February 2013 Property of the Month: 'The-One-To-Be-Tailor-Made'

'The-One-To-Be-Tailor-Made'

(or if you just can't wait any longer!)

LISTED AT: €39,500

Did January go quickly or was it just us?

Now that February has begun and we've just about got used to writing the date properly, it feels as though 2013 is well and truly here. With this comes everything that a new year promises; resolutions, aspirations, and plans. However, it's around this time of year we all start to develop a bit of a hangover. Suddenly we start to have vague memories of the end of the previous year, the amount we ate, drank, and most worryingly the amount we managed to spend! It all comes back to us more vivid than it was when it happened and leaves us with a nasty feeling; it's time to make some cutbacks.

Or perhaps you're feeling something different; the thought of staying where you are for another year is starting to weigh heavy on your heart and shoulders. If this is the case then maybe it's time you make the move. Throw caution to the wind and do something that many before you have ventured out to do and many after you will do as well.

It's feelings such as these that inspired us to feature our latest Property of the Month. Last time we featured a Château, now it's something a little different. And we'd like to thank Suzanne Pearce of  Suzanne in France once again for providing us with a property of such great potential.

This property, which is thought to have originally been two cottages with attached barns, is in Orne, Normandie. It is an absolute steal if you're looking for something of a renovation project with plenty of outdoor space, possibly with the view to keeping animals, as there is additional land that may be added to the already sizeable lot, subject to negotiation. It is accessible via a quiet 'no-through-road'.

It's renovation projects like these that are really close to our hearts as they are the embodiment of our philosophy; stop waiting for that perfect moment and just go and make something happen. Sometimes the best time to do something is that moment just before you are ready to do it, the adrenaline will carry you through. Houses like these are a blank canvas for you to make something that no one else has, something that is truly yours because you have made it just so and put your signature on it for years to come.

The owner that this house wants is the person who can look at the pictures above and see limitless possibilities. Hell, you show these photos to the right person and they'll already start picking out the paint colours. They won't see the work to be done, they'll see the finished product and will stop at nothing short of achieving it.

This charming out-building is believed to be an old stone bakery.

Projects like these are very much for the brave-hearted and the strong-willed. Of course they're not easy, but when you're set on something hard work just comes naturally. And this property isn't a complete new start, there is already mains water and electricity on site. Some people we have spoken to have moved in to a place with less than even that!

So if the look of this property is setting off your imagination, then check out Suzanne's website where you'll find more information, pictures, and loads more properties that may catch your fancy.

And if you fancy reading some more on other people who have undertaken serious feats of bravery when it comes to renovating new homes in France, we recommend taking a look at Stephanie Dagg's blog and reading her e-book 'Heads Above Water'. You could also try 'Tout Sweet', by Karen Wheeler.

The romance of 35mm film... Or not.

35mm film - moblog.net

We recently found a disposable camera intended for our wedding, a little too late. So, in the honeymoon suitcase it went, along with romantic notions of snapping the sights of Paris with real film.

And we did. When we remembered, anyway. I loved the mystery of taking a photo and not being able to see the finished product for another month or so. We couldn't crop, filter or delete the photo once it was taken. If we'd got the wrong angle, there was no going back. The satisfying winding of the cog and the pressing of the shutter release was the final act each time. 

So, this is the reality:

It was odd not having control over the printing of our own photos. We sent the camera away and I was quietly terrified that my precious Paris-mystery would get lost in the post. A few weeks later, and the photos were pushed through our letterbox. What anticipation I felt as I tore the package open, bringing back memories from my childhood, that familiar grown-up feeling having taken your own photographs. Hmm. The first 5 or 6 photos were dominated by a grey-pink coloured blur. This seemed to be a theme as I flicked through the set of photos, and several were so terrible that they hadn't even been developed! 

This is not to say we've been completely put off the old-fashioned style of photography. A handful of our photos turned out pretty good, and are as unique as we could hope for. Done properly, I think it could be really great. And let's face it; you can never take a bad photo of Paris.

Les Misérables (2012)

So this is a little daunting. I'm not quite sure how to write a post worthy-enough of such a huge blockbuster.

Having never read Victor Hugo's seminal work, nor seen the West End show of Les Misérables, we felt a little guilty about going straight to see the movie (we're determined to work our way through the 1472 page novel this year). All we knew was that it was set during the time of the French uprisings. In fact, the Revolution occurred during 1789-1799, whereas this story actually covers the events of the student's June Rebellion of 1832. For those of you who don't know it, Les Misérables tells the journey of two main characters; former prisoner Jean Valjean who escapes probation, and leads a 17 year chase for Inspector Javert, in attempt to redeem himself.

What is probably the most surprising feature of this movie is that it's a film of the stage show, not the novel. This means we have to listen to the likes of Russell Crowe and Sacha Baron Cohen singing every single word. Which on the face of it sounds a little 'Mamma Mia' (I can still hear the voice of Pierce Brosnan ringing in my ears), but actually, you kind of get used to the style and Cohen and Crowe do remarkably well. The men clearly steal the show; I would go as far to say that this was Hugh Jackman's and Russell Crowe's best roles yet. Anne Hathaway and Amanda Seyfried play smaller parts and just don't have quite the same vocal strength. But we should all be on the look-out for rising star, Samantha Barks who actually played Eponine on stage too.

We were expecting to see some great dramatic views of Paris throughout the film, and while there were plenty, the majority were regrettably, CGI shots. The reason for this is that it turns out that the film was largely shot in British locations. In fact, many of the scenes were filmed just ten minutes away from us in Winchester, early last year, and we managed to miss the whole hype! Also, a lot of the locations were clearly made to look like theatre sets, perhaps most notably, the area of the rebel barricades. I wouldn't say these effects take away from the film, but actually make you feel like you could be sitting in the dress circle of a theatre. I can't decide if that's a good thing or not.

Critics of Les Misérables (2012) have had a lot to say, and opinions are very much divided. The singing might not be quite up to scratch, but we have to admit that it would be a lot less attractive without the Hollywood A-list cast. Russell Crowe in particular has received incredibly heavy criticism, that we believe isn't at all justifiable. For someone who was unsure about the character, he really outdid himself.

The film also succeeds in effortlessly bringing in the previously-uninitiated wider audience, and for this reason, I feel that it does Hugo proud. The story is unexpectedly heartbreaking, and provokes every other feeling in the book. Genius.

Go see it. I dare you not to cry.

Reflets De France (Or: From Carrefour to fridge door)

You've been in France for a week, maybe two. You've been visiting friends, exploring somewhere new, or treading paths familiar to the soles of your feet. You went for a getaway, and get away is what you did. You're exhausted, you're happy, you've been dining on the rich, nourishing atmosphere of a vibrant city, or a serene country landscape. 

Of course, you've also been dining well on the food.

The food that you crave for when you're not there, and when you are, it satisfies you in a way that has been too long forgotten. It's rich and the flavours are intense, food for your stomach and your soul alike. It's the crackle of the crust of the bread, or the silk of a perfectly ripened cheese; the flavours in the soup that are as old as you can remember, but as new to you now as they were that first time.

But then of course, like any great feast or banquet, it comes to an end. You've eaten your fill and now it is time to go. You look around enviously at the other guests of the country, those who don't need to leave as you do. Perhaps you hesitate, you consider just stepping back, just another taste before you go, and then you remember that the world carries on and there are things to be done. So you leave, unsure of when you will return but confident in yourself that you will, because how could you not?

Now you're home, you're across the channel, or further away. You're contented for the moment, but soon the hunger returns. You relive in your head those moments, those tastes, sounds, smells, and memories, and you want more.

You go to your local supermarket and gaze at the items on the shelves, you gravitate towards the tiny markings on the labels: 'Produit de France'. There's so little here, and most of it is lacking. You squeeze the bread but it collapses in self-pity beneath your fingers, the meat lacks the poetry, and the chocolate lacks rhythm. The shelves may as well be empty to you. They don't have what you need, so you eat, and you go hungry.

Over the top, non?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that here at Vive Trianon we're suffering from serious withdrawal symptoms, and if any of the above passage is familiar to you then you know what we mean. Quality French food is sometimes just too hard to come by in the UK. There are, of course, the occasional market stalls selling French cheeses and meats, the odd treat, but it's not often you can come across the every day food items that fill the supermarché shelves. These are the items that we take an empty suitcase for whenever we visit (on our last trip we overfilled a bag so much that a bottle managed to somehow break itself inside, and leak all over the carriage of the Metro - cringe!).

www.thisismoney.co.uk

It's not exactly a recent thing (in fact it was introduced almost two years ago) but the online grocery store Ocado, which usually stocks Waitrose food, has now got a deal with the French supermarket chain Carrefour, and is now stocking a selection of authentic French produce including the Reflet De France range. This range was launched by Carrefour in 1997 as an initiative to showcase local produce deriving from French culinary heritage.

They do have an interesting range, and it is a great way to stave off those intense cravings for good French food, but we'll be the first to recognise that it isn't a flawless alternative (for one you need to be in France for French food to truly work). They don't have a complete stock, it's mainly just the highlights, and the prices aren't all that agreeable when you're on a tight budget. 

In all honesty, we've never even considered shopping with Ocado, or Waitrose, before, and we only happened upon this discovery whilst ordering from what seems like the sole French supermarket in England, French Click (does anyone know any others?). However, just as with French Click, Ocado's Reflets De France range may be nice to do every now and then as a bit of a treat, but it's definitely not something that we'd be able to use as our only source of food.

Has anyone used this Ocado service? If so what was your experience and would you recommend it? Also, does anyone else know of any other UK-based French supermarkets, either online or instore?

Au revoir!

Janurary 2013 Property of the Month: 'The-One-That-Helps-With-Those-January-Blues'

'The-One-That-Helps-With-Those-January-Blues'

(Ever fancied yourself in a Chateau?)

LISTED AT: €1,800,000

It's January, and there's no hiding it, you're feeling a little flat. A season of celebrations has been and gone, you're back to work maybe after some time off, you haven't yet made any plans to do anything soon.

Hey, it's perfectly natural and at this time of year many of us are feeling the same way. That's why for our January Property of the Month, and our first property of 2013, we thought we'd plunge ourselves very much into the realms of day-dreaming (of course for a lucky few this property may not be so far out of reach). This month we have Sheelagh Gorham of Bacchus French Property to thank for allowing us to use one of her properties.

OK, so picture this, you've just come into a small fortune, maybe you won the lottery or found a stash of forgotten pirate treasure underneath your vegetable patch. So fancying a change, you start browsing the internet for that perfect place to while away the rest of your days. Then all of a sudden you happen upon a page featuring a stunning Chateau in the Manche/Calvados border. The picture of its façade conjures up images in your head of romance, elegance and grandeur; a pleasing blend of luxury and peace.

The classical style in houses isn't always our thing, but there is definitely something about this property that catches our attention, and that isn't just because of the 29-hectares of walled land that comes with it.

The property has over 10 bedrooms so there's plenty of room for guests, plus the opportunity to rent out the housekeeper's cottage that comes with the land (that's assuming you don't need it for your housekeeper. Additionally, there are several stone outbuildings, including one with a modern apartment conversion and a neo-classical orangery.

 

Inside the main house are lounges, sitting rooms, studies, a library, a large fitted kitchen with a breakfast room, a formal dining room, and several bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. Enough to suit the needs of anyone looking for a classy life in the countryside, and the space with which it comes.

So if you're in a position to buy this wonderful Chateau then why not get in touch with Sheelagh Gorham for some more information? And for the rest of us, let's just enjoy for a moment the pictures of this grand house, and let our imaginations do the rest.

Au revoir!

Our Wedding... 28th December 2012

So, we're back (for a short while anyway)!

We had the most perfect wedding day we could ever ask for! Intimate, emotional and truly scrumptious. We couldn't possibly be any happier!

As promised, here's a sneak-peak before the official photographs are ready!

The whole wedding was styled around a literature theme, with an eclectic melange of English vintage, French bistro, and sophisticated gold, green and black tones. The cosy, characterful and boutique Hotel Du Vin, Winchester was the perfect venue for this.

We will be doing a series of posts in the coming weeks to tell you all about our special day, and our forthcoming Paris honeymoon! Speaking of which, we know our readers are a wealth of information about Paris, so we would really appreciate some last minute tips and recommendations!

Love to you all,

The Bakers

Glad tidings to you and yours...

WOW... What a year 2012 has been!

The Christmas Season is time for celebration, and also for reflection. This year has been a busy one here at Vive Trianon HQ...  New jobs, lengthy studies, wedding planning, future decisions made, and of course the birth of this blog! There have been times of sadness and struggle, but also of joy, excitement and love.

We'd like to send out a huge thanks to all those who have taken the time to read our blog, and who have supported us in our new venture! We have been lucky enough to meet some great folk through this journey so far (in person and through the virtual realms!).

As many of you know, we will be getting married on Friday. We can't quite believe this time has come, it's been a long wait! I can't wait to take this step into a whole new adventure.

So, we're signing out for the next few days, but check back soon for a sneak-peak at some wedding photos before we head off on our Paris honeymoon on New Year's Day!

We're wishing each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas. We ask you all to take a moment to really appreciate your loved ones, and all that you have.

Joyeux Noel!