tag:,2012:/1 2012-01-16T10:31:02Z my life in a rural french village [by mimi pompom a former fashion editor from west london] Movable Type 3.34 tag:www.toutsweet.net,2011://1.394 2011-12-27T10:21:17Z 2012-01-16T10:31:02Z

Not me, I hasten to add but the proprietors of La Grande Galerie in Civray. When Eileen phoned me a month ago to say that she and Wally were about to retire, had sold the gallery and would be moving...

Karen Not me, I hasten to add but the proprietors of La Grande Galerie in Civray. When Eileen phoned me a month ago to say that she and Wally were about to retire, had sold the gallery and would be moving over 150 kilometres south by the end of the year, I must confess that I felt very sad. In the GG, they have created a wonderful little arts hub, displaying and promoting the work of local artists and crafts people and hosting book launches (including mine) as well as art classes, writing groups, charity events and wine tastings. They have fostered an extended creative family in the most unlikely of places – a hidden square in the market town of Civray. I owe them a great debt of gratitude, for all their support and enthusiasm for my books. They have sold dozens of copies of Tout Sweet and Toute Allure at the GG and in addition, passed on clippings from US newspapers and magazines and come up with many useful suggestions for promoting the books. I have also been able to count on them for an excellent dog sitting service. Things did not get off to a great start, as Biff and their dog Glen (a little rescue dog with springs in his paws) took an instant dislike to each other. I still chuckle at the memory. It was January 2009 and France, like the UK, was snowbound with all Eurostars and flights cancelled. The local roads were dire – but I had to get back to the UK to give a talk. It took me a few attempts before I made it to Civray, driving at 20 kilometres an hour through a strangely calm and icy white landscape. As I handed over Biff, both dogs reared up on their hind legs, snarling and baring their teeth. A diminutive, and elegantly-dressed figure stood in the snow, holding on to each of them –and Biff's doughnut bed – unfazed and smiling. 'Off you go,' she said. 'Have a marvellous time. They will be absolutely fine.' I had my doubts. As I walked away to the sound of ferocious growling, I was impressed by her positive attitude but felt guilty for leaving the doyenne of the GG to cope with a potential bloodbath. I needn't have worried. By the time I got back, Biff and Glen were the best of friends and sleeping in the same basket. It was always a pleasure to see Wally and Eileen and we were always made to feel welcome. Had the GG been on my doorstep, I would have been there every single day. I'd like to thank Eileen and Wally and congratulate them on making such a success of the GG, thereby enhancing the lives of many locals. I wish them lots of happiness in their new home and hope that it is not so much Au revoir as A bientot. Meanwhile, I can't wait to meet the new owners – from Australia – and wish them every success with the GG. ]]> tag:www.toutsweet.net,2011://1.393 2011-12-26T21:34:47Z 2011-12-27T18:09:11Z

WOOF! Happy Boxing Day everyone. I love Christmas. Turkey dinners, cocktail parties, Downton Abbey on the telly and lots of unexpected treats – it really is a great time of year to be a dog. This year my presents included...

Karen WOOF! Happy Boxing Day everyone. I love Christmas. Turkey dinners, cocktail parties, Downton Abbey on the telly and lots of unexpected treats – it really is a great time of year to be a dog. This year my presents included a squeaking carrot (great for throwing around the room for my human pet to catch), a bone and a bottle of something called ‘Biffy’s Magical Hair Rinse’ which Frances made up especially for me. (It’s a blend of cider vinegar and essential oils, designed I think, to make me even more irresistible.) This morning, I received another gift: a surprise delivery of food from Lily’s Kitchen, the delicious organic dog food brand. There are no 'animal by products' or 'derivatives' in this, just real meat with herbs and other good things such as alfalfa sprouts and blueberries. (I've noticed my pet's nostrils twitching, whenever she serves me the Goose & Duck Feast with Fruits for dinner.) I hope that my mate Glen, the little spotted terrier who lived at La Grande Galerie, is also enjoying Christmas in his new home. His loyal human chums, Eileen and Wally, have taken well deserved retirement after several years of running the GG and have moved to Cognac, where Glen will have a big garden to play in. I hope they invite me to stay soon, as I'm a little miffed with my pet following a recent incident in the local park, when a crazy French lady with a poodle started shouting that I should be on a lead. (Such a fuss about nothing: I was only having a friendly sniff around.) ‘Ne vous inquietez pas, il est castré,’ (Don’t worry, he’s castrated!) shouted my pet, as the French lady scooped up her poodle. I was mortified. No chap likes to have his private details broadcast to the world like that. Several of the old boys fishing in the lake, flinched and flashed me a look of sympathy. Honestly humans can be so embarrassing sometimes. Before I go, I'd like to wish all my readers peace, love and joy – and lots of walks and delicious treats – in 2012. ]]> tag:www.toutsweet.net,2011://1.392 2011-12-12T19:09:34Z 2011-12-12T19:10:33Z

On Friday evening I waved Biff off in a camper van for a mini-break in the Gers with his second family (aka 'Sarah' and 'Steve') as I have had to return to London for a few days for a meeting....

Karen La Grande Galerie, but Biff is going to write that posting when he returns from his travels. In the meantime, I'd like to say a big thank-you to everyone who visited our stand at La Grande Galerie on Tuesday, thereby raising €277 for the Phoenix Association in the Dordogne, and helping some little four-pawed folk have a second chance of life.]]> tag:www.toutsweet.net,2011://1.391 2011-12-11T18:01:18Z 2011-12-12T19:09:29Z

It's taken much longer than I imagined – and mentally I feel like I have run ten marathons – but Tout Soul is now available for pre-order from Amazon. The official publication date for the print version is 7 March,...

Karen It's taken much longer than I imagined – and mentally I feel like I have run ten marathons – but Tout Soul is now available for pre-order from Amazon. The official publication date for the print version is 7 March, 2012 but it's very likely that copies will be available in February. Meanwhile, readers who have Kindles, iPads or other e-reader devices should be able to download the electronic version as early as January. (Date TBC). The e-book will be available to readers in the UK, the USA, Canada and Australia simultaneously. Everyone who has read or worked on Tout Soul in a professional capacity, has reported back that it made them cry – or at the very least gave them a lump in their throat. But they also said that it made them laugh, which is good news as I've worked extremely hard to ensure that Tout Soul delivers an ultimately optimistic and message and – I hope – a little beam of light in the post-Christmas gloom. ]]> tag:www.toutsweet.net,2011://1.390 2011-12-04T15:10:46Z 2011-12-04T15:37:04Z

Just a quick post to remind people that there is Christmas fair and vide grenier this Tuesday (6 December) at La Grande Galerie in Civray. Frances (Biff's former owner) and I will have a stall in the morning, where we...

Karen vide grenier this Tuesday (6 December) at La Grande Galerie in Civray. Frances (Biff's former owner) and I will have a stall in the morning, where we will be selling off the beauty products that I've received this year, thanks to my day job as a beauty journalist. It's a mix of makeup, skincare and fragrance - all by well-known luxury brands - and we will be selling them at a fraction of their normal retail price. All of the proceeds from the beauty sale - along with second-hand books and other items on our stand - will go to the Phoenix Animal Rescue in the Dordogne, a charity dear to both our hearts as it is the charity that rescued Biff. Now we would like to help some other doglets. It should be a jolly day - Biff will also be helping out - so hopefully see you there. www.lagrandegalerie.com www.phoenixasso.com ]]> tag:www.toutsweet.net,2011://1.389 2011-11-12T19:40:18Z 2011-11-12T21:10:24Z

It's been a while I know - I've been working flat out on the edits for Tout Soul - but when I woke up this morning it felt as if everything had fast-forwarded six months to spring. The sky was...

Karen It's been a while I know - I've been working flat out on the edits for Tout Soul - but when I woke up this morning it felt as if everything had fast-forwarded six months to spring. The sky was hyacinth blue with a few swirls of white cloud and my neighbours were heading up to the market minus their duvet coats. Several of the shopkeepers on the square meanwhile, have been busy sprucing up their facades. As I walked Biff around the village yesterday afternoon I was treated to a scene straight out of Chocolat. A crowd had gathered in front of the boulangerie where the new baker was perched on a ladder painting the letters above his shop. Meanwhile his lovely wife was busy painting the interior in a mix of fondant lilac and chocolate eclair. My friend Pierre-Antoine, the owner of a fashion boutique on the square, has spent two weekends updating his wooden fixtures with silver metallic paint. 'C'est beaucoup plus moderne,' he declared, admiring his own handiwork. And not to be outdone Félix the local artist has also had his paint brushes out. Since this picture was taken yesterday he has also painted his shutters bell pepper red, thereby flaunting the local regulations, which state that buildings on the square must be painted in tasteful blue and ton de pierre (literally 'tone of stone'). Every time I walk past the 'boho corner' as I call it, it brings a smile to my face. For all the talk about its brain-numbing bureaucracy, one of the things I love about France is that officials know when to exercise discretion. The French treat their artists with indulgence and the mayor I'm quite sure, will turn a blind eye to Félix's eccentric decor and look instead at the bigger picture and the jolly bolt of colour that he brings to the village. I've even been doing a little redecoration myself, having suddenly been hit by a pressing desire to paint the side doors to the garage earlier this week. It had nothing at all to do with avoiding the aforementioned edits. ]]> tag:www.toutsweet.net,2011://1.388 2011-10-12T15:15:22Z 2011-10-19T00:15:55Z

OOF. Je suis cuit as they say in my native tongue. Literally speaking, this means ‘I'm cooked’, but not in the sense that Hugh Fairly-Witless has in mind for us four-legged folk. (Let's hope he doesn't come foraging in France...

Karen OOF. Je suis cuit as they say in my native tongue. Literally speaking, this means ‘I'm cooked’, but not in the sense that Hugh Fairly-Witless has in mind for us four-legged folk. (Let's hope he doesn't come foraging in France anytime soon, as I'm worried I might fit his definition of organic and end up in his cooking pot). The reason I’m tired is because my pet jumped out of bed before dawn this morning shouting, ‘Come on Biff, we’re going to watch the sun rise.’ I opened one eye and gave her my glare but she dragged me out of my doughnut and into the car saying, ‘We’ve seen lots of sunsets in France but not many sunrises.’ We drove to a country track and waited. And waited some more. (She had found the timing on a UK website, which meant we were an hour early.) I wouldn’t have minded if I’d been allowed out to join in the night life - deers, foxes, wild boar and rabbits all having a fantastic time - but instead we sat staring at the horizon until the dark faded to cold, grey daylight. My pet was very disappointed. ‘Was that it? she said. Why no wonderful pinks and reds? Where was the bonfire in the sky?’ As we drove home it finally dawned (pun everyone!!) that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west; that basically the fireworks had been taking place behind us. Yes, we’d been facing in the wrong direction. (In case you're wondering, that's why there is no picture of a sunrise to accompany this post.) The pet is downstairs right now typing away furiously on a blog entry of her own - something to do with a phone call to France Telecom yesterday. As for me, I’m hoping that the man from A Taste Of Garlic might be reading this as I wouldn’t mind one of those blog awards that he gives out every week. I’d also like to let him know that I’m available for interviews. WOOF! ]]> tag:www.toutsweet.net,2011://1.387 2011-10-11T10:24:40Z 2011-10-11T10:28:10Z

Just a quick post to congratulate M&S on its new French website, which launches today, allowing those of us to live in France to order clothes and home accessories - including the Autograph Maison, luxe bedlinen range - for a...

Karen new French website, which launches today, allowing those of us to live in France to order clothes and home accessories - including the Autograph Maison, luxe bedlinen range - for a standard delivery charge of €4.95. Its part of the store's 'bricks and clicks' strategy and a prelude to the opening of the new Paris store later this autumn. I'll keep you posted. ]]> tag:www.toutsweet.net,2011://1.386 2011-09-10T19:59:16Z 2011-09-10T20:11:46Z

This Tuesday [13th September] is Book Day at la Grande Galerie the local arts hub and cafe in Civray. Local authors whose books are on sale at the Galerie - who knew there were so many of us? -will be...

Karen This Tuesday [13th September] is Book Day at la Grande Galerie the local arts hub and cafe in Civray. Local authors whose books are on sale at the Galerie - who knew there were so many of us? -will be there between 10.00am-4.00pm. The Hope Association, which is a rescue association for dogs will also be selling second hand books and all sales from these second hand books will go towards helping ill treated and stray dogs find new homes. La Grande Galerie, 7 Rue Temple, 86400, Civray, France. tel +33 (0)5 49 87 73 02]]> tag:www.toutsweet.net,2011://1.385 2011-09-10T17:53:04Z 2011-09-18T09:49:30Z

When I first read about the Wigtown Book Festival [23rd September - 2nd October 2011] it sounded so charming that my first thought was 'where can I buy tickets?' Wigtown, also known as 'book town,' is situated on a...

Karen When I first read about the Wigtown Book Festival [23rd September - 2nd October 2011] it sounded so charming that my first thought was 'where can I buy tickets?' Wigtown, also known as 'book town,' is situated on a picturesque promontory in Scotland jutting out towards Ireland and boasts no less than six book shops, which is reason enough to visit. Then there is the author line up, which this year includes well-known fiction writers Maggie O'Farrell, Julie Myerson and former GMTV newsreader-turned-novelist Penny Smith. I'll also be there giving a talk, Toute Allure, on Saturday 1st October at 1.30pm The festival programme is very eclectic and this year includes author walks and mountain biking. Sadly, I'll miss the Hendricks Gin festival launch party on Friday 23rd but the festival director assures me that if no-one shows up for my event - sharp-eyed readers will have noticed that I will be talking at precisely the time most sensible people will be in the pub having lunch - he will have a bottle of Hendricks on hand and we can have a nice G&T. Wigtown Ink meanwhile, is a festival within the festival, with a programme of events 'for writers by writers.' On Sunday 2nds October at 12.15, I'll also be joining journalist and author Stephen Armstrong to talk about the black arts of freelance writing for newspapers. ]]> tag:www.toutsweet.net,2011://1.384 2011-08-18T11:45:33Z 2011-09-10T19:56:25Z

WOOF ! Me again. The pet is very busy at the moment, so I thought I’d write and tell you what we’ve been up to, which isn’t very much. But late yesterday afternoon, I heard her tell a friend that...

Karen WOOF ! Me again. The pet is very busy at the moment, so I thought I’d write and tell you what we’ve been up to, which isn’t very much. But late yesterday afternoon, I heard her tell a friend that we were going to a B-A-R-B-E-C-U-E. This is my favourite kind of social event since my pet can roam freely under my watchful eye. And as any discerning dog knows, the treats to be had at a barbecue are top-notch. This event was hosted by a big but friendly dog called Panda, on account of his black eyes. He is responsible for a whole family of pets - all charming, polite and very well trained. Mark the oldest pet is the drummer in a band called the Soulmonkeys; while his fiancee Nicola owns Les Trois Anges - the vintage fabric and furniture boutique, at la Grande Galerie in Civray. Between them they have six lovely teenagers who can sing, play the piano and several kinds of guitar. At one point they did a brilliant version of ‘Valerie.’ It was mesmerising. That Panda is a lucky dog. He has a cave in his garden in which his human pets can play. Last night it was decorated with fairy lights and lit with candles and packed with pet treats such as beers and bottles of wine. For most of the evening all the pets and their friends took it in turns to sing or play guitar. My pet and I sat very quietly and didn’t bark or move for over an hour. Fortunately she didn’t dance, which was a relief. Several times I’ve had to grab hold of her leg to try and drag her off the dance floor, which can be very embarrassing. Another highlight was that I got to see Walter and Eileen, the very friendly pets of my good friend Glen, the spotted terrier who lives at the Grand Galerie. I was surprised to see that Glen had let them out on their own. I looked after them on his behalf and I’m happy to report that they both behaved really well and didn’t try to wander off or steal any sausages from peoples’ plates. But I was a bit disappointed that Wally didn’t have any biscuits with him. All in all, a good night. Paw note: The Soulmonkeys will be playing at The Mad Hatter’s Kitchen in Caunay this Saturday evening, August 20th. Glyn and Charlotte are hosting a mini festival starting at 3pm, along with live music, vintage motor bike display, BBQ, bar and refreshments. The evening event starts at 6.30 ish and is by ticket only, including (yay!) a barbecue and buffet, wine, and three local bands including the Soulmonkeys!!! (Note: the pet has just told me to stop using so many exclamation marks. Honestly, who does she think is writing this?!!!) The Mad Hatter's Kitchen, Le Logis, Le Breuillac, 79190 Caunay. Tel 05 49 27 67 29]]> tag:www.toutsweet.net,2011://1.382 2011-08-01T12:58:50Z 2011-08-04T17:49:20Z

To tie in with the official launch day of Tout Sweet in the US, I've written a two-part guest posting for Liberty London Girl, starting today with 'Five Things I've Learnt Since Moving To France' (including why Frenchmen wear Speedos...

Karen To tie in with the official launch day of Tout Sweet in the US, I've written a two-part guest posting for Liberty London Girl, starting today with 'Five Things I've Learnt Since Moving To France' (including why Frenchmen wear Speedos and the secret of how never to be ill from oysters again...) Sasha, a fellow Francophile - soon to be holidaying (or should that be 'vacationing'?) just 56km from me - was one of the first to read and review Tout Sweet, second only to my friends in the travel department of The Mail On Sunday. Her support has been invaluable and her quote is on the cover of the US version. Cheers for that LLG! In other news, my third book, 'Tout Soul: The Pursuit Of Happiness In Rural France' is a whisker away from completion. It's been a while I know, but I'd like to thank everyone who has sent motivational emails telling me to get a move on, thus helping to pull me back from the brink of a recently acquired Twitter addiction (www.twitter.com/mimipompom1). Biff meanwhile, spurred on by the success of his guest blog posting - well, five comments! - is wondering if he should write a tell-all book, provisionally entitled, 'A Dog's Life: Tales From The Poitou-Charentes. Finally, I've already started to receive emails from readers in the US who managed to get hold of early copies of Tout Sweet and must have read it, well ... tout de suite, so I'd like to say thank you and bonjour to them.. ]]> tag:www.toutsweet.net,2011://1.381 2011-07-28T20:00:47Z 2011-08-13T11:22:57Z

WOOF! Hello everyone. My name is Biff Wheeler (pronounced Wheel-AIR or sometimes Willer.) I’m French, bilingual and I live in the Poitou with my two-legged friend - or My Crazy Pet as I prefer to call her. Sometimes My Crazy...

Karen WOOF! Hello everyone. My name is Biff Wheeler (pronounced Wheel-AIR or sometimes Willer.) I’m French, bilingual and I live in the Poitou with my two-legged friend - or My Crazy Pet as I prefer to call her. Sometimes My Crazy Pet can be a bit of a handful and it’s a real struggle to let her know who's in charge. She can also be quite devious. Only today she tried to slip out of the house unnoticed - saying something about it being too hot for dogs - and I had to do some fast footwork to make sure she didn’t take off without me. Sometimes she disappears for days. I’ve heard her telling friends that she's going to London for ‘work meetings’ but really she’s sneaking off to see a man called John Frieda. When she comes back, her coat always looks very shiny and groomed. I’m not sure what grooming parlour she visits but I wouldn't mind giving it a go myself. The last time I went to get my hair cut, the coiffeuse cut off my eyebrows by mistake. I was philosophical about it. After all, everyone makes mistakes and she did apologise very nicely. But now that I’m a little bit famous I have to be careful about how I look. People recognise me quite often on my travels around the Poitou. Only last week, we were waiting at Poitiers airport to pick up a friend and a man patted me on the head and said ‘Bonjour Biff’. The crazy pet was very surprised. But I can’t help it if fans come up to me for a chat or to tell me how handsome I am. You have to be vigilant at all times with your two-legged friend. Mine is often wandering off alone down country tracks. Sometimes she flings herself in front of a tractor or a car shouting ‘BIFF! GET OUT THE WAY!’ She’s got no road sense at all. Everyone knows that tractors and cars stop for little dogs. Especially famous ones. Anyway, right now My Crazy Pet is downstairs looking at a road map. This normally means we are going on a road trip. Last year we went to visit friends at their villa in Provence. It took two days, mainly because The Crazy Pet set off in the wrong direction. She also spent several hours barking at the Hertz car rental people in Limoges (we'd booked a rental car as our car has no air conditioning and I didn't want her to overheat). They didn’t have the car she had booked and tried to give us a very big car, which for some reason the pet didn't want. We eventually drove away in a hire car that hadn't been cleaned. It was full of beer cans and old burger wrappings (an unexpected bonus for me!) My pet was very stressed and had to lie down in a dark motel room for a day near Clermont-Ferrand. I did try to tell her that any company affiliated with Ryanair has got to be bad news but she wouldn't listen. The year before that we went on a road trip down south to Collieure (that's us in the picture left). My pet and her equally crazy friend yapped and barked all the way while I sat quietly in the back of the car listening to them. I didn't mind the noise as they looked like they were enjoying themselves and it's important to keep your pet happy. I’m not sure what she's planning this time but I’ll keep you posted. ]]> tag:www.toutsweet.net,2011://1.380 2011-07-18T12:03:17Z 2011-07-18T12:12:13Z

To the Mad Hatter's - where else? - for Sunday lunch on my birthday yesterday. Pictures, directions and a list of up and coming music events and bistro nights can now be found here on their new Facebook page....

Karen To the Mad Hatter's - where else? - for Sunday lunch on my birthday yesterday. Pictures, directions and a list of up and coming music events and bistro nights can now be found here on their new Facebook page. ]]> tag:www.toutsweet.net,2011://1.377 2011-06-29T18:07:06Z 2011-06-30T17:11:32Z

To the Grand Galerie this morning for a coffee with my friend Anita. Next Tuesday is a big day at the Galerie with the opening of the Summer Exhibition featuring a group of artists from Warwickshire. La Grande Galerie, 7...

Karen La Grande Galerie, 7 Rue Temple, 86400, Civray. Tel +33 (0)5 49 87 73 02; www.grandegaleriefrance.com ]]>