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rituals

May 25, 2007

DSCN1676.jpgWhat I love most about living in France are the daily rituals: opening the shutters first thing in the morning, walking to the bakery to buy croissants and bread and then having breakfast outside, birds singing somewhere above the high stone walls. Then, early evening, there is the ritual of watering the geraniums in the window boxes and making a little tour of the courtyard with a watering can to revive the lavender, jasmine, the peony (yes, it’s still alive) and other herbs and flowers growing in terracotta pots.

My favourite ritual of all however, is hanging out the washing in the courtyard. Having lived in a top floor flat with no outside space for the past ten years, being able to hang clothes on a washing line and watch as they dance around in the breeze, is an absolute luxury. There is no bottled perfume that smells as good as freshly laundered cotton sheets left to gently blow-dry on a line. For me, this is even more of a thrill than buying new Louboutin heels - and best of all, it's free.

comments (3)

1. Posted by Markyj on May 27, 2007 12:05 PM

Aw, even domestic chores take on an air of romance in our little corner of France.

Meanwhile, the weather is appalling here in London. 'Dank holiday weekend' they are calling it.

Wish I was there!


2. Posted by thebride on May 29, 2007 1:45 PM

Sounds gorgeous... I had high hopes of hanging was out on our little london balcony -- but find it's covered with dust & cobwebs within about 10 seconds of cleaning -- so I've given up. Will just have to resort to lavender water in my ironing. If I could be bothered to iron sheets, that is!


3. Posted by Wolfie on June 5, 2007 10:57 AM

I SO hear you on that! Why is it in this fast lane life it is still the little things that impress us. This week in London I have been able to line dry outside all my washing. I swear it even smells better. Just don't leave it out overnight as the foxes might get some nice bedding...


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