In rural France, a swimming pool is considered by many to be the ultimate status symbol. But I have identified two other ‘must haves.’ The first is a fire pit. My friend Ed recently built one in his garden. In late October, several of us sat round the roaring fire under a full moon, eating curry and wishing we all had fire pits too.
The other status symbol, also inspired by Ed, is a barn screening room. For Halloween we all piled into it to watch the horror film ‘Drag Me To Hell.’ Ed had thought of every detail, including popcorn, chocolates and coffee as well as camping chairs and blankets (it was chilly). As we sat in the darkness, with the barn door creaking, dogs running round and owls hooting outside, it was very atmospheric.
But what I’m really looking forward to is next summer, by which time, (hopefully), at least one of our number will be the proud owner of .... a swimming pool. It seems like a long way away now, but I see a summer of non-stop pool parties, kaftans, martinis and jewelled flip flops on the horizon.
Two years ago I hung up my high heels, put the Prada handbags into storage and left behind my fashionable West London life to renovate an old village house in rural France. Et voila. This blog is about what happened next....
The idea of the barn screaning room sounds intriguing but I like the sound of the martinis and flip flops better. lying on a pink and white stripped steamer chair soaking up a few rays martini on a tray and a good book (probably yours). Once Christmas is over the nights will get lighter and your dream will be ever closer to a reality,lets hope we get a good summer.