A meal without wine is called breakfast…. Unknown

This morning, we were going grocery shopping in a nearby town. Our every need has been catered for but there are always bits and pieces we might need. Toiletries, nuts, white wine, chocolate.. all the important stuff. So off we all went. It’s rare that we all go out together but today we did. We all thought we were going to a tiny little grocery store so were gobsmacked when we went into a huge supermarket.

Seriously, this place sold everything. We could have bought wine, computer stuff, an outdoor setting, clothes, shoes… you name it, we could get it there. Though we had trouble reading the labels of course. There were a few of us who wanted an occasional snack too, or to try a certain cheese so we all went our separate ways. I went to the wine part first. Well, I had no idea what I was buying. Cecile was trying to buy some bath oil but we had no idea what we were looking for with that either.

Everyone had fun buying wine and snacks that they had no real idea of. Of course we could tell if it was red or white but beyond that, we were taking a gamble. So we decided it was food and wine roulette. We would just put it out and take whatever we dished out. But seriously, food and wine here is so good, we really didn’t care what it was, we would be happy with it. And if we weren’t someone else would be.

We came back to the chateau and dropped our stuff off, then went straight to the art supply shop in Alençon. Creatitude was so much more than we expected too. Again, we all thought it would have the basics, but I could have lived in there. It was a treasure trove of delights for us. We were treated so well by the lady who was serving us. She went above and beyond for all of us non French speaking plebs. I wanted safety pins and she had no idea what I was talking about, though she spoke perfect English. I managed to convey it to her and she got them for me and was pleased to have learned a new word. We are honestly so insular in our inability to speak other languages, as a society on the whole. It needs to be pushed further in our schools.

I bought some crepe paper so I could make some large flowers. I have so many ideas going through this crazy head of mine and even if I don’t use the flowers for a shoot, they will make a nice decoration. I also got the aforementioned safety pins and some more hot glue sticks. There is a hot glue gun here but I know how I go through the sticks so i stocked up.

We returned in time for lunch where wine and food roulette heated up. Monica was thrilled she had actually bought cream cheese as she thought. She had though she put a creme fresh in her coffee instead of cream like she was expecting. Beth was excited to open what she thought was apple sauce to find she was correct too. We opened one wine with lunch which was great, so hopefully dinner wines would be the same.

After all the food was done, we all scattered to start to make art. Not many of us had really started yet as we were still gathering inspiration and of course, photos of our chateau. I think we are all still pinching ourselves that we are here in this little slice of heaven. There is a huge loft above one of the outbuildings that is a studio, so a few of us headed up there to work. First, I went and walked around the yard again, searching for stuff I could use for headdresses and taking a few more pics that I hadn’t taken the day before. I didn’t walk much yesterday as my leg was so sore. It’s much better today, so I could explore a bit further afield.

I then headed to the loft studio. This place is next level. Who has three stunning chandeliers in a rustic loft art studio? We do! That’s who. I started to make the crepe flowers while Cecile and Monica painted. I am a little envious and full of admiration for their talent with the paintbrush. In no time they were producing work that would take me 3 months to complete with nowhere near as good a finish. After a while Shoreh joined us up there. But the cool night air was starting to settle so I finished up for the night and headed back to the main living area.

Tania, Beth and Cate were in the lounge area where the billiard table is, and Beth mentioned that she hadn’t played billiards, so Tania decided we would teach her. Cate and I against Beth and Tania. It was great fun. I can’t remember the last time I played pool, so I was quite rusty but did manage to pot a few. After the game, it was dinner time already.

We have a new chef today. Phil has been our chef up until now but he finished today and Gary has taken his place. Again, the dinner was divine. We are all going to go home carrying extra kgs, I’m sure. Tonight we had braised ribs, mashed potatoes, a delicious fresh salad and I think it was either leeks or fennel.. Not sure as I didn’t have that. Dessert was a decadent chocolate and raspberry torte. Wine roulette started again and each bottle was pretty darned good. So far anyway. Let’s see what the next few days hold.

Our discussion tonight was about who our Hollywood or TV hunks were or our favourite shows/movies. Anyone who knows me will be aware that Colin Firth is the keeper of my heart, so that was no surprise. But it really generated a great conversation. Gary came and joined us for a while during this discussion and he told us how he was working for an elite restaurant in the U.S and got asked to make a raspberry souffle for a customer right on closing time.

He said no but was asked to go tell the customer himself. He went out and the customer was none other than the one and only Elizabeth Taylor. Wow. We said, what did you do? He said.. I made the souffle lol. As much as we’ve only been here a few days, we are starting to hear all these sorts of stories and it’s great to hear what people have done. The other night we heard from Cate about how she played in the symphony orchestra backing Led Zeppelin. She is a violinist. How cool is that?

Talking about hunks, I said I also liked Robert Downey Jnr and David had been on a movie set with him and said he was a really nice guy. I’m sure over the next few days, more of these kind of stories will come out. While finishing the wine, Cate and I ended up the last people at the table. Everyone else had already wandered off to bed, so we sat and had a great conversation where we got to know each other so much better. Everyone has such diverse backgrounds and even if there had not a single piece of art been made (which there had), the friendships that are beginning to form are priceless.

I’m laying here in bed again typing this and am about to sign off and go to sleep. It is pouring outside. First rain I’ve seen since I left home I think. It’s rather lovely laying here in my princess bed, listening to it on the roof. Tomorrow a few of us are going to a Brocante which is basically a second hand shop, to see what’s there. I am going to see if I can get a few costumes or other things to make headdresses from. I’m really looking forward to it, so I better get some beauty sleep or I might miss my ride..

Happy playing wine and food roulette…Livvy xxx