Predictable Chaos Theory
The Savins arrived, and before you could say “where’s the wine cooler”, the first bottle of rose had disappeared. Peter is of course old enough to be my dad, well, he looks like it, only in a mature, genial and aristocratic way you understand, and my plan was to ensure that he was properly hung over before I collect my golf winning this afternoon. What I had not factored in though, was that to keep him company I had to drink an inordinate amount as well, thus negating the best laid plans! I have realised that possibly my main reason for living is as a warning to others (thanks again Pete!).
I have been volunteered to run the bar at the Mougins School Summer Fair on June 19th, and require more volunteers to help. The deal is that I will not be rude about you in this blog for a whole week if you come and help, unless of course anyone does anything stupid (see back issues, Nigel Hindley, Lucy Bird, etc. etc). The best part of the deal of course is that I get to sit at the top table during the committee meetings such as the one this morning, with about 50 gorgeous yummy mummies!
I hear that at the red radish guerilla beach party, which will be staged in the evenings not lunch time as I had thought, one Mike Hardaker from Anglo Info in a throw back to his rock n roll days may be performing.
I hear from an old friend, whose name has to remain secret,of his attendance at a particular annual event which involves getting lashed with his mates. After the event he could not find his car and in an inebriated state went to the police station to report it stolen, only to find the next day that he taken the train, the car was still at home!
And so the £ crashed through the 1.20 barrier, and I read a report yesterday that predicts 1.35 by the end of the year, which will please many of us poor souls that earn in £.
Terrace representing many hours of hardwork for the builder and much thought from the purchaser, me
After golf today, to Nice tomorrow for some business, but work will be over by lunch time and then I believe a few people are coming at the behest of the wife to celebrate the opening of her new terrace, pictured above, now finished, I am hoping for an invitation myself, an invitation that is to pay for the drinks and finger buffet she is no doubt even now abusing my credit cards to pay for.
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
Read This Blog, Or Else
I hear from old pal Matt Anderson one half of Jedward look-alike, mortgage broker, hotel redeveloper, drummer and anything else with an “er” on the end where he can turn a buck. He inadvisedly tells me that he never reads this blog. Once was apparently enough for him as he did not want to know any more about my garden. He tells me that we should be grown up about this, and like a couple in a relationship that I should be pleased with his honestly. I am of course far too mature to react to the Irish ginger moron which of course is how I can now refer to him as he will never read this! I am of course joking, He is a good sport and I am, or rather was, in the process of attempting to launch his stalled musical career, (actually, it never really started) but now, in the same way one launches a lifeboat, you send it down the slipway at full speed, this particular launch may now encounter rocks where earlier there were none. Me, vindictive? Of course! If you are unwise enough to alert me to the fact that you are not reading this then beware, much better just to lie.
Yesterday afternoon to St Paul De Vence to collect my 5 tickets for the Rhythm Kings under the stars show in the quaint old village on 5th June. One needs 5, as, in addition to ones self, one is required for the driver, two for the minders, and one for the personal assistant (the current Mrs France will suffice). I walk past and take a picture of the terrace at La Colombe D’Or and resolve to stay there and eat before the year is out.
La Colombe D'Or in St Paul De Vence
Talking of the year, I intend to go to Brisbane for the first Ashes Test against Australia in Mid November, anyone else interested?
House guests arrive this evening in the form of the Janey and Pedro Savin, he is called Peter normally, but is called Pedro when on holiday because of the large sombrero he is keen on wearing when abroad. It suits him rather well, especially if he ever beats me at golf as it is a reflection of the contempt in which I then hold the banditry of his golf handicap! although, admittedly this has not happened for some years. They are full on party animals so I have dug out the goggles, galoshes and crash helmet ready for the full-on partying their visits always elicit. The first golf will be played on Thursday and the customary 10 euros will once again be won by me with the bank-note stuck to my forehead at the bar in time honoured fashion.
I hear from Soraya Colegrave long-suffering wife of Bill the author, she is staging the opera night again at Bastide St Matthieu in July but fails to send the promised details. Two years after the first event, it takes the form of dinner on the sumptuous terrace whilst being regaled by a load of arias. Before being educated, I thought opera was short for operatif…opera anyone? make mine a large gin and tonic!
Word reaches me that Lucy at Red Radish will run the first of her guerrilla beach lunches on 18th or 19th June, more details as I get them, and Frances Thompson is running a Mexican supper Night on 18th June as well, spoilt for choice!
Finally I see that my prediction of euro = £1.20 has come to pass, I shall be collecting bets this afternoon…
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
Rumours still filtering in
After excitement and dislocation in equal measure yesterday, I awake with a vague feeling that things happened of which I am only dimly aware. For instance, I notice yesterday morning that the top of my car is down, and that the speaker system I have borrowed from Wayne at FR2day is thankfully still in the back seat. I was certain that when I got back on Sunday the top was up, and cannot remember what transpired in between. Indeed snippets of information have been filtering all day about exploits that occurred, apparently pizza by the van load was delivered, cigars were smoked, sunglasses destroyed, the campfire got out of hand and some soft furnishings nearby were burnt, the police popped in, and our kids have been regaling us with some very tall stories of drunken antics, all of which I hereby officially deny, at least I confess to remembering nothing about them, and if I find whoever it was who dumped 30 empty wine bottles in my garden I am going to deal with them very harshly. I had hoped to have a quiet day, following up those wise people who had expressed an interest in saving money on forex movements, but a trip to Briconauts meant passing Lou Fassum, the restaurant with the fantastic terrace with views to the sea pictured.
The terrace at Lou Fassum in Plascassier
A midweek menu of dish of the day, desert and a glass of wine for 22 euros at a Michelin Star restaurant proved to be a sufficiently interesting offering for us to brave the hangover and to be swayed into giving it a go, and how good was it? Fantastic is the answer, the best home made tapenade I have ever tasted, 3 different amuse bouche, delectable bourride, a white fish cooked to perfection in a very fine tomato puree with in a lemon sauce, fabulous dessert of lemon crumble consumed in a frankly stunning setting was worth every penny. On the way home I realised that my new hammock had arrived last week and had yet to be subjected to the same exacting testing that the sun loungers had previously undergone. I am happy to report that sleep (which was the most fundamental part of the test) was achieved at least until the wifes dogs’ home reject retard Banjo, decided to interrupt the test by barking madly at a motorbike. What a stupid dog, he does nothing to justify his keep at my house and will walk a very long plank if I ever get my way.
I hear nothing from the various blog targets from this weekend, except for Lucy at Red Radish who apologises for waking us up early yesterday morning and admits to still being drunk at 6am in my garden. Mr Hindley must be back at work, unless he has taken time out to further improve his Saturday Night Fever dance moves, so perhaps today I will at last get a chance to rest my liver. But rest for the liver would seem to be the pre cursor for physical work for my tired old body, as we apparently need several trailers full if gravel for the latest earthworks being undertaken by the beautiful, organised, and hard-working wife, who has recently asked for the website address of this blog, suspecting quite wrongly that I may have not been always been nice to her in this column.
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
Headstands – not always a good idea
The career and lifestyle exhibition has finished. Many positive things to came out of it, not least the number of stand holders, over 60, but errors were made and people will be blamed, had it been free to get in, it would have been an excellent event, and will be much better next time.
Afterwards to a late lunch at Cafe Des Arcades to enjoy the sunshine in the quintessentially and beautiful Valbonne square. Amongst the luminaries enjoying the surroundings is Andrew Neil, former editor of The Sunday Times and well know political TV pundit sporting much more hair than I remember. Whilst he was there, I received a call from someone who was interested in our chinchilla, which my son has outgrown, and for some strange reason I make a connection between chinchilla fur and Mr Neil’s head, but cannot quite put my finger on why….Mr Hindley retires hurt however, hurt perhaps by his harsh but fair treatment in this blog yesterday. His responsibilities are largely in property sales and it has apparently been a poor year so far, in fact one wag suggested that selling a bacon sandwich at the red radish cafe was the first thing he’s sold all year! Before I leave I see Mike Hardakre (with a K! as he rather tetchily pointed out) of Anglo Info who tells me that his son once watched him play guitar in a pub and told his dad afterwards that he wanted to do that when he grew up, but his dad told him can’t have it both ways! My picture today shows him with Wayne Brown from Fr2day. May I be the first to spread unfounded rumours of a possible merger?
Wayne Brown of FR2day and Mike Hardaker from Anglo info in gay relationship shocker? Only joking! but the merger rumour starts here
Celebrations gradually ran out of control after leaving the Cafe Des Arcades at around 6pm. A happy throng with a considerable intake of rose on board ended up chez moi in the pav as it is known (our outside Thai pavilion) and the last stragglers departed after midnight. A little earlier, Lucy from red radish, in extra-large celebratory mood who is heard to say “When I start I just can stop, I like to do things that are naughty” had indulged us with her usual party trick of doing head-stands, so the panic phone call at 6am this morning should not have been a surprise. When doing head-stands one should be aware that pockets tend to empty themselves, so it is not a good idea to have the entire weekend takings from the red radish cafe at the exhibition in your pocket at the time. Apparently she and Wayne had driven back over to Valbonne and been searching our garden from first light for any sign of it and tearful phone calls ensued, until……she remembered that she did what the current Mrs France does when drunk, hide it in a safe place then wake up and can’t remember where that safe place is or indeed that you hid it at all! Anyway it all ended well as the rose induced haze cleared and her memory of where she had stashed it returned. I am sure Wayne will be delighted!
Amongst the impromptu party gathering are Paul & Claire Warner who hear from her parents who have set off from Wokingham in Surrey to drive to Biot near Antibes . They had planned to stop half way but called to say and were safely booked into a hotel in Ashford..
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
HSBC Banker Enjoys, well everything
A gruelling day at the career and lifestyle exhibition in Valbonne, sadly poorly attended due to a high entrance price, but that at least allowed some thirsty exhibitors to forsake their stands and attempt to keep the profits up at the red radish supper club cafe. I spy and snap Wayne Brown from FR2day and Mike Hardacre head honcho at Anglo-info in deep conversation, but rumours of a merger are officially denied by both, however, my picture which I was going to use today but will use tomorrow for reasons that will be come clear below,may perhaps reveal a different truth? Mike reveals that he was a musician in a former life and is a fan of my old pal John Otway, and happy to consider sponsorship so I am even more determined to stage a concert down here in late September for Mr Otway, perhaps with Blah Blah, the best local band. I will keep you posted.
We have all heard that times must be hard in the banking sector. At one stage it would have been unusual to see a director of HSBS private banking anywhere except the most expensive flesh pots, but as my other picture today reveals, Nigel Hindle, who is indeed that banker, having no doubt had his usual munificent bonus cut to a mere few hundred thousand, is so desperate for extra cash that I caught him moonlighting as a waitress at the red radish cafe. Nigel, if the appropriate bribe is paid in the normal fashion there will be no need to publish the photo below… How the mighty have fallen (over usually).
The Lovely Lucy and her less than lovely assistant
Saturday Night Fever, HSBC style
I see the old snake hips are not quite as mobile as perhaps they once were, perhaps he could make use of the excellent car turntables being exhibited by Nick from Spin it!
The rose was opened early at the FR2DAY stand and thirsty exhibitors flocked to be seen. Thereafter, an invitation to Will and Michelle Johnson’s for a small party where of course rugby is the subject of conversation until I meet Dustin Wilson of Octomarine, who frankly make water processing sound so interesting that I was overcome by a bout of extreme tiredness and departed, ready for the fray again today, Actually he was very amusing, but for the life of me now I cannot remember why!
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
Fat Controller at the controls
An early post today as I have a full day ahead of me. The much vaunted Career & Lifestyle exhibition in Valbonne commences. It will open at 10am today all day at Les pre Des Arts and from 10am-3pm on Sunday as well. It will be a glittering affair,well, I shall be there…so to fortify myself ahead of a full days “work” (something that swore I would never do again) I adjourn to the Queens Legs in Valbonne for my Guinness replenishment course. Somehow sitting in a pub in summer in the south of France does not seem right, but then the Guinness withdrawal symptoms set in and before one is aware of where one is, auto pilot has guided one to the nearest hostelrie, namely the Queens Legs.
I meet there an old friend with a ridiculous name Ieuan Dady. What sort of name is that? Welsh I suspect, and although he is a kind and warm human being, and claims a 14 handicap, (we shall see) that Welshness always bubbles to the fore. For several years I have counselled him about changing it to something more civilised but he seems oddly proud of his unpronounceable monika, and I suspect that he and Steve Weston (of sheep fetish notoriety see earlier blogs) may have something in common. Continuing the theme of old friends, I have been sent this very old photograph of myself and Jeff Potter (aka Jet Spotter) from around 1975, ahh good old days..
I am on the left, Jet Spotter is the gay looking Freddie Mercury lookalike on the right
I hear from my good friend Marc Wolff whose house we will look after in August. I tell him he has been avoiding playing golf with me and I have not seen him at church (Cafe Latin on a Friday), for several weeks but he gives a what he considered to be a good excuse, he has been in Tuscany flying a helicopter for a new film called The Tourist with Angelena Joli and Johnny Depp, a flimsy excuse indeed, clearly not as important as golf.
The Ryhthm Kings – the band based around Bill Wyman of The Rolling Stones are booked to play an outdoor show at St Paul de Vence on June 5th. Bill is staging his “Stone Alone” exhibition of photographs of the area on 6th in St Paul. I secure some tickets as I need top get into rock n roll practice ahead of the AC/DC show in Nice later in the month.
So its off to “work” for me, with the heart warming prospect of how many people I shall save money for today, when they sign up for Currencies Direct, the fortification will come in the shape of a private soiree with fr2day when the exhibition closed for the day.
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
Swedish Speed Dating
Last night, I was dragged from my terrace in the sunshine to attend the Riviera Business Club, “Swedish Speed Dating For Business” event at the Media Garden Hotel in Sophia Antipolis, the sort of silicon valley of Valbonne. As regular reader will know, my enthusiasm for the event had waned (Wayned?- yes Wayne Brown from FR2day were there!) a little when the true nature of what was intended became clear, ie, it was likely that I would be meeting a horde of large male viking types, whereas I firmly believed that a swedish masseuse could do big business at an event like this, and….. so it came to pass! Well, perhaps not strictly Swedish but certainly Scandinavian as Fabienne van Dillen of Ab-Fab Coaching and former Olympic freestyle skier Anja Boljberg of Riviera Fit Body if not exactly masseuse, both made a bee line to my table to extol the virtues of diet, exercise and who knows what else. I think I was targeted due to my lean and finely honed body being a shining example of exactly what they were both trying to achieve…(OK, they probably saw me as much in need of their various services..which….no I can’t go there) but they were both very good examples if you know what I mean!… I meet again my old German friend Konstantin Van Kleist “How on earth do you find the time to write so much bullshit not just once but every day!” I tell him it takes a certain talent, I think if one aims low one can reach ones goals and avoid disappointment! After all, eagles may soar but weasels don’t get sucked into jet engines (thanks Pete).
My daughter Charlie seems to have found her place in life, one of her best friends, Harriet is always inviting her to stay on her yatch based at Cannes Mandelieu, where they get the on-board chef to prepare pasta while they watch “Britains Got Talent”, Harriet however has a muesli fetish, whenever she is at ours I have to lock up the muesli! a lovely, but strange girl, with a yatch, servants, the best of almost everything, but clearly she is denied muesli at home.
I could have more fun at Mr Thornton Allans expense, but am reluctant to give him more stick than he has already had this week, as he apparently left his phone and wallet on the roof of his car, but as he was driving last night I promised not to mention it, so I wont.
This morning at Cafe Latin to meet our illustrious Justice Of The Peace Neil Humphrey. I think the Peace bit refers to his love of Peace and Quiet as opposed to gainful employment. However he is pictured today (with part of tree appearing to grow out of his head!) gainfully employed signing passport forms! – see what I mean about the hairline?
Neil Humphrey shows that he does do some work sometimes although he seems to be holding his Currencies Direct pen like a chopstick...
He tells me that Cubby Wolf head honcho at Riviera Realty in Valbonne & the delectable Lorraine are engaged and ventures the opinion that it is because Cubby thinks he is pregnant…
I will be at Career and Lifestyle exhibition in Valbonne this weekend, once again tirelessly educating the monied masses about how to save money on foreign exchange transfers, Please pop in if in the area, especially if you have some decent gossip or a picture of anyone local doing something stupid!
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
Networking Valbonne style
For some reason that I cannot fathom, yesterdays blog was dated 25th May, but as many happy readers will confirm there was a top quality missive on the 25th, so to those of you who chose to point this out, thanks. Less than a mile from my house is a challenging 9 hole golf course called Victoria Golf Club. I normally avoid it as it is really only half a golf course, meaning the usual clientele are either elderly or terrible golfers, or more often, both. And so I set off yesterday morning for 9 holes with Paul Thornton Allan who fits this profile perfectly. I was rather rude about Paul’s golf yesterday in this blog, and felt rather bad it, despite the fact that he had clearly not read it – I could tell as he was still talking to me. However my worst predictions in yesterday’s epistle of his waywardness off the tee were an understatement, as you can see from the attached picture which shows one of Paul’s better lies.
Its in there somewhere....
It is a challenging 9 hole course, with a very good par 5, which I birdied, but several very short par 4’s which are reachable from the tee, but at which I blew up due to over optimistic experimentation.
The current Mrs France is back from the UK and the house is immaculate. She will never know that contract cleaners toiled into the afternoon to remove the build up of detritus occasioned entirely by my slovenly children, oh and me. I guess one day I will be caught out if she ever gets to read this column, but until then I will bathe in the glory and doubtless the rewards that will accrue to me in the bedroom for being such an efficient house keeper. I think this could be called Foreploy – a misrepresentation about ones self for the purpose of getting laid.
I am nearing the end of the free wine I collected from the smallest english run vineyard in Provence, Domaine St Marc des Omedes. It has been nowhere near as poor as was promised by the owner who had been advised that it was too lively and that he could not sell it. I believe that it has aged prematurely and actually quite well and although it will not last long (certainly in this house anyway) it is still drinking well now. I feel that it is my duty to ensure it is all drunk before it is past its prime, which I estimate is about 2 weeks away.
Plans are afoot for our holiday in UK when our house here is rented out for the season. I shall apparently be walking some of the North Devon Coastal Path, – I asked politely if they had golf buggies or other forms of transportation to be able fully to enjoy the vistas of an English coastline, but was met with that steely stare of the current Mrs France which brooks no opposition! At least the £ has recovered against the euro (£1 = 1.18 euros as I write) which will ease the pain of living down here a little
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
90 second speed dating with the Swedes
The Swedish business speed dating event staged by the newly named Riviera Business Club takes place in Valbonne, well Sophia Antipolis really, at the Media Garden Hotel on Thursday evening. I have a whole lot of business in mind, but suspect the young blonde Swedish goddesses I am hoping for are more likely to be craggy vikings, Peter Lynn will know this state of mind as “glibido” – all talk and no action, but for the good of educating our nordic friends about the value of using Currencies Direct for their currency transfers, I will selflessly give up my evening.
I am invited to play 9 holes of golf on Wednesday by Paul Thornton Allen. The last time I played with him at The Victoria in Valbonne we visited parts of the course which I believe have never seen a human face before. To call him wayward would be like describing Adolf Hitler as a bit naughty, but it will be a good exploration exercise, I shall pack my machete and quinine tablets and if we ever find our way back from where he has it, the usual 10 euros will change hands in my direction and be stuck to my forehead after victory in time-honoured fashion.
Bluebell the camper has passed her control technique and so our summer accommodation is secure. Work will commence as soon as the wife gets back on those polka dot curtains she has in mind, but weighing on my mind, from the list of jobs she left for me, will be the irksome duty to buy and collect stones, sand and cement, for completion of the path to the new terrace, there being no one nearby stupid enough to volunteer to collect these for me, despite my offering the entirety of my guaranteed golf winnings in Wednesday. There will be a party to celebrate its opening, of that I am certain.
My picture today is from my garden and from where I removed the largest spider I have ever seen. My daughter had an arachnoleptic fit, ie the frantic dance performed just after you have walked through a spider’s web and swears it was 2 metres across. Her maths have never been strong but a spider 2cm’s across is still a massive by her standards.
purple flag by the pool, thats not a spider by the way
Steve Weston asks for copies of all the photos I took on Sunday for the Regsgolf website and I am happy to comply unless I hear from any one of the following: Maria, Paul Duffy or Pauline with a suitable bribe..I will save the one of Steve exhibiting another truly scandalous shirt for a future occasion!
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
Steve Weston’s Favourite Sheep…
More ammunition arrives in an email. This is a direct quote from Steve Weston, he of the admitted sheep fetish “And just to show you that I wasn’t joking about the sheep, attached is a photo of one of my favourites. I know your wife’s out-of-town and things can get a bit lonely so give her a call (her phone number is on her ear tag).”
Steve Westons favourite sheep...you couldn't make it up!
I am constantly on the look out for a bit of juicy gossip, or in inadvertant lowering of the guard to let me delve into and expose some guilty secret in someone’s private life for this column, and many people have become noticeably reticent about revealing items of interest to me, so to be given material of this quality on a plate is somewhat disconcerting, I mean, maybe he is serious? Steve, whats her name?
I was minding my own business, at the post office in Valbonne yesterday afternoon. I came back and Paul Thornton Allan was sitting in my car. The top was down, so he had climbed in. He had clearly lunched well, with John Balodis of valbonneonline. He attempted an”esplanade ” which as the Washington Post puts it is “to attempt an explanation whilst drunk”, and before I knew it I had taken him home (nothing like Steve Weston taking Dolly home) and then, within minutes, my determination to avoid alcohol for at least one day went by the wayside, and beer was taken on the terrace. We are joined by Soraya Colegrave who regales us with tales of husband Bill’s disasters with DIY. I particularly liked the one where the house was ready to let out, every room cleaned and ready and Bill decided to “get rid” of the Xmas tree by burning it. Suffice to say that a dozen fireman were involved and every room in the house was augmented by dirty size 12’s everywhere. All he had to do was to put the tree outside….but he went to Cambridge so is far too bright to take the blame, his attitude is “Errors have been made, others will be blamed”
I busy myself with my new toy, Sky HD. It arrived on Monday and I watched half of England against Mexico thinking the picture was not much better than analogue, and then my son came in and changed it to the HD channel, if only Soraya had known that my DIY skills are on a par with Bills!
I am eagerly awaiting the new banner designed by Creative Village which will be delivered tomorrow ready for the Lifestyle event on Saturday and Sunday and hopefully for the Riviera Business Club event on tomorrow evening. The sacrifices I make to try to help people save on their foreign exchange transactions makes me feel truly philanthropic (no Paul North, look it up, it does not mean I collect stamps)!
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
Golfing expressions you may not have heard!
Golf at St Bastide with the Landlubbers is enlivened by my coming to an “arrangement” with Steve Weston, in charge temporarily while Dave the Fade is abroad receiving counselling to stop his fade turning into a slice. Soliciting Steve as he has become known (see yesterdays episode) arranged for me to “play” with the amply endowed Maria, together with Nancy and Nick. The arrangement requires me not to be rude about Steve in this blog, a request to which I readily agreed. Rudeness is a of course a subjective term, I mean, who decides what is rude? I write this rubbish irrestable guide to living in Valbonne, so I would contend that the definition of rude would be anything that I consider rude, so no editorial control worries there then! Anyway the pairing proved to be of inestimable value for material for this blog. It mainly surrounds Maria’s and occasionally Nancy’s double entendres, each followed by a fit of giggles. I made a number of notes as we played around; oh err mother, even I have started. Here it is; “Make sure you have a firm grip”,” pull it out for me”, “harder the better for me”, “you can’t beat a big english sausage”,”my biker boy friends all had big helmets”…You see my dilemma? far too much good material in too short a space of time. It all got too much for Nick, who I am sure had a touch of the sun, why else would you do this to your nose, especially when playing with me whilst I have my blackberry camera phone! He calls it his baby bel nose.
Nick, have you ever heard of sun tan cream? I think it may do the job a little more efficiently
I know what I call it but am far too polite to print it here! We have another new girl in our midst, Pauline, who got off to a good start by asking if any of us will be staying overnight when we visit Terre Blanche in the coming weeks. The list of people signed up who had not contemplated an overnight before was impressive! Back to Steve Weston, who probably thought by now that he would not feature anymore today, but I have some notes about sheep. Mr Weston ventured the opinion that he liked sheep. Had I been him, that statement alone would have set the alarm bells ringing in my head and I would have shut up, but no, he kept ploughing on saying that he had a large collection of sheep pictures, a fact confirmed by Nancy, his wife!
Well, I was lost for words! He already has a reputation for wearing very dodgy shirts, to which I can add a very tasteless sombrero for his winning yesterday with 40 points – banditry of the highest order. As my old friend John Otway commented in his booked “Regrets, I’ve had a few” when digging a big hole to fall in from a great height, try to make sure it’s not full of poo! What great material!! like a lamb to the slaughter.., all sorts of questions must be answered, did he ever live in Wales?, where men are men and sheep are nervous? Did he ever have a favourite sheep called “fluffy”? does he have a Bo Peep fetish? Sheepskin rugs or coats? I guess that he must often feel a little sheepish, maybe when he reads this? There, I think I have finished all the sheep jokes. One final golf thought; Why is it that the man with fastest buggy gets the best lie?
Work this week entails sending invitations out for the July 9th Currencies Direct event in Nice and finding out about a song I control being included in a movie called Pineapple Express, presumably a sequel to a film of the same name from 2008.
I also have a list of jobs from my wife to do before she gets back on Wednesday, but I shall bribe some unfortunate youth, maybe my own daughter, to ensure all is done on time and take the credit, I have some serious sunbathing to do!
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
Loungers pass the test!
I am happy to report that all lounger equipment is functioning correctly. After a rigorous testing day, I am content that they are in good condition. The terrace is finished as my picture shows. I think it is obvious to all how much effort I have put into this fine construction.
new terrace representing many hours of hard work - for some
Michael Walker declares himself content with the copy yesterday, which I thought implied that he had a gay streak, but clearly that does not bother him. I had always wondered why he was a bachelor!
The wife is off to the UK today so will have to stock up on baked beans and pot noodles, or more likely to make a block booking at Auberge St Donat until her return on Wednesday. Golf beckons today after the airport run (to make absolutely certain that she catches her flight), when I shall once again put on my dancing golf shoes and shimmer my way around 18 holes at the Grand Bastide. I admit to be a little nervous in case Maria is playing, she has been absolutely silent since “that” picture was published in these august pages, and it is a little un-nerving but hear from Steve Weston, he of the cheap shirt, who in the absence of Dave the fade who is away (having his fade lanced?) Is in charge of golf with the Landlubbers this weekend. He says, and I quote ” notwithstanding the risk of my further humiliation on your blogsite. If you offer me enough I’ll let you play with Maria”. Clearly power crazed by being in charge, Soliciting Steve, as I think he will in future be known, has neatly enabled me to deflect Maria’s chagrin about the publication of ”that” picture. Steve, if I don’t publish this, I would hope for some productive discussions about my handicap?
I have found further items that will require testing before the summer rental season. The new hammock will of course have to undergo careful scrutiny, so I plan to kill 2 birds with one stone this afternoon, test the hammock whilst analysing and replaying some of the great shots I will have played this morning. Alas, I also must work. Part of my work is reading The Sunday Times to gauge which way the euro will go against the pound, after all I have a bet with Mr Thornton Allan, but more importantly, as that bet is as good as won, I must be fully informed ahead of the various events upcoming: the Career and Lifestyle event, the Riviera Business Club and the Currencies Direct presentation in Nice on 9th June.
Finally, I realise that many of my readers will be on tenterhooks, waiting to hear the decision of the judges (the wife and I) as to the chosen rose for summer, and the answer is the gris from Chateau Casenove, a gold medal winner in Paris and a mere 3 08 euros from Super U.
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
A near calmity last night as my sone who had forgotten his key and was trying to break in, managed to fall down a water pit and is still very smelly -although only someone of my discernement could tell the difference from normal, teenagers, dont you just love em?
Wild camping in Chateauneuf
The social treadmill continued last night at the red radish supper club staged on the terrace of a fabulous villa in Chateauneuf. Seated on trestle tables covered in white linen table cloths under the canopy of a large oak tree under the stars, the other stars of the show, the crowd of well-heeled Cote D’azur extras, enjoyed a convivial evening. The filming was unobtrusive and the producers of the programme called, I believe, “Wild Camping” very content with the footage shot. And talking of wild camping, I see old friend Michael Walker resplendent in pink shirt and salmon (is that the colour?) cardigan, but cannot see why I have linked these 2 subjects.
Many of the guests expressed amusement at the contents of this blog but were very reticent to engage me in conversation! I wonder why? Not Michael however, who took me to task for referring to him as a Yorkshireman – he is Lancastrian, but to us born in the favoured, richer and considerably more civilised south of England agree, both are somewhere up north, just short of the arctic circle, constantly gripped by winter where the unlucky inhabitants live on a diet of lard, and tripe or such like, and cook on peat fires as there is no electricity. I do hope that his hardy constitution was able to withstand the rich food! I wonder also if he would be so daringly attired in Lancaster, or whatever part of the frozen north that he was born?
I see the delectable Jaley with hairdresser husband Lawrence and Jaley’s niece, Lawrence is overheard explaining to his niece that he sleeps with her auntie but quite why he has to explain this is a mystery to me! Deborah Marzohl, nutritionist extraordinaire, often heard on Riviera Radio talking about diet, is also in attendance and tells me happily that she will soon move up market from Biot to Valbonne, which will be handy as she will be exhibiting at the Career And Lifestyle event in Valbonne at the end of the month.
Today will see more back-breaking labour to complete the new terrace. Backbreaking that is for the wife, as I must test out the new pool loungers that we have acquired. She just does not understand that this type of equipment requires rigorous testing before the rental season is upon us, I cannot and will not allow the success of several family’s summer holidays (who have rented our villa this season) having their vital summer breaks put at risk by using untested equipment. Testing is undertaken seriously, by spending at least an hour on each in full costume (ie swimming shorts and sun tan lotion) and trying to replicate fully the type of wear and tear they might expect to receive during the summer. I overhear her busily inviting people to a terrace opening party, but as yet have not received an invite myself….indeed, I do not know when it is planned but doubtless it will be my job to pay for it! more expenses, but at least I see a gradual recovery in the euro against the pound
My picture today was taken on Friday on our trip to Eze.
View from Le Jardin Exotique at Eze Village
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
A nice night in Nice
Apologies to my avid reader for the late posting today but am fresh back from Nice last night for the reception for Friends In France, where the lovely Janey and Mira have attracted a huge crowd which threatens to block the road outside Waynes Bar. The evening nearly begins in comic fashion when I forget to raise the electric hood on the Merc before entering a very low underground car park, bets are taken as to whether it will snag on the car park roof, but all is well with a comfortable margin of over 1cm!
I meet a fascinating Indian chap Mohinder Manek who has a skin complaint that makes him look white. He regales us with any number of funny stories about when mixing with his fellow Indians, who he says are often racist, and don’t realise he is Indian, where he has fun allowing them to insult him in Punjabi before able to respond in their own language and dialect. He also plays golf so a round is in prospect next week.
Continuing the Indian theme we adjourn to the Delhi Belhi for a reasonable curry although Lisa Thorton Allan complains her 4 chilli marked dish is not hot enough, but perhaps her husband Paul has inadvertently swapped dishes as he looks like he has taken a shower and forgotten to dry himself! Afterwards to the buzzing Cause Soleya in the old town, where the outside bars and restaurants are packed and the market is still in full swing despite the proximity to midnight. A cigar and an Irish coffee to finish which is not, on this occasion, regurgitated into an ornamental flower bed (unlike a few weeks ago in Valbonne!), and then to bed to at the Beau Rivage Hotel to administer the usual Birthday present to the patio builder. The hotel is organised by the lovely blooming Marianne Kolstco, who as sales manager of the hotel chain has wisely recommended the services of Currencies Direct to her superiors, let’s hope they have the same vision as her! I arrive at the hotel and see on the table a beautiful box of what looks like exquisitely wrapped chocolates, which I am determined to try, only to discover after biting into said chocolate that it is in fact soap! The current Mrs France is highly amused, in fact in hysterics and suggests that I should have my mouth washed out with soap more often.
We take a stroll around the marche de fleurs, and then set off to explore the very beautiful Eze village, where U2 have their homes, and no wonder! After an exhausting climb to the top of the village we stop for a glass of beer and a coupe de champagne at Le Chevre D’Or which has the most fantastic views down to Cap Ferrat, Nice and beyond as my picture today shows and am
wife contemplating second drink to take the bill close to 100 euros
charged a perfectly reasonable 48 euros for the pleasure. A siesta now beckons before the next onslaught at the red radish supper club this evening.
Chris France
buying a house in France, moving money? www.currenciesdirect.net/chrisfrance
Latest local news? http://www.fr2day.com/
Best Estate Agency in Valbonne? http://www.rivierarealty.net/
Best French Riviera Property Agent?
http://www.afa-international.com/
http://frenchriviera-properties.com/
rent my house in summer? http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p412514
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
Rock N Roll positions everybody!
I hear from long-suffering old friend Lise Davies who is looking for a group for a party. I say long-suffering as she is married to one Nick Davies who is renowned for his inability to retain decorum (or indeed often his clothing) in the face of strong drink. Strong for Nick is some 2 glasses of wine and a sniff of the barmaids apron (actually that could be literal…but again I digress) poor Lisa has on more than one occasion had to rugby tackle him to the ground to stop him removing all his clothing whilst in an alcohol induced kind of bohemian hippy festival spirit. The most high-profile occasion of which I am aware being a birthday party lunch at renowned restaurant Cinquante Cinq in St Tropez last year. For all that, he is a fascinating man and a great character with a wealth of stories and is extremely fit for his age, which he will not reveal, or rather will allow people to underestimate, and is still playing tennis with the best of us, although modesty forbids me to reveal who won when we last played – but it wasnt him! I mention this because business commitments with his company Max Reynolds (which I believe are of a similar nature to those undertaken by Mr North – but on a far more successful scale!) are taking the family away to the far east so they are selling their lovely home, once the home of one of the champagne dynasties, details of which can be found at www.www.peyloubet.com They will be sorely missed.
Backbreaking work yesterday by my good self to help the wife to near completion of “her” new terrace, as my “work in progress” picture below shows.
New terrace takes shape
Obviously I have done all the hard work, she has just put a few stones in place and will doubtless claim the credit as usual.
off to book into the Beau Rivage Hotel in Nice to prepare for the festivities tonight. I hope to be able to bring you a full report on the debauchery 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
Chris France's Blog 