Living Your Dream In The French Countryside

When our youngest daughter, Charlotte, was 4 she announced to us that she was going to live in France when she was big. She is now 23 and has achieved her final goal. She now lives in the French countryside just outside Paris and walks out of her house to this view each day.

The Mayor's office is right opposite which is very handy, added to the fact that he is her landlord.

An osteopath's office around the corner makes you want to be in need of some treatment.

Ivy clad houses seem to be the norm around here and they always have the biggest log stores ever.

This gorgeous ancient building is along the road and is for sale - tempting!

The village well

and beautifully tended gardens that make you want to walk right in.

Vegetables and flowers are grown all over the village

in fenced off areas and each and every one is immaculate.

That's Charlotte's house through the trees with the white shutters. It's a wonderful feeling when you see your child's dreams come true.
Later today I will be photographing the makeover of Charlotte's house to show you and tomorrow we start to head back to our dream back in England.

Stormy Weather Around Paris

Sunday was 36 degrees here with warnings of violent storms approaching Paris. The heat was unbelievable with baking sun and humidity that drained every ounce of energy from you.

This was the sky over Charlotte's house by early evening. The storm was approaching.

I have never seen this effect ever before. It looked as though there were skyscrapers on the clouds. During the night it seemed the world was coming to an end. An electric storm like nothing I have ever experienced.

Next day was much cooler as you can see Harvey needed both hat and coat on his person. I could have happily knocked his hat off for getting in the way of this beautiful shop front. Shame about the red sticker on the window.

A view of Mieux Cathedral and a fabulous domed roof in the foreground.

A Day In Paris With Tara

I wouldn't even consider coming to Paris and not visiting my fabulous friend Tara Baradford, she of Paris Parfait fame. We meet up and talk for England, put the world to rights, shop 'till we drop and have a great time.

Before we visited Merci, that fabulous shop on Boulevard Beaumarchais, we called in to Agape which is around the corner from Tara's apartment. And what did we see as soon as we walked through the door MERCI in huge zinc letters - serendipity!

Last time we visited they had a table set for tea and we weren't disappointed this time.

Off to Merci which we missed when we stepped off the Metro - it was behind us and we realised when we ended up at the wrong end of the road. That's Tara camera in hand. I just know her pictures will be so much better than mine. Sorry Tara I just had to snap you.

The famous car has been filled with plants, how cool is that?

Ivy growing from under the bonnet. I wish I had room in my garden for one of these.

Health and Safety leaves a lot to be desired.

Giant chandeliers made from clay

A table with ceramic legs - be careful with the vacuum cleaner.

An ostrich at the top of the stairs with what I can only describe as a gimp's outfit on.

We were walking thorugh to the garden area and Tara wanted to use the loo. Stop - I said - I want to photograph that door

then she opened it and shouted me to look at the ceiling - I want a loo ceiling like that.

A little girl in the garden shop admiring the brightly colored birds in a big vintage cage.

I love to spend the day with Tara, she's wacky, generous, clever and who else do you know that carries a Louis Vuitton bag with brightly coloured flowers on and red converse shoes on her feet? She has given Charlotte some of the most amazing pieces for her new home and Harvey, Charlotte and I were at Tara and David's apartment last night for dinner and had ball. We laughed 'til we cried and ate the best Moroccan food ever courtesy of Tara's chef David who she also happens to be married to. How fortuitous is that?

Arriving In Paris

On arrival at Charlotte's new pad in the countryside we were presented with amazing meal. Duck on a bed of sweet potato with puy lentils, red currants and shallots. Try it, her recipe is on her blog - The Pauper's Kitchen - the best duck dish I have ever tasted.



The poppies were out to greet us on the terrace.

A fair was being set up in the hamlet just as we arrived. The noise is deafening and the music leaves a lot to be desired but the locals are having a ball.

First things first - off to the local Brocante. A nail biting experience for this guy.

But look what I got for less than 100 Euros. I was in seventh heaven.

Then off to Leroy Merlin for the paints and brushes. You have to sing for your supper here.

A bit of a busman's holiday but very enjoyable as I like nothing better than a blank canvas to work on.

First paint the fridge to match the cabinet we brought over for Charlotte's new home.

Paint a blackboard on the kitchen wall.

Paint the kitchen cabinets

Hang a metal lamp that I found in a skip back home

Painting Charlotte's house mate's bedroom. I was talked into buying a cheap white paint for this and have got to the 3rd coat and it's still crap. Off to Leroy Merlin tomorrow to buy a decent one. You only get what you pay for.

The guest room is a totally different story because I bought this paint from Leroy Merlin and this is after just one coat.
After pictures will follow in the next few days and meanwhile I will try and get the paint brush out of my hand where it seems to have been a permanent fixture since arriving.

A Two Day Journey to Paris

It's a long way from Northumberland to Paris so we stopped overnight at Folkestone where the Channel Tunnel is located. I have never been to Folkestone before and I was amazed at how gorgeous it is. One of my favourite sights in English seaside towns are the bandstands and this one didn't fail to impress.

We took an evening stroll along the The Leas which is high above the sea shore and lined with trees which keeps that chilly wind from the Channel at bay.

Peeking through the trees we saw strange boulders in the sea

which we later found out were breakers to keep the sea from these fabulous gardens

They even erected a statue to Harvey for our visit. Shame the bird came and crapped on his head.

Today we arrived at Charlotte's new abode, no this isn't it but a fabulous house in a neighboring town. We sat at a Cafe opposite and drank cafe and Pastis. Look at those windows on the top floor

and a gorgeous ivy clad house at the end of the main street. Shame rather large Frenchman got in my way.
Tomorrow I am off for a day in Paris with Tara (Paris Parfait) where we will be visiting Merci and oh how I will wow you tomorrow. Bonne nuit.

Off To Paris - My Itinerary

Monday 18th May 2009 - on my way to Paris or to be more precise just outside Paris

to a little hamlet in the countryside where our daughter Charlotte has just taken up residence

Welcomed with open arms by our baby

into her new abode

which needs a little TLC courtesy of myself and Harvey, who will be rewarded with Charlotte's cooking which she does like a French native

Meeting up with Tara, of Paris Parfait fame, for a couple of days of shopping and putting the world to rights

Drinking fabulous coffee, in fabulous cafes with fabulous chairs just like this

Falling over flowers in the streets

Going out each morning to buy fresh bread

and cakes

and coming back with a new dress

Constantly referring to my shopping list, which will end up tattered and torn through over use.

A visit to Merci where I promise to find wonderful things to show you

A visit to Emery et Cie which I promise to do every time I am in Paris

and Repetto will have me grace their doorstep this time even if it kills me

Leroy Merlin the DIY store that landed from heaven for gorgeous paints for my Ghost Furniture because I can't find the same anywhere else and don't get me going on their amazing paint brushes or we will be here all day.

They even have a lexicon of English/French terms which is so handy for non French speakers like me

Of course I will be haunting every Brocante that I come across

Rooting out the unusual, the weird and the downright beautiful

These are my favourite flea markets, pavements full of STUFF

Not for me these places with prices that make you pee your pants with shock

Looking for garden furniture for my cottage

and fabrics for curtains in this colour palette

which must be silk velvet because nothing else drapes so beautifully.

I am not sure if I will have easy access to the internet on this visit but keep checking back for some Parisian eye candy as I will do my best to find a connection