The Kitchen.

For many years our cottage was a 'Play House'; it's where we had fun, enjoyed ourselves, and lived the simple life.

Now, as we grow older, our priorities are beginning to change, and we are slowly re-organising everything to cope with a different type of existence (grandchildren, animals, Lord M's unpredictable behaviour, etc).

We've recently installed new dark brown, double glazed, aluminium doors, that not only keep out draughts, but also let in masses of light (they look wonderful). We're in the process of building the 'tower'. And now it's the turn of the kitchen.

Actually we love our ramshackle kitchen, but it's no longer practical. It's been there for nearly 40 years and it's time to change.

I have 'a man' coming in this morning to have a look. I don't really want an 'off-the-shelf' Ikea style kitchen, but I do need more space.

Decisions, decisions. More of this anon!

Guinness Cake.

It's been cold, wet, and miserable recently, and Lord Magnon's been kept busy keeping the home fires burning. Both our sitting room wood-fired-burner, and the kitchen wood-fired-stove, have been going non-stop for weeks.

Not only does this mean that I have a lovely warm house, it also offers the opportunity to make slow cooked casseroles, and attempt to do some baking.

Cro loves fruit cake. So, as it seems to turn out OK every time, I always follow the same recipe; the old faithful 'Guinness Cake'. Maybe mine wouldn't win first prize at a WI cake making competition, but nothing ever goes to waste. My only waver from the original recipe is that Lord 'high-n-mighty' Magnon INSISTS that I take out all the green bits (angelica) from the mixed peel. Anything for a quiet life!

That's it for another year!

I've enjoyed a few Christmassy days since my return. No fairy topped tree; Cro couldn't be bothered with just him and the cat. But he did decorate the cottage quite nicely, and we did do the whole Turkey/Christmas Pud'/Champagne thing for the New Year.

The decorations are now all packed away, and calm has returned. Rain has replaced snow, and we have almost started thinking of Spring. Daytime fires are still de rigeur, and at nights we continue to cook on 'George'; our wood fired kitchen stove... For the moment we no longer need to scrape morning frost from the car's windscreen; I just hope that continues.

Our next big job is to finish the interior/exterior work on the tower, after which I can amuse myself with the inside furnishings. Cro wants 'primitive'; I want 'chic'. No doubt we will have to compromise on some form of 'primitive chic'. The best bit will be looking for small pieces of rustic antique furniture. As we're 'starting from scratch', the canvas is as yet bare.

Home again.

I've had a pretty traumatic Christmas. I was caught up in Gatwick's snow-bound flight delays for 10 days, and instead of returning to France on Dec' 18th, I didn't get back until the 28th. This meant that Lord Magnon spent Christmas by himself in France (I didn't hear him complain), and I, unexpectedly, spent it with both family and friends back in England.

Anyway, all is now back to normal, and I'm just so happy to look out on this beautiful landscape once again. When I'm not here I miss it so much.

2010 ended with my oldest son having just started a new job in North London, my daughter surrounded by flood water in Queensland, and my youngest son having recently passed some important exams.

I may be a little late with my wishes, but let's hope that 2011 proves to be angst-free, creative, and full of pleasant surprises.

Back in Blighty.

Brighton Pavilion in the snow.

I'm back in England for the second time in a month, having left Lord Magnon home alone in France.

He's given me a huge shopping list that includes Haggis, Green ginger wine, and Horseradish sauce. All things he says he can't live without.

Brighton is beautiful in the snow, but with all the hills and inclines it's also rather dangerous. I've already seen several people on their backs.

So, I'm off Christmas shopping until mid-month. If you see a very thin Lord M begging on a street corner, do give him a mince pie and a kind word. And tell him I'll be back soon.

Cottage life.

I love this time of year. To me there's nothing to compare with sitting around the fire on a cold evening, stretching my legs out on the sofa, and either reading a good book or watching a favourite film on TV. I took the above photo yesterday mid-To Kill a Mockingbird. What a way to spend a cool sunday afternoon.

Lord M installed this Godin wood-burning stove a couple of years back. At first I was a little upset to have lost our old smokey, spark-spitting fire, but the advantages of the new stove are now obvious. It can be easily revived in the morning, easily left burning whilst we are out, and gives off a fabulous heat when required. Winters can be very cold here in southern France, so reliable heating, double glazing, and good insulation are essential. A cottage can still look like an ancient cottage, but the advantages of modern technology need to be embraced.

Beast of Burden.

I had an interesting family life, I went to a good school, I studied Fine Art at college, and then I met Lord Magnon.

Now I'm a dogsbody; painting evil smelling wood-preservative onto splinter-filled planks, and creeping about amongst rafters poking itchy insulating material into dark corners.

Where did it all go wrong?