Derek and Clive live?
The pav once again provides me with wonderful material today. Returning ex pats Mark and Ashley Gurdon had specifically requested to have a pav evening on their short visit, and Mark got hilarity off to a great start by wearing a hat which we picked up the Goodwood vintage festival last week at the Faces reunion. Sadly, he must have stolen my phone and deleted it as I wanted to show it here, but as it was emailed, I may still be able to retrieve it in the fullness of time, watch this space.
Never one to consider stupid attire an impediment in almost any social situation, I think his sense of sartorial style is rather nicely illustrated by his choice of venue to renew his wedding vowels with his long-suffering wife; Las Vagas, a full Elvis Presley style wedding with an Elvis lookalike as the Minister as part of a “Love Me Tenderly” package. What class! I think If I were Ashley I would have considered the “Return To Sender” package.
The Pav, this morning after last nights carnage
A hilarious recording was played of Mark and Mr Thornton Allan, well oiled towards the end of Paul’s recent 60th birthday party, having a “grumpy old gits” conversation whilst their respective children were performing in the garden, Paul apparently deciding that as he was now 60 he was not going to do anything he didn’t like doing any more, like drink champagne. Mark joined in and suggested that ratatouille, especially, was something he was never going to have to eat again, and Paul agreeing vociferously. I cannot do it justice in this column but if you can remember the obscene Derek and Clive Live with Peter Cook and Dudley Moore you will get the gist.
Tennis and lunch were postponed until today, so I will be a little later than I had hoped in reporting a famous victory.
The Wingco was on splendid form last night, becoming increasingly grumpy when faced with faint praise (rather grudgingly uttered by Mr Gurdon) about the quality of the writing in this missive. The Wingco has described it as “Ghastly” in the past, and swears that he will never read it again and this allows me to be extra rude about him as often as I like. He did, however, seem to know quite a lot more about its content that I would expect, but when I suggested that he may have weakened and taken a peak, the bristling moustache was in complete denial.
Unlike the three gentlemen above, I did not receive the benefits of a private education, having struggled the state education system in south London, and thus when the are speaking of events of great import, such as art or literature, I stay quiet and listen to my better educated peers. They regale each other with stories of a public schoolboys attempts to maintain dignity, and indeed virginity in a male only environment, if you get my meaning, not a situation I encountered amongst my predominantly skinhead class mates! I think I prefer my educational route!
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
Justice done, but midges await
Justice was done, despite handicap systems designed to thwart a proper golfer, justice was mine and victory sealed. Sadly, the girls I was playing with, clearly with some sort of pre knowledge of the result, declined a wager. not apparently being prepared to risk 10 euros ( a mere £8.20 at today exchange rate).
They are also being most cruel about some email issues I have been having, where the server system appears to have added recipients of confidential messages. They have invented a number of inappropriate emails that they have purported to have received from me (although I wish I had sent the one to Fifi Amour in Vallauris) doubtless others will follow in a similar vein, it cannot be long before I will be subjected to being accused of sending emails requesting Viagra, happy endings, hair loss replacement, travelling massage or how to write, or play golf or tennis properly. Be warned you idle miscreants, the curse of the blog will be upon you.
Tonight, a select few will descend on the pav for, well, I don’t know really, but they will. I of course, will remain sober, as is my want and if you believe that then you probably believe in Fifi Amour.
There is talk of tennis this morning but not until 11, by which time my days work will be complete. This will be followed, as night follows day, by lunch at Auberge St Donat, the boys venue of choice.
I hear from Steve Weston, our resident sheep correspondent who wishes to know where Cambria is, he thought it was in Wales, bit if that is the case it is probably wishful thinking given that the Welsh have a well-known love of sheep. Cambria is of course how an Essex boy would describe the Lake District.
My picture today shows what happens to a Yorkshireman, in this case Mick “German Shooting Trouser” Pedley has to change from his usual Yorkshire attire ( galoshes, sackcloth, waders, deerstalker – actually, I wonder if Steve Weston has a sheepstalker hat?) to be allowed to play golf in the south of France. As you can see the salesman must have seen him coming, and sussed that he was colour blind from the start.
Mick Pedley in green shirt and matching, yes matching, that is what the salesman told him, green checked shorts. Clearly from this pose they are a tad uncomfortable, but what is a bit of discomfort in the pursuit of fashion?
Sadly, I will not be at the Regs golf event this Sunday, as I will be travelling back from the frozen north of England, having no doubt enjoyed Lout without an H. The long-range forecast is better than I could have hoped, with only slight frosts expected overnight, and even some sunshine during the day, so I guess the witch doctors or whatever passes for a medical service in those parts will, as we speak, be preparing some concoctions to ward off sun burn that the locals will suffer in profusion if the temperature gets above to the forecast 14 degrees. One wonders what they might use? Pond slime perhaps? My fear of being frozen to death has been replaced by the possibility of being bitten to death, as, if there is some sunshine, the softening tundra will probably produce a plague of midges to pester us all.
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
Hungary For Sheep?
It was once again Steve Weston that started it. Our resident sheep lover wanted to know why, whilst we have been looking after the Wolff’s house, I hadn’t made the connection between sheep and Wolff’s clothing. I guess in some distorted way perhaps he feels that he is being stalked by a wolff…actually, I don’t know where I am going with this.
We were having the customary beer at Paul Duffy’s expense, after him having three birdies in the first 5 holes and returning with 40 points. It did not take long for the sheep references to start. Steve started it, asking if I had made good on my promise to make a mask out of the sheep picture he so helpfully provided me with.
His disappointment as I answered in the negative was palpable. I asked where he had found the picture and he said it was on a Hungarian website. Now I am sorry, call me naïve, but what possible reason could anyone have for visiting such a site. What would you have to type into the search engine, “Hungary For Love”?, “Mutton dressed as Lamb”?, Best Hungary Sheep?
Steve apparently worked for the European commission before “retiring”. I wonder if, during his tenure, there was ever a sheep mountain? Or perhaps those two words, sheep and mountain could be used in a different order? I have heard of mountain sheep but I have never seen it done…..There is a joke here about test match special presenter and former English cricketer Jonathon Agnew, but as many of my readers are from Yorkshire, and therefore don’t understand french, I think it will be lost on them.
My picture today is a study of form and shape. Maria has both!
A study in concentration...from Dave Wilson just behind Maria
Last night, some Adrian and Jane Burgering, chaps we met in Valbonne Square popped round to show their kids the baby tortoises, all 12 of them, tortoises, not kids. We retired to the pav for a sundowner and then it all went horribly wrong. Once again someone has dumped dozens of bottles in my garden. I spend most of the evening talking to him and he tells fascinating stories of selling house in North West London to an Italian mayor from Cambria. There was apparently an amnesty in Italy last year from anyone to declare any monies not previously known of by their tax authorities. The levy was a straight 2.5% and over 8 billion euros were recovered by the exchequer as a result! Touching, as Adrian had never considered the possibility that some of the many cash sales he made to Italians last year may have been a result of this recently legally laundered cash. I suppose he thinks the Mafia is an Italian club where they teach arithmetic! I am sure that had it occurred to him, he would not have accepted the large commissions that were earned a result…..but then I am convinced that Steve Weston has never touched a sheep, so who is the more naive?
This afternoon nine holes of golf with three golfing no-hopers, Mark Gurdon, Paul Thonton Allan and the wingco, will produce the customary winnings amounting to 30 euros, if there is any justice.
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
Mr Clipboard on the horizon
Occasionally, people who have the best intentions who live here in gods own land, are forced by circumstances, to return to that dank dark drizzly place called England. I am not talking about my own woes here, when I have to return for a few days for a wedding, oh no, I am referring to something much more permanent.
Such is the case of my old friends Mark and Ashley Gurdon, who beat us down to Valbonne from England by at least a year, maybe more but have had to return to blighty. Happily for them, they have been able to retain property down here and visit regularly, usually when the weather has been disgraceful in the UK as has been the case this week.
However, something happens to their sense of perspective. The normal ex pat existence of spontaneity is replaced by an ugly sense of time keeping, planning and, as I think those ghastly Americans call it, schedualising, although they would probably drop the “h” much as I am prone to do on occasions, especially when confronted with a trip to Louth.
Such a fate has befallen Mark Gurdon. When he visits now, he carries a clipboard to ensure that his schedule runs smoothly, containing flow charts, timings, contingency plans, phone numbers, blood groups etc. Thus we are due to play 9 holes of golf at 3.06 on Monday, and afterwards has a “window” of 45 minutes for 2 beers, and then it is on to the next appointment. He is now known as Mr Surrey Clipboard.
Such is his new-found obsession with time keeping that the idea of being spontaneous has utterly disappeared. How this inflexibility will gel with the laissez faire attention to time keeping employed by the wingco, who is also expected to join us for golf on Monday (assuming he arrives before the tee time, remembers to bring his clubs, remembers which day and remembers which course we have booked etc) will be fascinating to behold.
The wingco and Mr Gurdon
He claims that this newly employed organisational habit is necessary given his commitments back in England, but l have many friends back in the UK who survive without this burgeoning administration, and they have actual jobs as well!
Last night, having found our intended venue, Quint and Sens in Roquefort Les Pins closed and for sale, plans changed in that spontaneous Riviera way alluded to above and we ventured into Valbonne square in the hope that the tourist invasion was over. It is not quite but we got away with it.
Valbonne Square in July and August is normally avoided at all costs due to the seasonal influx. For a change we had dinner at Terra Rossa, under the arches of the Hotel Armouires in the old square, and very good it was too. My fillet au pouivre was perfectly cooked au point and that nice lady decorator expressed satisfaction with the Salad Terra Rossa with gambas.
Lively discussion developed with diners on the next table about life in Valbonne in general and baby tortoises in particular and suddenly we have visitors this afternoon after golf. Mr Gurdon, cast your thoughts back to less organised times!
Thus whilst being physically roasted this morning, at the same time I shall be metaphorically roasting the opposition, a good grounding for taking the money tomorrow as well, when apart from Mr Clipboard and the wingo, we shall be joined by Mr Paul Thornton Allan, newly amongst the ranks of the 60 somethings. Mr T A, as he is known, has been in England this week and claims that fires were lit and heating switched on already due to rain and temperatures as low as 9 degrees.
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
Lout Looms Up North
Cafe Latin did not happen, we awoke too late but heard, in any event, from the equivalent of the church warden, Mr Humphreys (he was free) who has wisely seen the light and is signing up to Currencies Direct.
After talk of going out for dinner and jazz at Le Moulin de la Brague was overtaken by sitting on the terrace watching the sunset over a few early evening snifters, we stayed in the terrace continuing to snifter, I think you see the allure from my picture below;
The sun sets over another bottle of rose
Still rather too warm to venture out all day, so I think I will sit in air-conditioned comfort and watch the test match and write some more SEO articles. SEO of course does not stand for Senior English Ogre, which some (but clearly not myself) may consider an alternative title for that nice lady decorator, but for Search Engine Optimisation. If you are over 50, then it means search engines……nah forget it, too difficult a concept, If you are young then you will know what it means. Suffice to say I get paid for writing a load of old twaddle, and about anything I like. In fact that gives me an idea for an article along the lines of how to write a load of drivel and get paid for it.
Tonight no discernible plans so hopefully I will be fully rested before tackling the Grande Bastide Golf course early Sunday morning. My silver dancing golf shoes will no doubt ease me close to a victory which I could easily achieve but given the “prize” of the bar bill, I expect to ease back towards the end of the round.
Amongst our number are several interesting characters. Regular readers will be completely and unedifyingly acquainted with the foibles of Mr Weston, golfers will recognise the banana shaped shots as patented by Dave the Fade, but there are other characters who join us. Mick “German Shooting Trousers” Pedley is normally in attendance and we have another northerner, Dave “gruff” Goddard who for some reason has remained very low profile since I began this column. Never fear, readers, I will uncover some gossip tomorrow. Malcolm Green cannot possibly be that respectable and Paul Duffy is of course confirmed as being not respectable. We also have a token Canadian, Dave Wilson, who we enjoy referring to as American, it gets him every time.
In the normal fashion, I have just discovered that we will be going to Le Rouret this evening. I know this to be true because I have just overheard that nice lady decorator telling one of our friends what “we” had planned. The problem is that “we” have not all yet been officially informed, well, certainly one of us has not. I believe from my evesdripping (No not a typo) that we may have a look at a restaurant called Quint & Sens in Le Rouret which apparently offers live music. Of course this could all change and has to be confirmed.
This weekend I will begin packing for my trip to Lout. Lout as you know is Louth in Linconshire, but as I am often accused of dropping my h’s, it will be forever know as Lout to me. I am reliably informed that the poor misguided chaps getting married, Toby & Emma, have taken cognisance of my love of Timothy Taylors Landlord and have installed a barrel for the reception. I will have to ensure I create a sign saying “reserved for the use of Chris France” just to ensure there are no misconceptions or pilfering!
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
ZZ Top’s dad spotted near Valbonne
There are times in France when you pop out for a quick drink without much expectation, and suddenly you find yourself in conversation with the locals, and it becomes a memorable evening. Such was last night, having identified that my favourite day-time boys restaurant, the Auberge St Donat, was within walking distance of where we are looking after, the Wolff’s house, and therefore exeat distance from our current open prison in Plascassier, there was no choice but to head on down and see what was offered for dinner.
Pizza looked and was a good bet, especially after a few glasses of Leffe, which seems to have a curious and rather immediate effect on me. It seems the same was true of that nice lady decorator as she was soon in avid conversation with some french locals, who understood barely a word of her English.
Indeed, there are times when I understand very little of her English, but that is a discussion for another day. This however did not deter her as she tends to try to overcome her lack of french by speaking English at a greater and greater volume, and faster and faster pace, than could possibly he understood by the kind old French locals struggling to understand English.
It was however a splendid evening. I was unaware until last might that famous American rock group ZZ Top had any connection with the area, and I have a picture of the father of ZZ Top who happened to be having dinner at the same restaurant, of course, he was there incognito and pretended not to know who ZZ Top were, but we were not fooled, sharp dressed man indeed!
ZZ top's dad - he's the one on the right, in case you hadn't guessed
Although I did not get his name, he told me he had been growing his beard for 40 years, which from the picture would appear to be a serious underestimate. I would have said that if that was the case, he could not have started growing it until he was 60 at least!
Today, after Church at Cafe Latin, we must venture to Mougins School to discuss with headmaster and David Wilkie look-alike, Brian Hickmore the options open to my daughter after her surprise results in the IGCSE’s. My bet with her of 500 euros (thats just over £400 at todays exchange rate) that she would not get 5 C’s has cost me dearly.
Then a quiet day before whatever inevitable onslaught is planned for me this evening. Many of you will be aware that I usually have no executive control in the planning of social occasions, and normally I am the last to know. It is often the case that I discover from my friends that we are visiting them, or they are coming to us for dinner, rather than that nice lady social secretary and decorator. Inevitably I have to be told, otherwise who would pay?
So, as far as I am aware I have nothing planned ahead of Sunday’s golf at the Grande Bastide, and which I am looking forward to. New material for this 600 word a day missive is always handy, and the Landlubbers golf is usually a rich seam.
I receive a few intemperate and (as they were from Yorkshire) largely illiterate comments about Louth. Apparently it is not in Yorkshire, but near Yorkshire. Too near if you ask me, I was also taken to task about my comment about Louth having one h too much. It seems that some Lout residents were offended by this so I apologise. I also apologise for that fact that the spell check did not pick up the typo in Lout.
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
Rain there, sun here
So, none of you unlucky people living in England managed to get to rent my house this week, which is most unkind of you as we have been looking after (and living in) a fabulous old house in nearby Plascassier whilst our house has been empty.
It is not as if you have had a late summer burst of sunshine over there in England, I know, I get Sky TV and see the weather forecasts. I suppose I can understand that those poor souls in Yorkshire would all love to rent it but it’s probably out of their price bracket, they probably all prefer a charabang day trip to Bangor or Whitby or wherever. But there is little excuse for you in the civilised south of England, unless you have all already been abroad on holiday, or indeed are still there, which of course could be most of you!. Just a tip, if you are reading this abroad and if you are thinking of coming home in the next few days, don’t, the forecast is abysmal, winter has already set in, so stay abroad for as long as possible.
So we went back to have an early beer under the old oak tree, it being still too hot at 5 30 to risk the sunshine that was warming the pav, and I saw by chance a butterfly, perfectly camouflaged by the bark of the old oak, which I show below. Some may think it a welcome change to the unfortunate sheep theme which seems to have us all in its thrall. I for one am pleased to be able to be able to bring you some rustic french wildlife into this blog, which sounds like a cue for that nice lady decorator.
Butterfly on our old oak trees, so well hidden, you probably can't see it, in which case this is a study in bark
The summer excesses have affected my whippet like appearance. The Washington Post had a word for it, Abdicate. This means to give up all hope of ever having a flat stomach. Hard walking is on the horizon in September, but before that, we have decided to go to church tomorrow. Not the religious version you understand, but an informal Friday morning gathering at Cafe Latin in Valbonne, in the hope that those pesky tourists have stopped over running our beautiful village and normal life can at last return.
Sunday sees a return with the Landlubbers golf group to the Grand Bastide, when I expect the various sheep themes from this week to be fully discussed. I am excited, although this excitement is tempered with slight trepidation, to hear what Steve Weston has to say in his defence. However, as we have seen in his golf, the best form of defence is attack, so I am very expectant that I may glean a whole lot more questionably material from this encounter.
It is my mantel to have to visit the nasty north of England again next week. I have a wedding to attend at a place called Louth, which probably has an h too much in its title. The only solace will be the possibility of pint of Timothy Taylors Landlord, and of course, the fact that I can revisit and reinvigorate my anti Yorkshire prose. I am not looking forward to the first frosts of winter, perhaps some sleet for good measure, and have decided to wear my kilt for the event, as it is the warmest outfit I possess. For some reason I could never fathom, my family are entitled to wear the Stewart tartan, and having been given a kilt as a present by Scottish friend John Gilchrist of The Ringmaker, have enjoyed wearing it over the years with all the benefits it brings. Sadly I don’t have enough space to go into details today, suffice to say, the undergarment arrangements are a source of continued obsession for any number of women folk…
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
Fireworks in Cannes – lady decorator to blame
To Cannes last night to witness the firework challenge final which has been running throughout the summer. Apparently last night was the culmination of the summers competition, which is fought out between about 5 different countries and their firework makers (pity they haven’t got proper jobs) where the winners get to have another go. Huge and very impressive fireworks displays have been staged on a weekly basis, presented by different countries with the winner getting a celebratory repeat performance last night.
Driving it to this event in the past has been a nightmare, once taking 90 minutes to get back, most of it trying to extricate ourselves from Cannes centre, so the decision was made, let the train take the strain. Mouans Sartoux to the centre of Cannes 17 minutes.
Having failed once again to buy tickets due to the vagaries of the french ticketing system at Mouans Sartoux, where there is only the machine dispensing option, we set off for Cannes.
Dinner was taken outside on a restaurant beside the port, my aoili being particularly good.
Later, after another magnificent display had been witnessed whilst consuming a nice St Emilion and a rather ordinary chardonnay, we arrived back at Cannes station, with a full load of alcoholic fuel on board to find that the entrance was barred by gendarmes, who were ensuring that all revellers had tickets.
This is a departure for the french, there are normally no ticket inspectors, so, if the machine dispensing tickets fails to function correctly, which is about 50% of the time, one has no ticket, before last night, it was not a problem as one takes the train and attempts an esplanade (to try to explain something whilst drunk) with the ticket collector, and pay the fine, unless he gets bored with an English esplanade.
I have always found it very useful when faced with French bureaucracy to speak English, particularly loudly with a full Oxford accent. You know the kind of stuff ” My dear chap, there must be some kind of ghastly misunderstanding” said in a Terry Thomas style. It is also important in these cases not to attempt any french language at all, as this can be seen as a sign of weakness, making it clear to petty officialdom that you are a tourist with no idea how the system works, should there be a collector on board, which has not happened in living memory.
That nice lady decorator panicked when seeing this and after remonstrating with various gun-toting gendarmes (in English) was sent to buy a ticket from the ticket booth. She objected most strongly to what as she considered this anti-British behaviour and made her point clear at a decibel level close to excruciating.
Once on the train I pointed out that it was she that was in the wrong and the gendarmes were right but as usual, she was having none of that.
By chance yesterday, I was sent a selection of funny or inappropriate signs. Amongst those is this one.
Steve, whenever you feel the need, please look at this photo. It will be our little secret, no one else need know
As regular readers will know, I have a golfing companion, Steve Weston, who is a leading light in the Regs and Landlubber golf groups who has a rather alarming and well documented sheep fetish. Steve, print this picture off a dozen times and then stick them all around your house. You know it makes sense.
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
Fireworks in Cannes
Whats in a name? Dave the Fade in French translates to Dave Fanee, nothing amusing there is there? and the wingco I have recently discovered has initials R C, thus he will now be known in our household as “Arcy Spensley”. If his performance a few nights ago when discussing the possibilities of visiting Australia for the Ashes Test Match series starting in November are anything to go by, then it is a perfect epithet.
Perhaps I should explain, on our way back from Mouans Sartoux last week after our chance discovery of a very French and very quaint municipal dance for old people (see fairly poor picture attached) we stopped in the Wingco’s for a nightcap as we are currently still looking after the house for Mark Wolff, which is within walking distance of the Spensley estate.
Old french people dance in the streets
Discussion turned to my determination to witness some of this series, and my outline plan to go to Brisbane for the first test in late November. The wingco became very animated as he considers that a visit to Australia for this purpose can only be undertaken if the intention is to attend the back to back Sydney and Melbourne tests which commence on Boxing Day and New Years day, I politely point out that as I have children, they may conceivably want to have some say in whether we celebrate Christmas at home. This suggestion appears to flick the “Arcy” switch, his thrust being roughly that they could get on with it and their opinions were of no concern. Now call me old fashioned, but I think most normal people would consider finding out what their children’s thoughts were about celebrating Christmas, and discussing whether they would prefer their parents around to enjoy the festivities as a family would normally be considered a sensible and caring course of action. The wingco would have none of it, and with that nice lady decorator taking up the cudgels to counter his arguments, a full-blown heated discussion ensued. Of course far too much alcohol had been consumed by that time for either party to remember what was discussed, so I fully expect the debate to recommence when they next meet.
Suffice to say, that an email I received from the wingco the next day expressed satisfaction at what had been decided, whilst that nice lady decorator was of the opinion that she had seen off his arguments. Thus both Arcy” and the decorator are now blissfully unaware that both of them think the other has accepted their respective arguments! I am so glad that neither read this blog!
I have a thought for you, is a testicle a humorous question in an exam? It is examination results time this week, and I have a certain daughter who is preparing herself for the wrath of parents who have paid hundred of thousands out for private education over the years, and whose expectations may not be met. There must be many of us poor parent souls down here who, whilst enjoying the social development of their children at the schools in the area, consider the whole experience with the weather and the lifestyle to be more akin to a holiday camp rather than the gowns, beatings and Victorian surroundings that I encountered at my grammar school in London. I know I am just being a wingco (aka Arcy) but their school experience is so good it makes me wonder how mine could have been so bad.
Tonight to the final of the firework competition (the competition bit leaves me mystified – how and who judges?) in Cannes which is always a good spectacle
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
Accidents, inapproriate utterances and regurgitation
Well, after all the sheepish shenanigans of yesterday, I have decided to impose a sheep hiatus for today at least, and have a picture which I think sums this up admirably, which is shown below.
I think Steve Weston should seriously consider therapy, in the meantime Steve, please, for your own good, print copies of this and distribute them throughout your house
Lunch yesterday turned into an impromptu gathering which seriously depleted my rose stocks, which had been replenished courtesy of Currencies Direct awarding me a case of wine. This was because of my success in persuading you lovely people who move currency around, or, like me get paid in pounds and live in euros, to stop rewarding their banks for giving them a crap exchange rate and to open an account with Currencies Direct.
Present at this select gathering were Paul and Lisa Thornton Allen, Lucy from red radish and Wayne from FR2day who looked like he had escaped from rehab, so well did he look. It seems he has discovered health foods. His usual diet of whelks, eel pie and mash,typical of his east end roots, has been replaced by things like lentil surprise and cranberry juice! I give it two weeks maximum before he reverts to type.
I like spontaneous events and this one developed around midday in a little over an hour and continued into the mid evening on what was probably the hottest day of the year so far. Once again, I awoke this morning to find the someone had dumped loads of empty bottles in my garden. If I even find out who it is then that person can expect a severe thrashing.
It was so warm that even I had to have a dip, water 27 degrees; this information only intended for readers in drizzly and cold UK. My house is still available to rent this week!
I see Gerald Gomis at Super U in the morning, but luckily he had not yet managed to read yesterdays blog so was happy to chat.
More clearly unsubstantiated stories emerge of particularly poor behaviour at Mr Thornton Allen’s celebrations to acknowledge the start of his 7th decade recently. It seems as if car crashes (yes, in the plural) in the garden, copious and far from private regurgitation of some of the splendid food, and I suspect the wine, plus inappropriate comments uttered far from quietly may well be linked to a certain well-respected Valbonne estate agent. Far be it from me to reveal details of this rumoured miscreant, because that’s all they are, stories. Personally I refuse to give credence to such rumours and tittle-tattle, I would certainly never discuss them openly in this column, dedicated as it to reporting as truthfully as I choose, a personal view of the life of the idle rich in Valbonne.
Finally at around 10pm, having collecting up that nice lady decorator, who replete with rose decided to end a deep conversation (which neither will remember) with Lisa Thornton Allan, by going to sleep mid sentence, the evening came to rather a rather quiet conclusion.
Conclusion however is a big word. It implies I believe the ending of a phase or the finalising of a decision, however this particular conclusion seems to have achieved neither!
Today I must take up my quill and resume the massive job of contributing material to ensure that Blue Water Yachting remain at the top of the Google search pages. Being an ignoramus when it comes to all things yachting when I began this mission about 6 weeks ago, I thought the word nautical meant to shout out something naughty, but I am now a renowned expert in the field, in my own mind in any case. For instance, when it comes to serving sherry, I now know what a schooner is but not sure yet how the measure differs when serving a ketch.
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
Revelations of a Sheep Fancier
This will be the easiest blog I have ever written. Yesterday, at the landlubbers golf tournament at St Donat, well documented sheep fancier, Steve Weston, supplied me with an overload of material to use in my usual character assassination fashion.
As many will be aware, I am always on the look out for a tit-bit of gossip, a word out of place or the merest suggestion of an embarrassing interlude in one’s life, in order for me to amplify and illuminate in this column for the general jollity of all who can be bothered to read it.
Often it is a thankless task, where I have the smallest item of information, and have been able to project or frankly, invent the rest, according to the needs of copy for this blog.
Steve Weston, Landlubbers and Regs golf stalwart is however a different challenge. His sheep fancying antics have been well documented in previous editions, and he has rightly suffered some abuse from his golfing partners as a result. Who can forget, for instance, that he once sent me a photo of his favourite sheep?
Well, he has surpassed himself this time. In front of his peers, and even in front of his long-suffering and not remotely sheepish wife Nancy, he announced that he had found a sheep that looked like me! I show it below.
What likeness?
Now a number of questions immediately spring to mind. Does he like the look of this sheep? In which case a shower after golf will become an instant no go area.
How did he find this picture? Did he google Chris France and sheep? If so, for what reason? On the one hand I find this mildly flattering, but in more than equal measure, disturbing.
What was he doing on the internet that produced this picture? Some of us golfers have always had a question mark about Steve’s swing, indeed, which way does he swing. Are sheep his only weakness? I think we should be told.
Anyway the golf was won by Paul Duffy who asked for the bill the moment I ordered the first beer. Tradition has it that all drinks are bought by the winner, and usually Mr Duffy has his snout deeply stuck in the bar trough, but only when he doesn’t win and thus isn’t paying…..
I played with a charming gentleman David Stewart and Gerald Gomis, the former professional rugby player. Until recently, I believed that any professional sportsman would normally have some affinity with any sport they attempted. I was wrong.
When I played 9 holes with Gerald at the Victoria Golf Club recently, he was so bad that I suggested that he have an intensive course of lessons and suggested the he ensured he hit some balls every day. This he has done and the effect has been catastrophically negative. His score of 11 points was the lowest in Landlubber and Regs history and was achieved from a handicap of 40. Only golfers will understand quite how bad this is.
However he is a charming man with a big heart (actually big everything as you would expect from a prop forward) and with further intensive coaching and practice I firmly believe that he could bring that score down. Yes that IS what I mean!
Last night to the charming french village of Mouans Sartoux, just to savour the atmosphere which is so different to nearby Valbonne.I n the old square we sat and ordered a beer,but became aware that something was stirring. Seats were being brought be the residents and arranged around the periphery, and some kind of music was clearly lined up. It was a kin of tea dance! all the locals over 40 suddenly got up at 9pm when the accordion group started playing and were dancing fox trots, salsa, waltzes, even the cha cha cha! All very charming, but given the age of the attendees, it will be a dying tradition.
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
Waiters in jim jams, again
More baby tortoises have hatched overnight, but there are still not enough for a full sandwich. Pity, I could have done with a snack to take to golf today with Dave the Fade at St Donat.
The writing briefs are flooding in, payment was collected today from Blue Water Yachting who seem surprised by the quantity, if not commenting on the quality of my output, but as I have explained in the past, if you work at the intensity I do, you don’t need to work for so long, although writing whilst watching the cricket test match has slowed down to merely exceptionally fast.
Last night to the Moulin de la Brague at Plassassier for dinner and jazz, except the jazz had been cancelled because of the possibility of a storm within 100 miles, but a nice dinner was had in a lovely courtyard beneath an old lime tree.
That nice lady decorator decimated a bottle of rose in under an hour but I was, as you would expect, far more abstemious, I think a bottle glass of red wine quite sufficient for one to appreciate ones surroundings and start to philosophise about life. The fact that no one was sitting within 10 metres of that nice lady decorator should not be misinterpreted , in fact by the time this picture was taken at about 2am, there was no one within 30 metres. I am rather too delicately inclined to reveal the reason, but if any of you suspect that her solitude was due in part to methane production, then they may be very near the mark. By this time, the staff had changed into their jim jams (and gas masks?) giving a big hint that perhaps it was time to go home.
Waiters, well everyone, give nice lady decorator wide berth
My cuisse de canard were rather ordinary, as was the salad de maison wolfed down by that nice lady decorator, but a venue like this is more about the ambience than the food.
The post today was delayed due to decision to complete it after golf today for three reasons. Firstly because of the possibilities of hilarious consequences when one mixes a determined french former professional rugby playing golf beginner with a seasoned (very well seasoned, not to say more pickled than seasoned on some cases – Paul Duffy will know who I mean) bunch of ex-pat golfers. Secondly, because I mentioned to one sheep fancying member of our group (who shall remain nameless although Steve Weston will know to whom I refer) that I had discovered a very alluring picture of a sheep in a bra and pants, and wanted to see how long it took for him to ask about it.
The third reason is that I got up too late after being hijacked into a late night by the current Mrs France.
So entertaining was today, with so much material, that I feel a special issue coming on tomorrow, Can i just leave you with a couple of teasers? Steve Weston has promised to send me some pictures of sheep wearing masks…apparently, no, apparently nothing, read tomorrow.
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
Tortoise Hatchery outrage
What do you do if you already have 11 tortoises some of which you have owned for over 40 years? Answer, according to that nice lady decorator, is you hatch another 9 eggs, (no, a 10th is hatching as I write) that you have had incubating all summer. As my picture shows, not enough meat for a decent omelette after you get rid of the crusty bit.
Tortoises hatched yesterday, note the little chap on the right, fighting his way out of the pastry parcel
Don’t get me wrong, I like tortoises, they are lovely and crunchy loveable, but I am in danger of running a holiday camp for orphan tortoises here. I should have known when the incubator (which is really good for bring cheese up to the correct eating texture slowly) went missing.
Anyway, a charming evening last night with Pippa and Gerald at their new house in Castelleras with fois gras, castoulet and pastis, a real taste of the south-west, and to pick up a case of wine, my prize for introducing the target number of you lovely people to the glories of Currencies Direct, and the savings you can make, click on the link for details and an application form!
One story that came out last night was another misdemeanour of the evil springer Banjo, the dog regular readers will know was introduced into our household despite my better judgement. Apparently, when billeted earlier in the summer at a local house where they look after dogs that would otherwise go into kennels, a kind of holiday camp instead of the prison as he deserves, he attacked the owners chiuaua. Now it is not often I have any sympathy with Banjo, who causes me daily grief, but on this occasion I find myself strangely ambivalent about his poor behaviour as I see a chiuaua as a pork pie on legs. Even that nice lady decorator has some sympathy, describing the little mutt as akin to bait!
Unhappily, he was not banished to kennels on half rations (boy does that dog need to diet – he is as thick-set, thick being the operative word) but was rehabilitated with the chiuaua, so the story does not, in my opinion have a happy ending, but predictably that nice lady decorator disagrees.
I hear from Dave the Fade, who is now calling himself Dave Selon, which I believe is french for “Fade”. Is this his first acknowledgement that his golf swing which causes the fade (the ugliest thing I have seen since ET) needs a little correction? I do hope not, if he corrected it, a major thrust of my amusement at his expense in this column would be lost.
After suggesting that I cannot have any friends as a result of writing this daily entertainment, Dave confirms that he has space for Gerald Gomis from Leggetts Estate Agents, whose beginners golf I have described in rather less than flattering terms, on Saturday morning at St Donat. That is if the storms that are predicted today clear away in time. Gerald employs a kind of Whirling Dervish technique to his golf swing, a technique which may have suited his previous sporting triumphs as a professional rugby prop forward, but which as far as I know has not yet caught on in the golfing world.
Lunch plans may be disturbed by stormy weather today. I know this will upset some of you who like to hang on my every word and enjoy a full life by living it through my eyes and this missive, but don’t be downcast, I will find other equally entertaining ways to amuse myself!
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
Thinking is Dangerous
I have been thinking, which of course is really dangerous. If natural foods are so good for you, how come most of us die from natural causes? I can understand trying to end it all if you live in Leeds or Manchester or somewhere equally depressing, but most of us that live in civilisation enjoy our lives, well most of it, certainly whilst we are asleep anyway.
I have been writing yesterday, I am now a writer, and managed to undertake my writing duties whilst watching the test match on sky sports. It is amazing, isn’t it, we are looking after a beautiful house for a man who has been a professional in the film business, even being a second director in some cases for over 30 years, yet he doesn’t have high-definition TV at home. Mark, I know you read this, sort it out! Its embarrassing, if I were to mention it in my blog you would be a laughing-stock, but don’t worry, It will remain our little secret.
A few days with nothing to do except enjoy the sunshine seems a bit incongruous after the melee of the summer and it takes time to relax. It also gives you time to ponder, and I have spent some time pondering some ponderisms that were sent to my by my circumspect Jewish friend Peter Lynn.
For instance, he suggests that good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die. This is straight forward common sense . He goes on to say that in the 60’s people took acid to make the world seem weird, now we take Prozac to make it seem normal. These seem perfectly reasonably statements to me. Would the home of ponderisms be the Ponderosa (that will confuse anyone under 45!).
Tonight we are invited for drinks to Castelleras, a very desirable area near Mougins. I feel black tie might be in order, but that nice lady decorator feels we should wear a little more than just ties, and she may be right, I still have not fully regained my normal sylph like figure after the tripe pasta and god knows what else I was fed last week in Yorkshire, but the regular diet of fruits from the garden,as shown in my poor picture today, oranges and figs should enable me to evacuate the last of the toxins visited upon me last week.
Fresh figs and oranges from the garden
Tomorrow I must visit the offices of Blue Water who are going to pay me again for my contribution to the literary world. Mr Kendall wont like it but I suspect I am earning more from writing than he at his peak. You see, there is money in semi-literacy! I am however suspicious that nice lady decorator wants to come too. I suspect that she will attempt to divert me from my work to have lunch on the beach at Le Petite Plage in nearby Juan les Pins, and however strong I am in intent when I set off, the seaside and sunshine seems to weaken my resolve and it is possible that I will weaken enough to give in.
How amazing is it that when I earn some extra money, we are both pleased and she helps plan how we spend it, but when she earns money, she is doing well and its nothing to do with me. Can’t quite work out how that works…
I suppose it is Friday, the temperatures have moderated to the high 20’s and the sea is warm, perhaps, just this once….
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
Recovery time required
A new adjective has been invented. Pavulous, meaning I suppose a fabulous evening in the pav is coined by Jo Caston, one of our trolley dolly guests on Monday evening.
Yesterday was a case of licking wounds after being properly trolley dollied on Monday night. However, our task of looking after Marc and Lin Wolffs house in Plascassier is eased by the great views, sunshine and lovely terrace which my picture today miserably fails to capture.
the terrace view from my temporary office
Mark is away working on another film, he has worked on every Harry Potter, where as a helicopter pilot he does all the Quidditch flying and most James Bond films in an illustrious career, but has clearly spent so long working he has not had enough time for golf, as he is regular whipped by me.
I hear from Dave the Fade about golf on the best local reasonably priced course, St Donat this coming Saturday. This was the scene of one of my most memorable golf trophy triumphs. We had all been asked to count the number of balls we lost around this tricky course. My total of 7 was sufficient to receive the award for the most balls lost, and my ball retriever which I received in recognition remains the most useful golf trophy I have ever been awarded.
That nice lady decorator turned in early last night. This is something of a first,as her ability to keep partying is matched only by her fearsome ability to consume more than her own bodyweight in wine and still be bright-eyed in the morning. So Top Gear re runs it was for me!
My son has returned from the campsite where he has been a DJ’s helper for about 10 days. He claims that this is a worthwhile job. When I remonstrate he reminds me if my teenage past which involved being a dustman, making caravan windows etc so I have decided to let sleeping dogs lie.
My questions about how his beard got burned at the campsite are however also unanswered, I suppose I can guess roughly what happened, but am unwilling to speculate too much. Suffice to say that fire and teenage stupidity are a heady mix…not that I can remember that far back of course.
A reader whom I do not know comments that the only good thing to come out of the north of England is the M6, and he has a point. The AC/DC song title Highway To Hell unaccountably springs to mind. Personally I think the M! is better, coming as it does from the heart of Yorkshire.
Talking of Yorkshire, I hear there has been an upshot in enquiries for villas from England from the lovely Alex at My Perfect Villa, she of the big hair, foxy look and so beautiful I can even forgive her the northern accent. The weather there has taken a turn for the even worse and owners down here in civilisation looking to rent out their houses in late August are now receiving a new wave of enquiries. Indeed my house is available from 21st to 28th August at a reduced rate for the week, more details on the Holiday Rental or my perfect villa website. The reduced price is in deference to my own countrymen, many if whom have suddenly realised that summer is at an end in UK, and are desperate for some sunshine.
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
Chris France's Blog 