I am restricted to opening bottles of wine, she has said before that I am a whore in the kitchen.
Later today, after a sleep (!) I must journey to the other side of Valbonne for one of those meetings to which I alluded to above, Yet another estate agent is about to have the scales removed from their eyes and to affiliate to Currencies Direct. Many of the French agents are a bit blind to the commercial possibilities in this sphere. It is often a mystery to me how the French ever got around to formulating the word entrepreneur which is presumably a French word. Usually the French agents represent a bit of a bozone, which is a substance which surrounds stupid people and precludes good ideas from entering. With a few worthy exceptions there seems little chance of it breaking down in the near future.
Chris France
Buying a house in France, moving money?www.currenciesdirect.net/chrisf
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
Rent a private villa in Provence? http://www.cotdazurvillarentals.com
Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/
Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/
Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/
Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com
Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/
John Otway’s New Book? http://www.johnotway.com
Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html
Living France, Le Blog http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com
Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? http://www.chrisma.com
Ceramic Cafe in Biot? http://www.latassedecouleur.com
Rent a villa in Cote D’Azur? http://www.myperfectvilla.com
Find A House in Cote d’Azur? http://www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com
Monthly Riviera News? http://www.rivieratimes.com
Local ex pat information resource? http://www.angloinfo.com
Best local artist? http://www.helenhumphrey.com
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition
Talking of cricket, which I will be soon, I am reminded of the old Tommy Cooper joke where a man goes into the doctors and says I’ve got a cricket ball stuck up my bottom”, the doctor said “hows that?” I said “Don’t you start”.
The 3rd Ashes Test starts tomorrow morning in Perth, Western Australia at around 3.00am French time, so I am torn; A late night or an early night and get up early? I wonder if Banjo, the decidedly dodgy springer spaniel will once again influence this decision? I saw a piece on the TV last night showing a woman being whipped under sharia law for wearing trousers, I wonder what the punishment would be lined up for Banjo for keeping me awake most of the night by barking at the lawnmower? or defacating constantly within feet of my hammock?, crucifiction at the very least? Max the proper dog knows what’s good for him in my picture today, playing dead, just to wind Banjo up.
Max catching up on some much needed zzz's
This evening I will be attending the Inter Nations Christmas party at Sophia Antipolis as part of my continued networking for Currencies Direct. Its weird that name, Sophia Antipolis, but whenever I hear it I think of Sophie, an old girl friend who’s father was a policeman. It is fair to say that I was not the most popular person he had ever met, in fact he was one of the policemen that stopped me eleven times in my yellow Austin A40 in a two week period when I was 17. I asked him how his daughter was and he gave me a ticket for having a defective rear numberplate light, he just didn’t like me, and I suspect the main reason was he knew what his daughter was getting up to with a long haired layabout, as I once heard him describe me.
Yet another magazine has come calling, asking for my valuable input, so valuable is this input that I cannot put a price on its value, the problem is that neither can they or rather they wont! Thatsnicemagazine is the name of this erstwhile publication, not necessarily being nice, but rather focussing on what is happening in Nice so I decided to drive a hard bargain; I will write about anything they want as long as I can in the customary plug for Currencies Direct, Could this be described as Nice work if you can get it?.
My culinary skills are one again put to the fullest test whilst the nice ldy decorator is sunning herself and whilst the lamb curry surprise tasted delicious to me, my daughter, the intended lucky recipient of the other portion of this gastronomic delight feigned illness and then sickness in order, presumably, not to have to eat it. You might ask what was the surprise ingredient, but in the immortal lines from the Spanish Inquisition sketch from Monty Python, “my two main weopons are fear and surprise and I think I successfully managed to combine both into last nights gastronomic creation.h.
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
Rent a private villa in Provence? www.cotdazurvillarentals.com
Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/
Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/
Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/
Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com
Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/
John Otway’s New Book? www.johnotway.com
Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html
Living France, Le Blog http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com
Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? www.chrisma.com
Ceramic Cafe in Biot? www.latassedecouleur.com
Rent a villa in Cote D’Azur? www.myperfectvilla.com
Find A House in Cote d’Azur? www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com
Monthly Riviera News? www.rivieratimes.com
Local ex pat information resource? www.angloinfo.com
I Q of a toilet brush
I am awoken at 12.30, 1.30, 2.15, and 2.50am by the gruesome garrulous guard dog Banjo. You would think that he would be aware that his equivalent of the witness protection scheme, otherwise known as that nice lady decorator, is not in town for a few days and would be on his best behaviour. One would hope that he may realise in some measure the vast depth of feeling that exists dedicated to punishing him for the slightest misdemeanour, but no, he has the IQ and charm of a toilet brush and the bark of a pneumatic drill. When you combine these features in the early hours of the morning, I suddenly feel a vast affinity with the Koreans who enjoy a good dog burger. This is a murder victim in the making.
A busy social weekend and as a result the usual over consumption of alcohol in a variety of forms ranging from Guinness and red wine, bloody Marys, wine, champagne and more wine (in that order I think) have conspired to make my work with Currencies Direct a little less focussed that I would have hoped yesterday. However. with that nice lady decorator away, the living temptation and thus the major reason for the impetus to test the contents of the wine cellar absent, I had in mind a quiet evening and an early night. All was going according to plan until the early hours when Banjo decided to change my proposed course of events by taking a dislike to the log pile. He expressed his dislike for it by deciding to use his pile driver of a bark to ensure that all the wood in the pile was wide awake. That this wakefulness was transmitted to my household did not seem to occur to him or moderate his behaviour in any way but doubtless his protector would have excused him from imagining danger of some sort in the logs (purloined from the wingco’s residence before he realised their value).
Today I must journey to the Var to Roquebrune to save another soul from forex death by banking, assuming one of the weather forecasts suggesting snow for that area today is incorrect. I hope Mr Darwin, or whoever it was who invented the world and makes it all work realises that snow is very welcome at this time of the year if it falls where it supposed to, in the ski resorts, where they will doubtless be very pleased to see it, and not on roads where I may be required to drive today. I am afraid to say that despite my car having several hundred brake horse power under the bonnet, it cannot go up a 1 in 20 hill if there is even a hint of moisture or worse still, ice and I cannot face an extended drive in that nice lady decorators 4 x 4 skip smelling of refuse, paint, plaster and Banjo.
Today’s picture is another of my arty works taken as the mist gradually gives way to sunlight on my morning constitutional yesterday morning. I am prepared to consider offers for the original, a club class return to Sydney would be sufficient for me to consider parting with it.
Angloinfo have still not seen through my lack of writing ability and have again published my grumpy old git blog yesterday. To read how bad it is go to angolinfo blogs and look up Happy Mondays
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
Rent a private villa in Provence? www.cotdazurvillarentals.com
Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/
Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/
Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/
Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com
Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/
John Otway’s New Book? www.johnotway.com
Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html
Living France, Le Blog http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com
Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? www.chrisma.com
Ceramic Cafe in Biot? www.latassedecouleur.com
Rent a villa in Cote D’Azur? www.myperfectvilla.com
Find A House in Cote d’Azur? www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com
Monthly Riviera News? www.rivieratimes.com
Local ex pat information resource? www.angloinfo.com
70 Turds, Banjo to blame
The Australians have called up into their cricket squad an unknown spinner called Michael Beer, so please allow me to indulge myself with a couple of jokes at their expense, if he any good it will be the first time they could claim to have a good Australian Beer, and if he is only slightly successful one could call that small Beer.
The third Ashes Test starts in Perth in Australia on Thursday, so once again I shall be up ridiculously early (that nice lady decorator refers to it as “at the crack of sparrows fart” in the elegant and eloquent ladylike style that she has made her own). But with her having taken her decorating skills back to the UK until Friday I shall have two blissful uninterrupted days of cricketing joy without having to wrestle her for the remote control of the TV. I may have to pull rank on my daughter but she is nowhere near as scary.
Today’s picture is of Le Provencal Golf Course in nearby Sophia Antipolis which is known as the Silicon Valley of France, but I have been disappointed about the lack of obvious boob jobs that I have failed to witness. There was Maria but I have reason to believe that she is all real, if you get my drift. To be named Silicon Valley I would expect to be treated to wonderful sights wherever I looked, and although it is a lovely sight to see the snow covered Southern Alps in the distance whilst playing golf, it is far less rewarding, well for me anyway, than the prospect of gazing upon Pamela Anderson lookalikes everywhere. I suppose you could say that I had to put up with snow capped hillocks instead.
The snow capped mountains viewed from Le Provencal Golf Course in Sophia Antipolis
Whilst that nice lady decorator is away, I will be in sole charge of the various wildlife that inhabits this household, most of it very welcome, well all of it welcome with one glaring exception. Banjo the monstrous, malevolent, moldering cocker spaniel who is allowed by his owner to get away with murder on the pretext that he had a difficult early life (he came from a rescue home) whilst his guardian is present. To put this in context, its a bit like Adolf Hitler being given counselling and biscuits because he was only responsible for millions of deaths and appalling suffering and it wasn’t really his fault that he didn’t like Jews or gypsies or anyone except Germans. But with his protection programme coordinator absent for a few days, the phrase “extraordinary rendition” seems to have some resonance, that and “revenge is sweet”.
Talking of Banjo always evokes images of mountain ranges of turds surrounding my hammock and today is the birthday of one of my friends, Peter Lynn, who claims to be 63 and a few months (try 120). He amuses himself by calling it his seventy turd birthday, so in celebration his wife produced a cake with a ring of 70 malteasers, to represent 70 turds…
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
Rent a private villa in Provence? www.cotdazurvillarentals.com
Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/
Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/
Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/
Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com
Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/
John Otway’s New Book? www.johnotway.com
Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html
Living France, Le Blog http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com
Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? www.chrisma.com
Ceramic Cafe in Biot? www.latassedecouleur.com
Rent a villa in Cote D’Azur? www.myperfectvilla.com
Find A House in Cote d’Azur? www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com
Monthly Riviera News? www.rivieratimes.com
Local ex pat information resource? www.angloinfo.com
Salman Rushdie, an impossible read?
When you are trying to work out which way a particularly difficult putt is going to go on the golf course, it is known as a Salman Rushdie. In golfing parlance this means “an impossible read”. On the contrary, the lovely and spectacularly well endowed Maria who was playing with the REGS (and this not an unfortunate turn of phrase) yesterday is far from difficult to read. She was very much full of the Christmas spirit as shown in my picture today.
Having eventually decided against playing a round (of golf) in her sexy santa outfit in the grounds that it was too cold, she settled on wearing this festive headgear. Quite how in enhanced her round escapes me.
Maria with her festive "hat"
Unfortunately my sheep fancying pal Steve Weston was absent from the annual REGS golf gathering and lunch at Le Provencal yesterday, with one member who must remain nameless but for argument’s sake I shall call Dave Goddard said that he thought Steve’s long-suffering wife Nancy had taken him to be fitted for his Christmas present, a sheepskin coat. I wonder if it had a name?
Also present was Mick “German shooting trousers” Pedley wearing the garments that gave him his nickname. The war has been over for 55 years now, but Mick clearly still has a few scores to settle. I saw that he was drawn to play with a chap called Dirk and for a fleeting moment I thought that Mick might have been drawn to partner a German but luckily (?) Dirk turned out to be Belgian so the prospect of a shooting incident subsided, although if he also took to shooting Belgians in general, perhaps the world would be a better place?
Lunch was a convivial affair with captains of industry seated beside captains of well, yachts. The event revolves around what is known as a bottle competition. Everyone brings a bottle and the winners get first pick of the prizes. Many of the bottles are of something decent like champagne or whisky, some are not so good being contributed by folk from the likes of Yorkshire, like 3 euro bottles of plonk. The idea is that the winners get first choice and naturally take the best that is available. Naturally that is, unless you are a gruff northerner from Yorkshire. Winner yesterday, Dave Goddard revealed his true sense of taste and knowledge of the finer things in life, honed to perfection in his native Yorkshire, by choosing the 3 euro bottle of cider ahead of a Grand cru St Emilion and several decent bottles of champagne, ostensibly because he liked the picture on the bottle.
Last night to informal drinks to celebrate the very successful exhibition of paintings by local artist Helen Humphrey in Valbonne, who I hear complaining to husband Neil “I’m free” Humphrey of throbbing balls (of her feet) as she has had to stand up all day.
That nice lady decorator flies to England tomorrow to do some Christmas shopping so I am open to any offers of debauchery until Thursday evening.
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
Rent a private villa in Provence? www.cotdazurvillarentals.com
Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/
Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/
Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/
Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com
Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/
John Otway’s New Book? www.johnotway.com
Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html
Living France, Le Blog http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com
Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? www.chrisma.com
Ceramic Cafe in Biot? www.latassedecouleur.com
Rent a villa in Cote D’Azur? www.myperfectvilla.com
Find A House in Cote d’Azur? www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com
Monthly Riviera News? www.rivieratimes.com
Local ex pat information resource? www.angloinfo.com
911 Car Confusion
To steal ideas from one person is to plagiarise, whereas to steal ideas from more than one is called research, so says one of my avid readers. What he does not say but I am sure he had in mind is that he thinks this column is extremely well researched.
Yesterday to the exhibition of wonderful paintings by Helen Humphrey, only to discover that the two pictures I coveted had both been sold that very morning. I had also wanted to see what her husband Neil had made of his “painting by numbers” set, him reputedly a little jealous of his wife’s success but we was not there, maybe having a maths lesson? clearly either that or he was brushing up on his maths before dipping brush into paint. I do hope that when he has finished his first canvas he does not decide to charge for it, otherwise his catch phrase “I’m free” will not work.
A poor turn out for Cafe Latin, yesterday morning, merely one injured BA pilot captain, one of those four pilot captains that failed to conjure up sufficient authority to “make my trip more comfortable” as the euphemism for an upgrade goes, both on the way to and back from Brisbane. You may very well ask why he is injured but my lips are sealed, suffice to say that his lovely wife Nancy, who is desperate for him to go back to work, may have to suffer an extended period of her husbands convalescence should he fail again to secure the required attention to my comfort zone when I depart for Sydney on 31st December and may suffer further unnecessary injury.
Not that I am confirmed to leave on that date yet, it is dependent on my winning the lottery in the meantime, however my chances of winning are now much enhanced now that I have bought some tickets.
It would have been a lovely day for skiing but Greoliere Les Neiges was unaccountably closed yesterday and today, and today is the REGS annual bottle competition at Le Provencal followed by lunch, so with that nice lady decorator back in the UK for most of next week, Skiing will have to wait So many sports, so little time.
The pretty plates at Lou Fassum, but clearly only used when serving fish
My picture today is of one of the splendid plates upon which lunch is served at Lou Fassum. One of my friends, a regular reader of this column is a Porsche lover, posted a comment on his Facebook wall about how much he loved his 911 and suddenly found himself with 4000 new muslims friends.
The Red Cross came knocking at my door yesterday, and after I realised that they had seen me turn off the lights and their torch had picked out my hiding place behind the sofa, I eventually opened the door. They were asking for help for the terrible floods in Pakistan. I told them I would love to help but my hose pipe only reaches the end of the garden.
At last the Euro has dropped to nearly €1.20 to the £ and my prediction six months ago of the demise of the European currency now looks almost inevitable. Stand by for my next prediction; in the next four years, we will welcome back the drachma, the Irish punt, the Spanish peseta and the Italian lire plus whatever they formerly used as currency in Portugal (cow dung?) into the world of foreign exchange. The Euro, which will then become a Franco-German currency, will then become very strong, reaching at least parity with the £ in 5 years. You read it first here.
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
Rent a private villa in Provence? www.cotdazurvillarentals.com
Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/
Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/
Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/
Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com
Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/
John Otway’s New Book? www.johnotway.com
Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html
Living France, Le Blog http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com
Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? www.chrisma.com
Ceramic Cafe in Biot? www.latassedecouleur.com
Rent a villa in Cote D’Azur? www.myperfectvilla.com
Find A House in Cote d’Azur? www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com
Monthly Riviera News? www.rivieratimes.com
Local ex pat information resource? www.angloinfo.com
Carol Singing, why just Carol?
Singing carols in church makes one as religious as standing in a garage makes one a car, according to one of my readers. Whilst I agree with his sentiment and I know little of religion, he has a strong religious affiliation and is very circumspect (or something like that if you get my drift) but I feel sure that his protestant hindu rabbi will have something to say to him about atonement at his next confessional.
Carol singing will take place again this evening at Valbonne Church with the Riviera International Singers, although why Carol should get so much attention is beyond me. Why is it called carol singing? Why not Daphne singing or Esmeralda Singing? What’s so special about Carol?
For a time, until I discovered my mistake, yesterdays photo was, rather than the chocolatier photo, a picture of my beloved Valmasque forest and specifically the Brague river. Most mornings I can be found there, walking the family dogs, that lovely old family retainer the springer spaniel Max, and the dreadful diabolically deranged dog Banjo. However the weather has not been at its best over the last few days, so walking has been off the agenda. That means that the catastrophic cocker has even more malevolent energy than is normally the case and has taken to barking at the lawnmower. Barking indeed.
But now that the weather has recovered and is its normal sunny benign self, we have been considering dashing up to the slopes for a spot of skiing, and if tomorrow dawns clear and sunny then we may drop everything and head up the mountains for the day.
Yesterday at the last moment, that nice lady decorator decided that she wanted to lunch at Lou Fassum in Plascassier, possibly my favorite restaurant in the area. It has great views as the picture below shows, it was taken from my luncheon seat and shows the Mediterranean glistening in the distance. The food at this Michelin Star establishment is as you would expect, top class. An amuse buche (it’s the way I tell them) followed by monkfish on a bed of mushroom risotto and a pear Melba to die for plus a large glass of wine for 22 Euros a mere £18.50 at todays exchange rates, a weekday bargain.
The south of France in winter at its best
Church this morning at Cafe Latin will be poorer for the absence of Neil “I’m free” Humphreys who will be manning the till at his delicious wife Helen’s exhibition of her wonderful living paintings in the village. Neil seems to have decided to forgo searching for work in order to live off the immortal earnings of his wife, who’s creations are proving very popular. To some this may be viewed as pimping but I could not possibly comment. I have heard it said that he is so taken by his wife’s success as an artist and determined to emulate her achievements, he has taken delivery of a package of something called “painting by numbers”, but I suspect this to be a fabrication as arithmetic has never been his strong suit.
I have scanner nowadays, which, when it operates is a very useful tool for my busy business empire, however it is a bit like the french and refuses to work from time to time for no apparent reason, thus I have decided to employ a new technique of which I have recently been made aware. Percussive Maintenance is the art of beating the crap out of an electrical item to try to get it to work again. Maybe it should be employed on those French?
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
Rent a private villa in Provence? www.cotdazurvillarentals.com
Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/
Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/
Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/
Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com
Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/
John Otway’s New Book? www.johnotway.com
Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html
Living France, Le Blog http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com
Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? www.chrisma.com
Ceramic Cafe in Biot? www.latassedecouleur.com
Rent a villa in Cote D’Azur? www.myperfectvilla.com
Find A House in Cote d’Azur? www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com
Monthly Riviera News? www.rivieratimes.com
Local ex pat information resource? www.angloinfo.com
Australian Batsman “Didn’t stay in long”
I hear about a girl in Australia who makes a complaint about a sexual assault. When reporting the incident, she is able to identify the culprit as an Australian batsman because he “didn’t stay in that long”. Those of you who have even a rudimentary knowledge of cricket might think that this joke is in bad taste, but surely only if you are Australian?
Lunch at Goeland on the beach in Cannes with that nice Lady decorator is enlivened by the consumption of several bottles of rose, following a visit to the Christmas market. She is kind enough to ask me what I would like for Christmas but sinks into something of a sulk when I suggest a plane ticket to Sydney to go to the 5th Ashes Test on 3rd January.
My picture today was taken in Nice in the window of a famous chocolatier. You may not be able to see from the photo, but melted chocolate is flowing constantly in the window dressing scene. I am afraid to say that I am reminded of an expression used by a former fellow cricketer after far too many beers and late curry. The expression “Billy Brown Tail” will remain in my memory banks forever, despite whatever I do to try to erase it.
Chocolate will never be the same again
The Christmas spirit is now omnipresent. This year I have decided it will be brandy. Seriously though the festering season is looming into view and the Valbonne carol service to which I alluded yesterday takes place this Friday at the pretty Valbonne Church. Valbonne itself is very pretty at night at this time of year and stages its own Christmas market for several days in the run up to Christmas and is well worth a visit.
Golf with the REGS on Saturday at Le Provencal takes the form of a shotgun start at 9am. I made my protest that it was far too early, but when it was explained to me by my sheep fancying compatriot, Steve Weston, that it was designed to allow the society to buy all the members lunch thereafter and to have plenty of time to enjoy it, I admit to having had my reservations quashed.
The exhibition of paintings by acclaimed artist Helen Humphreys takes place in Valbonne tomorrow and Saturday at Galerie de CasaBlù, Rue Eugène Giraud Valbonne Village. I am thinking of commissioning her to paint something pleasing for me, maybe a picture of the Valmasque forest, with Banjo the intellectually challenged Cocker spaniel running wildly into the forest disturbing the peace as is his want, and some hunters with extra-large guns, carefully taking aim….
Actually I have realised that it seems that Banjo and Steve Weston my sheep loving friend have something in common, they both love sheep, but as far as I am aware only one of them ever chases or as I think the term used is “worries” sheep. That of course must be Banjo?
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
Rent a private villa in Provence? www.cotdazurvillarentals.com
Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/
Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/
Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/
Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com
Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/
John Otway’s New Book? www.johnotway.com
Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html
Living France, Le Blog http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com
Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? www.chrisma.com
Ceramic Cafe in Biot? www.latassedecouleur.com
Rent a villa in Cote D’Azur? www.myperfectvilla.com
Find A House in Cote d’Azur? www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com
Monthly Riviera News? www.rivieratimes.com
Local ex pat information resource? www.angloinfo.com
Christmas Hymn sin ging
Christmas is looming and that means the carol service in Valbonne Church will soon be upon us. It is a wonderfully joyous occasion because one just enjoys carol singing without all the religious claptrap spouted by the likes of the Reverend Jeff. Doubtless the songs have some obscure religious content, but I for one am interested in it. The extent of my admiration for Jesus is that he provides us with an excuse for a long winter break and loads of parties. I am awaiting for news of the dates, but I do hope they don’t make the mistake they made last year when the notification of this festive hymn singing said “bring a blanket and prepare to sin”. At least I think it was a typo, if not then I could become a little more interested in the church than is currently the case.
In Nice today, the unmistakable signs of Christmas were all around. I spotted these two chaps in Place Messina in the centre of the city. I think the guy behind Rudolph is sitting on the bench behind him, but from the look in his eyes I cannot be certain. I am also slightly worried about showing this picture in case I received a response from my sheep loving golfing compatriot Steve Weston, especially if I suggest that these are Finnish sheep, as Steve may misconstrue this phrase…..so I wont make that possible connection. Steve, forget you read this.
Reindeer? looks more like snow to me
The gratifying thing about undertaking certain services for Currencies Direct, is the knowledge of the joy (although not often publicly acknowledged) that my work brings to those poor unfortunates who until I remove the shackles from their eyes, seem to enjoy paying their banks a big slice of whatever forex they are moving. Such was the case today when joy was unconstrained once their eyes had been opened. It is so nice to be in such a messianic occupation as Christmas approaches.
To celebrate, lunch was taken at La Voglia, an Italian restaurant apparently of some repute. Personally I am not attracted to Italian food in general, but my sole was excellent and the antipasti (I told you I was against Italian food) was stunning, rather too much and very reasonably priced.
My dog loving Persian fixer friend Joseph suggests a Facebook page to collect funds to send me to Sydney for the 5th Test, which is a splendid idea, however he omitted to say what his initial donation will be, I trust there will be a substantial cheque in the post, otherwise Banjo gets it.
This morning to Cannes to continue my philanthropic work (no Northy, that does not mean I collect stamps) with Currencies Direct, and to take in the Christmas market. I shall no doubt be required by that nice lady decorator to test the vin chaud to ensure it is of the correct consistency and quality for others who will attend in her wake. A wake of course does not mean she is no longer asleep, but describes where she has been but in a liquid form…if you get my drift..actually I am not even certain I get my drift..
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
Rent a private villa in Provence? www.cotdazurvillarentals.com
Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/
Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/
Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/
Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com
Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/
John Otway’s New Book? www.johnotway.com
Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html
Living France, Le Blog http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com
Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? www.chrisma.com
Ceramic Cafe in Biot? www.latassedecouleur.com
Rent a villa in Cote D’Azur? www.myperfectvilla.com
Find A House in Cote d’Azur? www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com
Monthly Riviera News? www.rivieratimes.com
Local ex pat information resource? www.angloinfo.com
Hair raising Bollinger champagne moment
The champagne moment came soon after Doug Bollinger (for that is his name) the Australian fast bowler and the only cricketer I have ever come across who wears a hairpiece, a syrup (of figs), a wig in Cockney rhyming slang, baldly came to the crease, the last man to bat for Australia. It was a hair-raising event, bristling with emotion, a close shave…..OK that’s enough hair jokes. So England are one up with three to play, boy is life good if you are an England cricket fan.
I heard today that France has bid to print the next batch of UK bank notes. That seems to me to be a bit wry to me, given that it is only a matter of time before the Euro collapses under the weight of debt incurred by Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy. Perhaps the idea is to print themselves a few real sterling bank notes to tide them over until the Euro is reborn as a Franco/German currency? At least the Euro is up to around 1.18 to the pound, although Barclays think the real value should be around 1.30 – 1.35.
So now I am going to re-enter the real daylight world that has passed me by since I got back from Australia. Now that the second Ashes Test in Adelaide has finished I will attune once again to French time, at least until 16th December when the Third Ashes Test starts in Perth in Western Australia, when it is back to the midnight vigil.
My picture today is of a pork pie on legs sitting in a woman’s handbag. This “dog”, which I spotted in a bag in La Kavanou wine bar in Valbonne recently, makes even Banjo, the licentious loathsome liability of a dog who stalks this household looking for something to steal or somewhere unpleasant to defecate look decent in comparison. Actually, thinking about it I think I may prefer a boil in the bag. Why would one want to have something that resembles a rat live in your handbag? I suppose you might call it a doggy bag? For me it is more akin to puss in a packet.
Doggy bag fresh from the table. I couldn't eat a whole one
It seems like all the ski resorts locally have opened. Isola 2000 would normally try to be open by the week before Christmas, but is open now, much earlier than normal, as is Greoliere, which at 1400-1800 metres is seldom open in December, let alone this weekend. This will cause that nice lady decorator to want to buy new ski gear again. For her it a bit like a drug, something like Buyagra in fact. This is a stimulant, that increases the ability of the patient to be able to spend money on expensive ski fashions that will be relevant for just a few hours before losing their appeal as they will be out of date by next year.
Tomorrow I must journey to Nice to continue my almost messianic activities of converting people to use Currencies Direct when making foreign transfers rather than using their banks. I will take confession; “bless me father for I have sinned”. What is your sin my son?” “I have been stupid enough to use my bank for foreign exchange”. “I absolve you of your sin my son, just say 4 hail Currencies Direct and don’t do it again or risk eternal damnation in this column”.
Chris France
Buying a house in France, moving money?www.currenciesdirect.net/chrisf
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
Rent a private villa in Provence? www.cotdazurvillarentals.com
Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/
Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/
Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/
Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com
Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/
John Otway’s New Book? www.johnotway.com
Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html
Living France, Le Blog http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com
Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? www.chrisma.com
Ceramic Cafe in Biot? www.latassedecouleur.com
Rent a villa in Cote D’Azur? www.myperfectvilla.com
Find A House in Cote d’Azur? www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com
Monthly Riviera News? www.rivieratimes.com
Local ex pat information resource? www.angloinfo.com
Best local artist? www.helenhumphrey.com
Hoover, male or female?
I have been thinking more about whether items in the English language should follow the French language and identify everyday objects as either male or female. The French apply a gender for most things, the feminine for a table, la table or masculine le chien for a dog, even if its a bitch. My favorite is the masculine prefix for vagina, yes, its le vagina!
A Hoover would obviously be female, making a lot of noise whilst cleaning up, whilst a light bulb is obviously male, especially the screw in variety. A plug socket would clearly be female and a plug male. I am undecided about rowing machine, it could be either, the mindless exertion involved exhausts and brings you out in a sweat, or constant attention makes you feel good. I am not saying which definition should be which gender, I think if I am feeling brave enough I will ask that nice lady decorator.
Male or female?
The apple pie that was yesterday stolen from a visitors motor cycle panier by the barmy beligerent beastly Banjo, the catastrophic canine cocker spaniel, has turned up a nastily reconstituted semi liquid form no more than a metre from my hammock. The deal was that if I allowed this doggy disaster into our household, any unfortunate deposits would be removed by that nice lady decorator, however I made the twin mistakes of not insisting on a time frame for the removal, and trusting her at her word. Thus one of my strategising areas is currently out of use awaiting her attention.
Day 4 of the second Ashes Cricket Test Match has come to an end with a Australia hanging on and praying for rain so I shall not be able to return to French time and be awake during the day and sleep at night, which is the exact opposite of where I have been for the last 12 days for another day. One nil up after 2 games in a 5 match series would feel really good, especially as England as the holder of the trophy will only relinquish it if Australia win the series. Whilst I am resigned to the fact that Melbourne at Christmas for the 4th Test will not be possible, I have not yet given up hope of getting to Sydney for the last test on 3rd January, indeed I looked at flights yesterday and have introduced the prospect to that nice lady decorator and the optimist in me believes that it was not dismissed out of hand, but that was probably because I did not wait to hear her response.
I have long thought that there is a market potential for golf tours in the area. Some research has shown that there is not much on offer, so I have a meeting today to plan such an offering golfing holidays to those poor unfortunates in England who are suffering with the weather, and now that sterling has partially recovered against the Euro, I feel the time is right to offer such an opportunity
Chris France
Buying a house in France, moving money?www.currenciesdirect.net/chrisf
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
Rent a private villa in Provence? www.cotdazurvillarentals.com
Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/
Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/
Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/
Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com
Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/
John Otway’s New Book? www.johnotway.com
Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html
Living France, Le Blog http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com
Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? www.chrisma.com
Ceramic Cafe in Biot? www.latassedecouleur.com
Rent a villa in Cote D’Azur? www.myperfectvilla.com
Find A House in Cote d’Azur? www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com
Monthly Riviera News? www.rivieratimes.com
Local ex pat information resource? www.angloinfo.com
Best local artist? www.helenhumphrey.com
Apple Pie stolen by evil cocker
As I sit and watch the test match, I hear the great Shane Warne, the greatest bowler spin bowler the world has ever produced describing England as “all over Australia like a cheap suit”. At the matches there is a tradition of dressing up, and I for one experienced a bearded “lady” in the urinals at Brisbane hitching up “her” skirt and it got me thinking about the male and female genders. Take photocopiers for instance, they are clearly female, they take a long time to warm up, are useful for reproduction, but you have to push the right buttons to get the right result. Push the wrong buttons and things can go horribly wrong.
Frequently I have to search the web for references and to check out some details to ensure the accuracy of this column, and it seems to me that the web must also be female. It keeps getting hit on and is looked at every day, but tyres for instance must be male, they are often over inflated and go bald very easily. Talking of over inflated, I think I am likely to get more than over inflated, in fact I might get blown up when the powerful Riviera woman’s community get to read my piece for Rivera Woman, the on-line magazine entitled Man knows Best.
Now, toadstools, male or female?. The one I photographed recently in the Valmasque Forest which surrounds Valbonne. I reckon female, it looks interesting and dangerous and may leave a nasty taste in your mouth.
Poisonous? who knows, female? probably
Last night to dinner with friends and guests, who despite being estate agents, were very pleasant, I think I agreed to buy two houses. Of course it was part of the deal that they became affiliated to Currencies Direct to enable their customers to benefit from better exchange rates than those offered by their banks.
I had wondered about the weekly grumpy old git blog called Happy Mondays that I write for angloinfo and whether it was being widely read, but I have discovered that it has received over 2500 hits in the first month, which is apparently a very good start, so I get to be grumpy on Mondays for the foreseeable future.
This week I must get back into French time, but obviously not until after the current Ashes Test Match has finished, England are in the driving seat and win is expected in the next two days.
The evil cocker spaniel, Banjo that is barely tolerated by me and under constant protest in our household has excelled himself. One of my daughters friends came to our house on a motorbike with an apple pie that he had baked. He was here for no more than 30 seconds, but that was sufficient time for that mutt to steal it from his panier and gobble it down. He will pay for this misdemeanour, quietly, when that nice lady decorator is not looking. My therapist says I have a preoccupation with vengeance but I told him “We’ll see about that”.
Chris France
Buying a house in France, moving money?www.currenciesdirect.net/chrisf
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
Rent a private villa in Provence? www.cotdazurvillarentals.com
Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/
Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/
Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/
Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com
Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/
John Otway’s New Book? www.johnotway.com
Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html
Living France, Le Blog http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com
Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? www.chrisma.com
Ceramic Cafe in Biot? www.latassedecouleur.com
Rent a villa in Cote D’Azur? www.myperfectvilla.com
Find A House in Cote d’Azur? www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com
Monthly Riviera News? www.rivieratimes.com
Local ex pat information resource? www.angloinfo.com
Best local artist? www.helenhumphrey.com
Australians get Hummered
I am staying on Australian time during the current test match so this morning at a little after 6am we went to La Kavanou wine bar in Valbonne. At first I was surprised that it was so dark, and everyone else thought it was Friday evening whereas I knew it was Saturday early morning, so I apologise for what you may consider is a late posting due to the time difference.
Executive transport Australian style
Of course drinking early in the day is not something I would normally condone, in fact it can lead one to getting Hummered, which is possibly the worst excuse I have ever used for a picture. It was taken in Brisbane a few days ago and shows a stretch Hummer owned by a company called Get Hummered.
Amongst those enjoying a hummering this morning were Jill and Tim Biscayne, and George Benson look-alike Henry and his ebony goddess of a wife Vinetta. I made the mistake of attempting to explain the intricacies of test cricket to her and I am certain I did not convey properly the magical attraction of the game in which England, for so many years the whipping boy of Australia, are as I write, grinding the Aussies into the dust in the second Ashes Test. For me it is a must see spectacle which is why my bed has been on the sofa for the last two days and will remain there for the next three days, weather permitting.. That reminds me of old Tommy Cooper joke about sleeping like a log and waking up by the fireplace.
The Australians in the crowd often wear camouflage clothing to the cricket, so I went shopping out there but I couldn’t see any. Talking of camouflage, that nice lady decorator was on top form last night (or yesterday morning depending upon which time frame you adopt) although slightly clouded by a bout of flatulence, which she denied was her and tried to hide without success. She asked me if I had anything for wind so I suggested a kite.
Unbelievably, some of the cold weather that has blighted England recently has turned up in Valbonne. There is some snow on the hills behind us if you get my drift and this morning my swimming pool was frozen. So with Christmas spirit in mind, today we will go and get our Christmas tree. Of course it is really a dead pine with some glitter stuck on it, but it will do the job. My suggestion that we should go to Australia for Christmas has clearly been dismissed as I am hearing of plans made for social occasions over the festive period. As usual I have not heard this from my social diarist, that nice lady decorator, but from friends who say things like “I hear you are coming over for Christmas drinks”. Obviously I have no executive authority when it comes to social engagements, merely the responsibility for financially supporting them!
Chris France
Buying a house in France, moving money?www.currenciesdirect.net/chrisf
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
Rent a private villa in Provence? www.cotdazurvillarentals.com
Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/
Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/
Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/
Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com
Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/
John Otway’s New Book? www.johnotway.com
Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html
Living France, Le Blog http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com
Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? www.chrisma.com
Ceramic Cafe in Biot? www.latassedecouleur.com
Rent a villa in Cote D’Azur? www.myperfectvilla.com
Find A House in Cote d’Azur? www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com
Monthly Riviera News? www.rivieratimes.com
Local ex pat information resource? www.angloinfo.com
Best local artist? www.helenhumphrey.com
Day lost in champagne test?
Twenty seven degrees when I left Brisbane, thirty-three degrees when I left Singapore, minus two degrees and snowing as I arrived at Heathrow. I thought I might get away with shorts and thongs, but I was wrong. Thongs of course are Australian slang for sandals, shame on the large female contingent of readers, I know what you were thinking, Chris France wearing a thong? hmmmm…Yes, I managed to get home to Nice via Heathrow despite the snow and cancellations, even as I write this, at the Christmas Fair at Bastide St Mathieu, once again working tirelessly to save people money on their foreign exchange transfers, I hear that Gatwick Airport is still closed.
29 hours of flights and airports, then straight from the airport to the fair, where I felt it was my duty to support that nice lady decorator in her running of the champagne bar. I abhor the idea of selling any merchandise that I have not tested thoroughly, So it was my duty, you understand, to ensure that the champagne on sale met the minimum standards that I would expect, and I am happy to report that quantity control was surpassed. No Pete, that was a deliberate typo. I think I was on a champagne diet and I have lost a day already.
I have found some business cards printed advertising the services of That Nice Lady Decorator. They were on the bar. This means that she has tacitly approved the name I have given her, and I am not sure how to react. If she actually likes the description then I am somewhat deflated, it’s no fun if she actually likes or approves of her title, it takes away the sense of dangerous satisfaction I enjoy, I shall have to think of something a little more pointed or controversial.
My picture today is from Australia and shows a giant didgeridoo, the aboriginal music instrument brought to our attention by redoubtable Australian Rolf Harris. I was lucky enough to work with Rolf in 1996 when we persuaded him to destroy record “Bohemia Rhapsody” for my record company, complete with didgeridoo and wobble board, another Australian er..”musical instrument”. He was a star then and is a star now.
- Can you see what it is yet?
I meet Bill Colegrave, the owner of the Bastide St Mathieu, then venue for the well attended fair, whose book Halfway House To Paradise I read on my trip. He is mortified that I have discovered a split infinitive in the text. Bill, who went to a proper school and a top university and ps a renowned intellect and classic scholar is already smarting from receiving a chess lesson recently from a former council house boy.
Also in attendance supporting the breadwinner in his household is Neil “I’m free” Humphreys supporting his lovely wife who is exhibiting her art. She tells me that she has five times sold pictures she has pained of Cafe Latin, the venue for church this morning, perhaps the reason why they like the place so much?
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
Rent a private villa in Provence? www.cotdazurvillarentals.com
Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/
Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/
Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/
Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com
Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/
John Otway’s New Book? www.johnotway.com
Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html
Living France, Le Blog http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com
Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? www.chrisma.com
Ceramic Cafe in Biot? www.latassedecouleur.com
Rent a villa in Cote D’Azur? www.myperfectvilla.com
Find A House in Cote d’Azur? www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com
Monthly Riviera News? www.rivieratimes.com
Local ex pat information resource? www.angloinfo.com
Best local artist? www.helenhumphrey.com
Chris France's Blog 