Red Roses



You all thought I had gone on holiday didn't you ? oh no, I forgot, my life is one long holiday, silly me.


I'm absolutely tinseled, fizzied and sparkled out. Took me two whole days to grapple down the Christmas Trees and wrench the ruddy baubles off. I've now got a bowl of the cheery looking blighters waiting to be packed away. Whatever possessed me to entwine so much ivy around the mirrors and fireplaces ? And everywhere I go the floor seems to glitter back at me, defying strenuous attempts at hoovering.. 'You chose to live in a Chateau' His Lordship loves to observe. 'I need a piece of chocolate to keep my strength up' I can be heard to frequently mutter under my breath. Give me my classic beautiful rooms back please.


Huge excitement down in this quiet corner of rural France. Champion have opened a new out of town supermarket in the village of Bram. All singing, all dancing, more varieties of bread than you can shake a stick at, or a baguette if you are so inclined. I cannot budge His Lordship from the fish counter, 'there's only so many winkles I can pick' I protest as he recklessly orders up a platter of seafood. I slink off breathing deeply past the cheese counter, this nearly knocks me off my feet and I find myself standing in front of a small display of English produce. This never fails to amuse me and I take great delight in observing what the French assume we can't live without. Marmite, Robinsons Barley Water, Walkers Shortbread Fingers, Lemon Curd, Birds Custard Powder, but wait, what's this I see ? Dorset Cereals from Poundberry itself, my favourite, right here down in the deep depths of Southern France, Dorset Muesli breaking new ground in a country thinking they are renowned in all matters gourmet. I couldn't help but smile.


Meanwhile the daily enquiries for availability continue to flourish with the height of the season well and truly booked a long time ago. I'm thinking Easter eggs already, never mind describing how Le Chateau will be decorated for Christmas 2008 !!!!!!


Which is why I've posted one of my favourite soothing photographs today. Come late April/May the highly scented red rose which cascades around the pretty window of The Grand Duchess's home will be out. She deserves the very best place in which to compose herself over the winter months for unbeknown to her she is soon to commence personal wine tours of the Aude and has a couple of weddings to perform in 2008.
And what a heavenly picture this conjures up, the warmth of the early spring sunshine with a hint of the hot summer months to come.
But best of all ? not a bauble in sight.




Comments

Frances said…
Sally, What a truly happy new year you are creating at that chateau!

The way that you approach life is very inspiring. I do thank you!

Those roses are definitely something wonderful to think about during the cold, dark days. Although, it's going to be strangely warm today in NYC.

xo
Ivy said…
I - at first- though your roses were still in flower well mine were until a week before Christmas obviously not in that abundance!
Pondside said…
I have deep rose-envy!! What a beautiful sight - and all for the Grand Duchess - lucky old dame. Do you have one of those crystal rose-holders on her dashboard?
Persevere with the cleaning Sally - but leave a little glitter between the floorboards to remind you that you did have a wee bit of fun over the holidays!
ChrisH said…
Good to hear from you, I did wonder if you had collapsed under the weight of looking after all the Christmas guests. Good to see roses, too - I'm fed up with short dark days.
Elizabethd said…
What a very beautiful rose. We too have Champion, but rather an elderly one. There is talk of a new Hyper champion soon!
Lee said…
Supermarkets and particularly 'out of town' ones are largely responsible for the decline of British regional/seasonal food habits, the death of the High Street and the sorry state of the UK's diet. I know supermarket shopping is such a hard habit for us British to get out of (I'm guilty of it too).

Frances' fantastic food only survives because the french still shop largely at local markets and the host of specialist/regional food shops found in every town (although I dare say the Common Agricultural Policy helps too!).

Champion is better than most at stocking regional food from local suppliers - but make sure you don't spend too much money there Sally or we'll end up with the same glossy looking, tastless rubbish, flown in from all over the world, which passes for food in blighty here in France too!!
Un Peu Loufoque said…
Oh the joy of the thoughts of springtime to come!What a delightful photograph isnt the grand duchess lucky, I bet your visitors will adore the wine tours in her !!!!!
Casdok said…
It certainly is a soothing photograph, beautiful.
Grouse said…
We need to hear more about the wine tours Sally!....Pleeeze! Take us on a virtual tour and let us just imagine for a moment that we are transported to the sun-drenched vinyards.......sipping and chatting...........I'm there already...........
Sally's Chateau said…
Lee. I agree with your sentiments entirely. Being an ex-grower from the UK nothing used to annoy me more than the vast array of produce from other countries but not locally grown, let alone fine foods from the UK itself. I shall still continue to visit the market for all my fresh fruit and vegetables !! Oh and don't get me on the decline of fruit farms telling us there is no profit, redcurrants were seen at 32,000 euros a tonne !!! Try quoting that one to a developer.
Lee said…
I wonder if I'm too high up in the mountains here to grow redcurrents?
Lee said…
"Redcurrants" (oops spelling mistake). Sorry Sally for using your blog as my soapbox! You obviously share my sadness at the decline of Britains food heritage - but perhaps the corner is slowly being turned...I do hope so.
LittleBrownDog said…
But, Sally - you do realise you're going to have to put all those baubles up again when I come to visit for my Easter photo-shoot...









(only joking!)


LBD xx

PS Still waiting to hear back about You Know What - will keep you posted. In the meantime, don't eat too many of those winkles...
lampworkbeader said…
I thought for one terrible moment you had lovely red roses out at this time of year. That would have been too much to bear.
P.S. I couldn't live without marmite.
Hi Sally

One lot of guest extravaganza out the way and before long the next one starts . . . never ends, but then would we have it any other way.
Preseli Mags said…
Such gorgeous roses. It makes me long for summer. And I totally agree with Lee. I loathe supermarkets and what they have done to the British diet. But I love Dorset muesli too. Yum. xxPM
Pipany said…
Wow, that picture is beautiful Sally. It is good to move away from the Christmas bit and on to the new I think. Love your cheery (and very honest) blogs xx
annie's abode said…
I have senn easter eggs in the shops already - ugh!

The roses are superb.

Ax

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