To infinity (pool) and beyond
When it rains here, it is often spectacular, and although I don’t usually allow it to rain on a Sunday due to golf commitments, I have relented this week and the elements have taken full advantage of my largesse.
Therefore, that nice lady decorator took the unilateral decision to change the venue for the celebration of Halloween from Valbonne Square to the Queens Legs who were staging a Halloween Party to avoid the inclement weather. We were joined by several other miscreants.
Halloween gives a great excuse for members of our community to make the most of the looks they have not be given, and several horror stories were witnessed. I cannot name names but there are those that will understand what I am talking about. One was truly horrible, but I am not sure she had even dressed up for Halloween.
The Last Supper, as I like to describe it, if merely to irritate my religious pals such as the Reverend Jeff, involved a couple of pints of Guinness at the Queens Legs followed by an intended adjournment to new wine bar La Kavanou, together with an assembled multitude of thirsty revellers. I refer to it as a last supper as I shall be once again attempting to embark on a long period of temperance, lasting as long as until Wednesday or even Thursday of this week. I believe one has to have lofty aims as, when one just fails to reach them, say by a couple of days, one can take solace for a partial achievement coupled with the knowledge that in fact the metaphorical bar was set to high.
Actually if the actual bar was set high enough to be out of reach, I would have a better chance to meeting the highest of self imposed targets, and I went to sleep grappling with that concept. However, the rain did not sleep in fact it went into frenetic party mode and the most ferocious downpour added to the steady heavy rain of yesterday with calamitous results as my picture today shows.
Nice green infinity pool
I have always quite fancied one of those new fangled infinity swimming pools, and the rain gods must have known that as they kindly created one for me in my own pool last night. Unfortunately they also decided to put green water in it which I have to say is a fashion mistake. The pool was at least a foot below its normal level before the monsoon started, as it has a leak and we were letting to run down to find out where the leak was so we could fix it during the winter. So I reckon we must have had 30 cm’s of rain at least in the last 36 hours.
The rain gods also thought it was a good idea to run through our house at 5am this morning so much of the day so far has been spent mopping and sweeping the rain that flowed while we slept, I suspect though, that we got off lightly I would imagine there will be flood reports flooding in all day.
A bank holiday here in France will of course be respected by my good self. I like to enjoy days of rest on bank holidays. Tomorrow is bank holiday in Burkino Fasso and Wednesday is a holiday in Tibet, you 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
Old crocs in the Var
Late on Friday night at the Queens Legs in Valbonne I bumped into Jude O Sullivan, who insisted I look in her hand bag to confirm the there was no bottle of Baileys on board, as I had alleged was always the case in one of last weeks episodes. She was correct, no Baileys in her bag, but clearly either it had been stolen or more likely she had already drunk it earlier in the evening.
My picture today is of an olive tree in Valbonne that is so old, they have made a roundabout out of it.
Olive tree roundabout in Valbonne
Shortly the locals will begin collecting the olives before taking them up to the olive mill at Opio to exchange them for olive oil. Why the don’t just go to the supermarket and buy it at 5 euros a bottle escapes me.
And so yesterday to the Var, La Motte to be exact, for the Angloinfo sponsored Best Of British In The Var Exhibition. It is well attended and a success heralded by co founders of what is now officially the worlds largest ex pat website, Mike Hardacre (with a K) and his long suffering wife now known to me as Wandy for reasons I would prefer not to reveal. They suggest that I should become a guest blogger on the Angloinfo site.
As many of you will know, I can easily be bought so I agreed, subject to the negotiation of a suitable fee.
After the fee had been negotiated and then drunk, I must now retire to consider the contents of my first column. It is intended for publication on a Monday and is provisionally called Happy Monday but as I am usually at a peak of grumpiness on Monday after a long weekend I think the title might be a little ironic.
Following my Currencies Direct missionary work I am going to take the currency gods promise of a day of rest, today, so this taking of gods name in vain should offend the reverend Jeff at least, so only another couple of hundred to offend and I will have full house.
The week ahead looks quiet, but that is normal, but by Monday the old social whirl will no doubt be underway. Teetotality, now that’s a word to juggle with. Before I wrote it, the word probably did not exist but it does now, even if is only in my fetid imagination. It is however a good description of how I intend once again to eschew strong drink in the coming days. I expect to fail.
That nice lady decorator should also be joining me on this crusade after the week she has just had. Lunch day after day whilst the worker slaved away, nose against the terminal in a non stop word fest of imaginative creation. In other words, I had a few articles to write whilst she was spending all the earnings.
But even she will be gainfully employed this week, decorating. About time too I said, I need some spending money for my trip to Australia in a few weeks. Needless to say, that did not go down too well, and perhaps I should have re phrased it, or maybe “please” would have worked?
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
Blogging; An Author Speaks
Church at Cafe Latin was sparsely attended this week, it seems that the half term break has caused some major backsliding. What are people doing, having a holiday? Don’t They know that if they live in this area their whole life is a holiday? Admittedly I was a bit late, but not so late that I did not spy Mr Humphries (he was free) scurrying away with his delicious wife Helen as I arrived. I caught him for long enough for him to say it was pure coincidence that his departure coincided with my arrival, but I hear from other worshippers that he kept his coat on all morning, a sure sign of attempted blog avoidance, and, at the same time covering up whatever sartorial sins he had committed beneath that mac he was wearing.
The lovely Lucy from Red Radish is running the Nice marathon this weekend and is looking for raise money for cancer research. I have donated £20 (28 Euros at today’s Currencies Direct exchange rate and no bank charges) so I expect all my readers to do the same.
My picture today was taken by that nice lady decorator and seems to me to be a rather stark put down of us bloggers. Actually I like to be described as a writer, especially as I am now being (rather badly) paid for writing articles crucial to the continued success of Cote D’Azur Villa Rentals and Blue Water Yachting, and better still if the book deal comes off that I am negotiating then I will become “an author”
Note the table is roped off. Is that to keep non bloggers out or bloggers in?
Today, by the time that you lucky chaps who have the weekend off read this, I will be down the motorway to La Motte to meet up with the usual suspects peddling their wares or more likely their services to the impoverished population of the Var. I say impoverished because I don’t know anyone who would willingly live in the Var rather than live around Valbonne, so it must just be a financial thing. I would say though, that it is a much better place to live than jolly old England, especially in November, my least favourite month. Anyway, it is my lot to go to La Motte. The Best of British In The Var takes place tomorrow and my presence is required to soothe the frenzy that will doubtless commence as soon as my new disciples of Currencies Direct see the light and are cured.
In order to arrive in good stead for tomorrow, last night I ventured out to the new wine bar in Valbonne, which is called Kavanou. The lovely proprietor is not yet aware of how this column can make or break her commercial enterprise, but I shall be doing the best to persuade her that in future I should be supplied with all merchandise and wine free of charge in return for a positive review. However, I suspect she has heard that kind of bullshit before…however, I will wait in hope, before giving the thumbs up.
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
Give me a croc sandwich, and make it snappy
Yesterday morning I walked into Valbonne to post my letters and took this photo of the olive trees ready for the harvest that to start next month. OK, that’s enough culture for this column, I know what you want, salacious gossip or bad mouthing at a very minimum, so it is with a happy heart that I know that Neil Humphreys will be in the Cafe Latin this morning, as I havent been rude about him for almost 2 weeks! (apart from yesterday) so lets start now, I believe he thinks a fibula is a little white lie.
Olive trees at Domaine Sylvain in Valbonne, ready for harvest
So with luck, my visit to Cafe Latin this morning will provide me with enough material for the coming week and to pick up fashion tips from a certain magistrate who sent me an email yesterday with some less than magesterial language. I know he loves to feature in this column as he “doth protest too much”.
To the Queens Legs last night for a couple of sharpeners as the planned teetotal week suffered another setback, but I am not down hearted, 2 “dry” days out of 7 is a move forward.
We we’re checking if there was any event planned for Halloween and whether traditional costume was required. Of course that nice lady decorator’s normal clothing will not require many additions, except perhaps she could benefit from having her broomstick polished.
That last sentence is a kind of litmus test. If she storms into my office today with her broomstick, I will know she has read today’s episode, if not then I will know her claim to be keeping an eye on is a hoax. I realise that pain may be involved, but I need to know where my editorial limits are and this seems to be a good way to find out.
The beautiful weather – 21 degrees forecast for today – will apparently be interrupted over the weekend, so that should enable me to convert even more currency exchangers at the Best Of British show at La Motte in the Var. The beaches will not be so alluring if the promised rain arrives, so doubtless the more sensible amongst you living over there in the wilds of Provence will be rushing to enlist with Currencies Direct.
Surprisingly nothing back from Mike Hardacre (with a k) after my comments yesterday about his bedroom crocs. His lovely wife claims that he has some incriminating pictures of me, but as I have never done anything I am ashamed of except….then there was….and then there was…actually he may have a point, I think I will be nice to him until I find out more about what he thinks he has over me.
Apparently no golf is organised by the Regs this weekend, or perhaps my name has slipped off the email list after my revelations about certain players appeared in this column last weekend. In any event I have decided to curse them with the weather, as I could not have played anyway
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
New wine bar in Valbonne
Mike Hardacre (with a K) is a co-founder of Angloinfo, and habitually wears crocs, those nasty plastic shoes that despite claims that they are comfortable are, of course, a fashion nightmare that any normal person would avoid at all costs. Regular readers will also know that he has crocs for every occasion, from black tie crocs through to gardening crocs. I suggested some time ago that he should consider getting some bedroom crocs, and lo and behold I have confirmation from his lovely wife in an email yesterday that they have on order matching “woolly mammoth bedroom crocs”. I have asked for photos and await a response.
Yesterday afternoon, I was taken to Le Domaine du Paradis des Oiseaux in Mougins near le Parc de Mougins, and what a splendid place it is. It has now been booked for the Currencies Direct “Tour De Finance” which will take place there on May 19th next year. As it will involve free wine and cheese at the apero hour, I suggest that the thirstier amongst you make a diary note now.
At 7pm last night, that nice lady decorator heard about the opening of a new wine bar in Valbonne. By 7.15 we were in it and very nice it is too. Called, I think,something like La Kavanough , it is run by an English girl yachtie who owns a camper van so she can do no wrong in my book. Actually it is technically a Cave Au Vins, but it was full of people sampling the stock and is offering tapas for sale. This may become a regular haunt for the idle rich of Valbonne.
New wine bar in Valbonne
So impressed was the in house plasterer that she has now arranged for us to go again tonight, this time mob handed, so my teetotal attempted week has been utterly destroyed.
Today I must prepare for a trip to La Motte in the Var for the Best Of British show on Saturday, when once again I will selflessly put myself in mortal danger (its colder over there and I have a sniffle) to find poor lost souls who are still using their banks to exchange currency. It is hard to believe, but I am still finding some of these sad unfortunates even in Valbonne so my job is not yet done. In fact I have a diary note to visit church (Cafe Latin) on Friday morning to see if there are any other converts I can collect up and place in the tender arms of Currencies Direct.
There is of course the added thrill of finding out what Neil Humphries is wearing, so that I can avoid the same fashion mistakes that he makes. You would think he would have learned by now, respectable non working JP and magistrate that he is, but no, whenever I see him I am amazed. I am still waiting for him to find a way of inserting his judges wig into his daily attire, it cannot be long. He will of course now berate me on Friday because magistrates don’t wear wigs, but why let a small fact like that get in the way of a good story?
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
“Dryer Siemens” available shock
Angloinfo is a great resource for the ex pat, often helpful and always informative so I keep an eye on it, but today I saw an advert which I think came from a Dutch lady, for a “Dryer Siemens” and it caught my eye. I must get one. A Dryer Siemens that is not an eye.
Some of you will know that the wingco has emailed me on many occasions to say that he does not have my email address. He has some old logs which he wanted me to get rid of (ie add to my log store) but after the second load he found out how much they would cost to buy. I told him that the cost of coming over in the 4 x 4 and the trailer just about cancelled any value, and anyway, people could come along and nick them, which as my picture today shows seems to have come to pass.
The wingco's logs dumped in the Valmasque?
A milestone was passed yesterday with the 10,000th visit to view the contents of this site. So if anyone wants to give me copious amounts of money to feature in this blog then please note that I am a happy believer in payola.
Old friend Larry Smith, an Australian who used to live in Cannes has been in touch. His daughter Giselle, still fondly remembered by many of the boys of Mougins School a couple of years ago is now apparently dating a member of the Australian reserve 20 20 cricket team, so Test match tickets for Brisbane, where I am headed in about 4 weeks look set fair!
Larry was the man with whom I stayed in London a couple of years ago when working on the abortive John Otway World Tour. We were at a hotel in west London, and it was warm, and the window would not stay open, so I looked for something to jam into it to keep it open and happened on my shoe. This worked fine until about 4am when the window slammed shut and my shoe fell 2 floors below onto an internal courtyard.
As they were the only shoes I had with me, there was no choice, I had to shin down to get it. Sheets were knotted together but did not extend far enough down, so a little more height was needed, thus a chair and table to stand on were lowered into the otherwise inaccessible courtyard, and the shoe was recovered, but I think the chair and table might still be there, I have no idea how they could be retrieved.
The John Otway new book, “Regrets, I’ve Had A Few” in which I am not as seriously libeled as I was in the first, is available to purchase through his website. Please buy it as he owes me money and I want to ensure he will be able to pay me when I next see him. John, I know you read this sometimes, I shall be in London shortly…
Another friend living in Plascassier, Mark Wolff, keen member if the Regs (the Riviera ex pats golf society), having just finished working on a film with Liam Nielson due for release in the USA in January is off to Dubai this week to begin work on Mission Impossible 4. This is in no way a comment in his golf, although with his handicap it is almost Impossible Four me to beat him.
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
Blog ghastly shock? not really
More readers joining the massed ranks of those that cannot enjoy their lives fully unless they have access to this daily epistle would normally be accepted by me as gratifying, by my detractors as mystifying and as truly ghastly by the wingco. In fact everything I do and say is treated in those terms by the wingco. Indeed he is able to pronounce the H in ghastly in such a way that I cannot, and at the same time to induce spittle into his enunciation of the S in ghastly. If you can imagine Terry Thomas saying “ghastly” with those traits then you almost have it, although the wingco is somehow able to impart more heart felt loathing.
So it should have been good news that I discovered that I have another convert who is beginning to read this column regularly via her Facebook page, but I admit my chance discovery that the nice lady decorator has begun to take more of an interest in the content of this column has left me in a quandary.
My style of writing relies on my freedom to insult and criticise, judge and condemn, ridicule and character assassinate my friends without requiring a shred of real evidence, based on conjecture and hearsay, plus a great deal of extrapolation and a good helping of exaggeration.
It helps a great deal when someone like the wingco makes it crystal clear that he will never read it, and thus removes what little shame I may retain when writing something awful about him as I know he will remain blissfully unaware, and I escape retribution.
Of course this relies on the good humour of my chums who have come to expect to be pilloried from time to time, but this good humoured acceptance is not always guaranteed by the in house plasterer, and her keeping an eye on the content is a worrying development. It means in effect that I may have to be nice to her or face severe consequences.
Today, at the behest of worrier in chief and wearer of many hats as my picture today shows today, Dr Wayne, I sought the urgent prescription of statins for what he considered was an immediate life threatening cholesterol reading.
Which one is his doctors hat? Where is his stethoscope?
Readers of yesterdays missive will know that he spent the entire lunch event on Sunday hectoring me on my eating and drinking habits and intercepting foods that he thought unsuitable for my high cholesterol. It was like having a professional food taster. It turned out to be so urgent that the doctor suggested that I immediately take six weeks or so to modify my diet a little by cutting out peanuts and cheese and the then having a re test.
I am however touched by Wayne’s concern. Perhaps he thought the google ratings of his FR2day website might suffer catastrophically if I was for some reason sufficiently incommoded not to be able to write this column and therefore not help it FR2day the top of the search engine pages by constant mentions and links?
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
Clive Panto, Oh Yes he is
Lunch with the Warners in Biot is seldom a quiet reserved affair and frankly we would not go if it was. Thankfully it was up to its normal high standards, great food, copious amounts of wine and interesting characters.
Usual suspects Wayne Brown from FR2day, Lucy from Red Radish fresh (well fresh enough for me from her 20 mile morning run) were present as were rather more dubious characters such as Clive Panto and Ray Hamilton. Wayne has taken on the role of my personal physician. He had decided that my stated quest for a cholesterol reading of 10+ is not something he will tolerate and with my normal doctor on holiday has arranged for a second opinion today. His opinion, being the first opinion, is that I be prescribed emergency course of statins. I did my best to start the intensive therapy myself with a wholehearted attempt to drink as much red wine as possible, it containing high quantities of statins but Dr Wayne monitored my food intake carefully, occasionally even intercepting items of food he deemed unsuitable on the way to my mouth from my hand.
Ray Hamilton was extolling the virtues of power snooker, a company in which he has a controlling interest which is launching at the O2 next weekend, apparently with the support of such impeccable bastions of the establishment as Frank Warren, Harvey Goldsmith and Barry Hearn, all acclaimed impresarios without any trace of scandal in their backgrounds.
Clive Panto was back in town. He can no longer live here as he cannot afford it, so visits from time to time and we give him solace. In return he has to accept that I will always ask him if Panto is his real name, and stoically once he has confirmed this he accepts, without good grace it should be noted, the response of “oh no it’s not”
Paul Thornton Allen spent much of the afternoon repeating Tommy Cooper gags, which I admit to finding very funny, particularly gags like ” I went to the doctor and asked what he could give me for had for wind, so he gave me a kite.” I think you can see these from these events that it was not a high brow affair but no less fun for that.
At home in the evening I was looking for a photo to feature today, and came across this from Friday night. It was taken just before John O Sullivan went to sleep but I don’t think you can tell.
A grinning sleepy Irish bandit
On the face of it, this week looks quiet, but often that is the case, however, with half term upon us, no doubt there will be a number of refugees from the winter weather in England who will be turning up at our door to be entertained. In any event that nice lady decorator should be well refreshed having retired to bed at 8pm on Sunday evening. Some may think that her over diligent attention to many varieties of wine being sampled at the extended lunch may have had something to do with it, but I could not possibly comment.
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
Tumescence at boiling point?
Golf yesterday morning with the Landlubbers was at the Grande Bastide aka The Big Bastard as described by my old friend Paul North. In the absence if Dave the Fade, who is still looking for his descendants in Australia, our happy group has voted sheep loving Steve Weston to be in charge, a bit like leaving Garry Glitter in charge of a kindergarten.
I don’t know why I have never thought of it before, but I was drawn to play with, or rather should I say play alongside Gordon Weston. Now it seems too far fetched to imagine that they are not related, so I suggested to Gordon that Steve might be his love child.
I was surprised by the reaction of the young Weston, suggesting that knowing his mother it was eminently possible but I thought I saw a tear in the eye of Weston senior, was that a cry from the heart for a lost son?but that may have been a tear of joy at being able to remove 10 Euros from my wallet by way of a palpably unfair bet that I was stupid enough to enter into.
Also unfairly taking advantage of an old man was gruff northerner Dave Goddard, with whom I also played enjoyed a round of golf, pictured today in typical Yorkshire pose.
Gruff northerner Dave Goddard finds the equivalent of an up market urinal in Yorkshire
Eventually, the young Weston managed to divert the conversation around to the subject of sheep. Sheep in Valmasque in particular. We were talking about the possibility of, on our next outing, playing at the Riviera Golf Club in Mandelieu. This was enough for Steve who claimed that they have a pet sheep at the course, and that there are sheep in the Valmasque, the forest that surrounds the golf course. Like a lamb to the slaughter young Weston went on to describe the traditional annual movement of sheep from the high pastures into the valleys as to find fresh pasture as tumescence.
I thought the word had a very different meaning, but before the whole thing grew out of proportion (sic) and upon my questioning, he clarified that he meant transhumance, apparently the french or originally Latin expression for this twice annual sheep trek to find pastures new. However, a cynic may suggest that for Steve, the connection in his mind between the two words may be further raw material for his therapist. It certainly works for this column!
Last night for drinks at the Thornton Allens, where we meet once again Bill Colegrave. He tells a story about an old friend staying at their wonderful La Bastide St Mathieu who knew M Gotti, a famous local former mayor of Plascassier who was very active in the resistance locally when the Germans occupied France during the Second World War. Bill, always fascinated by history, invited him over for breakfast to find out more about his war-time exploits. What Bill had failed to consider was that the other guests at his hotel were charming but elderly German couples. He says he mentioned it once but think he got away with it. He suggests that M Gotti’s revelations his time with Eisenhower, his war-time battle scars and his visit to Buchanwold were very interesting, at least to him…
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
Baileys famine shock
It required a trip to the Queens Legs pub in Valbonne to discover that the Irish interpretation of the French for foreplay is quatre jouet. This is the vital information that emanated from a chance meeting with cigar scrounging Irishman John O Sullivan and his delicious wife Jude whom we met in the pub before adjourning to he Valbonnaise for a late supper.
I asked our convivial host at the Valbonnaise to write down what he thought was the most fitting description in French of foreplay, and this is what I received.
First things first
Quite why the conversation had turned in this direction I do not recall, although with Jude around perhaps that is a clue
Jude O Sullivan has a renowned thirst for Baileys. Most restaurateurs in Valbonne understand this an ensure they have a good supply of this nasty concoction in stock at all times. However I hear that due to the well documented strikes at present, the van load of baileys scheduled for delivery to the Valbonnaise to try to keep pace with her consumption was blockaded, and there was nothing left after her last visit. After the wailing and gnashing of teeth had subsided, she suddenly remember the emergency magnum in her handbag, so after before she could say “make mine a large one” calm and smiles returned and the lucky proprietor was able to escape without feeling the lash of her Irish tongue. Actually, that’s a nice concept, I wouldn’t mind feeling the lash or her tongue but that is a story for another day.
Earlier in the day I had cruised along The Croisette in Cannes with the top of the merc down in the warm autumn sunshine, admiring the many beauties sunbathing in the sands. Two quick meetings with two mighty estate agents, job done and back home by midday with another days toil compressed into the customary 2 hours. I know, you must all be wondering how I do it. I think careful planning, diligence over detail and organisational genius are at the heart of it, I just wish I hadn’t forgotten my blackberry, the address of one of my appointments and my house keys.
Today my first golf with the Landlubbers group for some time. That means several weeks have elapse since I have been able mercilessly to able to pillory Steve Weston about his admitted love of sheep. Frankly I had exhausted all the jokes I could think of, but after a couple of weeks there are a couple of themes that have occurred to me so tune in tomorrow for an update. I must remember to take sandwiches with me today, I have some cold lamb in the fridge…..
Dave the Fade emails from Australia to tell me the Australian press are getting worried about The Ashes and that they have no confidence in their captain following their 2 0 drubbing against the Indians. I admit that I am daring to hope the series will be better for us than the 5 0 slaughter we received on the last 2 tours down under.
Dave is in Australia for some intensive work on his fade. He really wants to develop a draw (which to non golfers is where the ball once hit swerves in the opposite direction to the fade), but I hear his golf coach told him the best way for him to do that was to play left handed.
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
Strike Party?
The french are happy enjoying their favourite hobby if striking. It is a national pass time, much loved by the locals, and even supported by local students, none of whom can have any real idea of what life will be like when they come to contemplate retirement in 40 plus years time.
To put this protest in context, the strikes and general mayhem, all conducted in, it has to be said, a very convivial atmosphere here, in the Cote d’Azur seem to be more of a general joining in with a good party than with any overt political purpose.
The unrest relates to the proposed increase in the pensionable age from 60 to 62 in France. To put this is context, the retirement age in England has been 65 for many years, but was yesterday raised to 66. Were there any strikes in the UK? Where there any sit ins by students, were cars overturned and burned in central London? Not that I am aware of, yet the French, and especially the students are all up in arms, enjoying a good social rally.
The English, when they want a good social occasion, organise a party, or all agree to meet at the pub, the French? They have a strike and all meet at a rally to protest so that can enjoy each others company.
I suppose that there are some parallels. In the UK it can get leery on a Saturday Night, and the police often have to monitor events to ensure that things do not get out of hand, and I guess the same applies to a good rally in France. That must be the reason students are involved, because which student do you know is genuinely worried about the prospect of retiring two years later? When I was that age I could not see a life past the age if 30. The Who said it all ‘I hope I die before I got old’
Actually I did go a bit french in my teens, going on a march about something or other, but only because a girl I liked was going, however I reverted to type during the event by diverting her into a pub.
Yesterday to Antibes to meet far-sighted bankers HSBC who have seen the sense in referring clients with large forex needs to the joys of Currencies Direct, young Vincent there being particularly far-sighted. Thereafter to Chateau Begude, just outside Valbonne to look at their conference facilities for the Tour De Finance that I am staging next year. I know you are all gagging to know more about this, but it is secret at the moment, so cannot even reveal the name of the Tour.
Pizza oil served in a baby's bottle at The Valbonnaise
I have my cholesterol result, and it is even better than I hoped, a reading of over 8 is a triumph, so what better way to celebrate than early doors at the Queens Legs with Claire Warner and a pizza at the Valbonnaise? Of course as anyone who knows her will be aware, the concept of “early”does not really exist for Clair, six o clock sharp meaning around 7 in her book.
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
Batman, snorkel, flipper, cravat shock
Comments on this column are always welcome, and often I will nick anything funny and claim it as my own, and so it is today. I have heard that Gary Glitter is considering appearing in a new film to be called “Oh she’s Eleven”. If you are new to this blog, and I seem to have an increasing readership now spanning 5 continents, please do not expect anything better or in less poor taste. The standards have been set over the past 6 months since I began writing this daily missive, and the bar has been set stubbornly low.
Seeing Andreas at the weekend reminded me of a trip to Berlin last year with Bang and Olavson, our dear Norwegian gay friends, also known as Ziggy and Morten. With none of us having ever been to Berlin before we booked into a massive 40 floor hotel, and, after a few drinks, retired to our respective rooms for a pre dinner siesta.
I had just slipped onto my smoking jacket, removed the latex gloves from their packaging and was adjusting my cravat when that nice lady decorator screamed. I am used to that when I approach her in the dark whilst wearing my batman outfit silly amorous grin, bit on this occasion even I jumped when I saw the image below. Don’t forget we were on the 29th floor of the hotel and one would normally not expect to be overlooked at that height! unless in New York or the like.
Perhaps he was cleaning the windows, from a rope?
Even then I would not expect to find someone limpet like crawling up my window. One tends to be a little less dogmatic about what ones is wearing in the privacy of ones own hotel room, until something like this happens. From now on I will not risk the flippers and snorkel again in any hotel room where the curtains are not closed however high up it is,
It seems that the person outside was climbing the hotel but had omitted to inform the management.
I have found the prescription so the dreaded cholesterol test will go ahead in the morning. This has of course enforced an abstemious night, to add to the previous two so I am reasonably confident that I have exorcised all the last vestiges of alcohol from my system. A reading of anything under 8 I will view as a triumph.
It was going to wait until Friday for the test but an invitation to an early doors drink from the redoubtable Claire Warner this evening could not be ignored and with social occasions stacking up for the weekend, and the resultant damage to my liver, I needed to make use of this narrow window of sobriety in order to try to fool Dr Patrick of my burgeoning good health.
Saturday will see my return to the fold of the Landlubbers golfing group. I say fold but perhaps field would be a better description because the tournament is being run by our sheep loving friend Steve Weston in the absence if Dave the Fade (could I say we have been shawn of his presence?) who is in Australia having his slice lanced.
Actually, Shawn is a good nickname for Steve, well that or Dolly. I think I will adopt and promote it amongst our happy throng at the weekend.
Today I must drive to Antibes to engage HSBC in conversation about currencies before being unleashed in the evening on the Queens Legs and probably the Elysee Carnot.
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
Stable diet disaster
After the excesses of food back in England over the weekend, today saw the start of the “shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted (down loads of food) diet”. Excessive in quantity and lacking in quality is a fair description of both the food consumed in England and the shape of my abdomen. And before you “spell check” obsessives criticise, the headline was a deliberate pun.
That was the plan, but a lunch with Greg at Cote d’Azur Villas in the lovely sunny Cafe Des Arcades in Valbonne Square was particularly distracting, as the plat de jour was a stunning pave de boeuf. I kept looking at the salad menu, but when one of those dishes went past less than a metre from my nose, the decision was made and the edifice upon which my willpower is based crumbled like dust. The horse will have to stay outside for another day.
Golf tours. That’s what we discussed, bespoke golf tours for this area using some of the many fantastic villas that Greg controls which are often empty for long periods out of peak season. In that respect it was purely a commercial lunch, (so I hope my accountant is reading this and will be prepared to receive the bill on my next expenses submission), although very pleasant indeed.
Other deals were done involving Currencies Direct and property matters so my guilt was somewhat off set by the knowledge that yet another business triumph has been born, perhaps even more than one.
My trip to Australia is beginning to hove into view. The first time I went there was in the late 1980’s with the Reverend Jeff, a regular reader of this column, not looking too holy in this picture from my youth.
Myself, the Reverend Jeff and John Otway, aptly for the Reverend, this was taken outside a church about 35 + years ago. Dig those red strides!
The highlight of the trip was when he crashed into a cow and wrote off the hire car. Most people, if they are going to attempt road kill of any significance in Australia would take aim at one of the many kangaroos that nap on the warm tarmac, but Jeff was always one for steak tartare (as long as it was properly cooked). Actually I lie, he is more of a beefburger person now I come to think of it, but I think you get my drift.
As I have at least 3 friends who are BA pilots, I shall expect one of them to do their duty in terms of upgrades in late November. It will be the least they can do for me giving up, as I am, 10 days or so of my life to ensure England get the right result in the First Test in Brisbane.
I have business in both Antibes and Cannes over the next few days, both revolve around meetings to ensure that fewer people will in future be ripped off by their banks when transferring funds from one currency to another. If any of my readers need to be similarly rescued, please click on this link; www.currenciesdirect.net/chrisf
Today is set to be more mundane however. Once I have crow-barred my son out of bed and emptied the trailer (well, after he has emptied the trailer) at the local tip, it will be the joys of the quarterly battle with VAT for me, and the uncompromising stance taken by my accountant over my perfectly reasonable expenses.
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
Children’s playground abused shock horror
On Sunday, that Nice lady decorator removed her slippers which she had habitually worn for breakfast at the hotel, in order to go and play on the swings and children’s play area in Wymondham as my picture today shows. What the picture does not show is the warning that the equipment should not be used by anyone over the age of 5.
Caught in the act of abusing a children's playground. She should be ashamed
I feel she should give herself up to the authorities and confess, but instead she has fled the country before this mug shot reaches the police. Thus I am now cavorting with a so far un convicted criminal who is on the run. It can only be a matter of time before Interpol are knocking in our door. My conscience is troubling me. On the one hand I know that I should turn her in, but on the other hand, I need someone to cook and however chaotic her cooking, it is better than mine.
You may be surprised to see that it appears to be sunny in the picture, as was I, but by Monday the weather was back to normal, rain and gales woke us up yesterday morning, but far from mourning, I was looking forward to getting back to sunny skies of France.
Not that the weekend was all fun, no, two new Currencies Direct customers secured, two people with houses abroad delighted to see the savings they will make, so all is well with the world.
I always endeavour to consume the five a day recommended intake of fruit and vegetables, but it seems to be significantly harder to achieve in England. I was content the on Sunday evening to compete the five a day by ordering a sag bahgee and okra bahgee, to go with the fried tomato and orange juice at breakfast, and some lettuce garnish at lunch to enable me to conclude loudly and triumphantly that I had achieved the 5 a day benchmark. This is despite the immense provocation that is the diet of the English in England, I had secured a full house, but the in-house plasterer snorted with derision. I cannot understand why. Vegetables are vegetables no matter how they are cooked, and whatever the cooking process.
On the way from the airport I was suddenly informed that we needed to collect the dogs. Not something I relished being dog tired myself, especially as one of them is called Banjo, the evil cocker spaniel, himself on probation for chewing a chihuahua at the kennels where he is imprisoned when we are away. Personally I believe he should be punished with a longer spell in said prison, 15 years should do it, but as usual when I make suggestions of this kind I get that laser beam look.
As if that was not enough, no sooner had we got in the door I was told it was parents evening, so no nice little sojourn in front of the TV with a glass of something nice..well, not until later anyway.
Lunch today with Greg from Cote d’Azur villa rentals, but it is not a social occasion, oh no. I have a scheme which will enable his better to sign up for Currencies Direct, thus saving money on their villa rentals. I must also discuss the content of more articles to keep him at the top of the google rankings, and I have an idea to provide bespoke golfing holidays outside the summer season.
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/
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
Slippers worn to breakfast shock
That nice lady decorator went to breakfast in the hotel in her slippers. She refused to accept that the guests were looking at her aghast. Her reasoning was that her feet hurt so much due to the ridiculous shoes she was wearing last night at the big bash and that the pain, combined with her hangover, meant she did not care. She had of course consumed more than her own body weight of champagne as is customary when it is free. What am I saying? It doesn’t matter whether it is free or not, she always drinks more champagne than her own body weight as a matter of course. I am so glad she does not have curly hair otherwise the next step is to be at breakfast with her in curlers.
To lunch then with the birthday girl to celebrate the start of her 6th decade. The kilt is safely packed away, as are the in house plasterers silly shoes. In the morning after a walk around Wymondham pictured below in unseasonably sunshine with the wind keeping frost away, I was not sure of the direction to our hotel room but all I had to do was follow the trail of black feathers which had moulted from that nice lady decorators feather boa last night and left a trail across Norfolk. My picture today is rather more artistic than normal and is of Wymondham Abbey.
Wymondham Abbey the full 10 minute tour before the pub opened
We decided on that we should really immerse ourselves in some local culture before lunch, even before the pub so we resolved to meet at reception to take in the abbey. The pub opened at 12 00 am a Sunday and was at least 10 minutes walk to the pub but I am afraid to admit that the culture fix did not last long enough for us to have to wait 5 minutes outside the pub for it to open
Also over for the party was Andreas, one of my 4 favourite gay Norwegian friends, whose first trip to England this was. I felt it was a necessary part of his cultural education to introduce him to English beer before setting off for lunch and so after a couple of pints of London Pride at The Feathers in Wymondham, we set off to lunch at Barford.
We have two sets of gay friends, both couples, cigar smoking Ziggy and Morten plus Andreas and Mario, whom old pal Paul North has dubbed Bang and Olafson and Marks and Spencer respectively. Alas only Andreas could make it but he was on fine form.
You may have thought that a really big night out followed . By a big lunch and a taxi back to the hotel at 6pm might have been enough. Enough to (able to say that we had experienced a nice full weekend catching up with loads of mates). I had just settled into a pleasant siesta when that nice lady plasterer was bellowing in my ear to get up as she had made an agreement to meet some of those old mates at The Feathers.
Sensibly, they did not turn up, so what did we do? Clearly after a big breakfast and a big lunch, we needed more food, so several beers preceded a curry
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/
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
Chris France's Blog 