Oh, how SHE wishes SHE was there... Dear Readers.. here in deepest Knightsbridge it is 'very wet under foot' ..
I am alright as I always wear MY very chic outfit of greys and red but it must be so boring not to be able to wear your pretty clothes or shoes in summer.. lucky Patsy in Northern California is probably wearing summer clothes as well.. in fact, most of HER friends EXCEPT those living in UK are wearing their summer clothes.. sigh.
This three part Tale has its' beginning on New Year's Eve 1968.. SHE was with a friend called Victor and at traffic lights, he recognised driver in car beside theirs.. SHE wound down HER window, yes folks, 'wound' down window.. it was long before days of electric windows.. and called "Ronnie", for that was man's name. It turned out they were going to same dinner.
Victor introduced HER to Ronnie, whom, it transpired, ran a Villa company called Continental Villas in Sloane Street, London SW1. And next thing SHE knew SHE had agreed to go and work that coming summer season for them as a ' Villa' Girl in St.Tropez.. "Come into the office next week and I will give you more details, you will start in late May" said Ronnie.
When SHE went back to work after Christmas holidays, SHE told HER employers, Fiona and Ulick Browne, what SHE had done.. "Oh, but you MUST go" said Fiona, "it is such a beautiful place, you will have a wonderful time, meet lots of nice people and your French will improve, come back to us when season finishes", Ulick smiled and nodded and asked whether, in fact, SHE could cook!
SHE went to see Ronnie to learn details.. for first month, SHE would be working in villa as cook for Sir Robert and Lady Ropner who had rented a large villa just on outskirts of Sainte Maxime, there would be Sir Robert and his wife and her sister, Mrs Gubbins and her husband plus additional guests joining them. Then SHE would move into company HQ at Villa Orla, route des Salins, Saint Tropez.. villa's back neighbour was famous Hotel Byblos.
And so early one morning in May, SHE caught Boat Train from Victoria.. Chuff chuff went train.. kind friend, Felicity, who had gone with HER to Victoria had packed HER a picnic and latest 'James Bond' book.. so sweet.. SHE sailed over English Chanel, arrived in Paris, changed stations, caught train for Frejus, yeah, on HER way! What to expect? Fiona had said "it is beautiful and smells delicious".. but what else? Such an adventure, first time overseas ALONE.. SHE had stayed with HER elder brother in Paris but had always been with him or one of his friends.. CHAPERONED!! SHE was 18.. would be 19 that July.
Penny Filmore and Astra Pakenham-Walsh were waiting for HER at station.. Penny driving little white MG 'Midget' Sports car. SHE got in to tiny back seat.. good thing SHE had practically grown up in back of big brother's Triumph Roadster.. SHE knows how to fold HER legs.. and VROOM.. they were off!
They took HER to villa in Sainte Maxime and settled HER in, explained the two couples would be arriving in four days time, that Ingrid MacDonald from Durban, South Africa, who would be responsible for cleaning the villa, would be arriving in two days time. Penny showed HER how to start and ride a Mobylette and said that she would be back next day to show HER local market and shops. Tired after long days travelling and it now being pitch dark, SHE finished Felicity's picnic and went to bed..
And woke up early, SHE went to the kitchen, made coffee, unlocked french doors and shutters and stepped out onto the terrace and fell in love.. for there, in all her glory, was the Mediterranean.
Penny came for HER at ten o'clock and showed HER everything and everywhere SHE would need in Sainte Maxime for food, markets for fresh fish, fruits and vegetables, the butcher, wine, gas for Mobylette, English papers for guests, pharmacy.. took HER to register with local police station, they did a MASSIVE shop of wine, bottled water, etc and drove back to the villa.
Ingrid arrived and then guests who knew area and house very well. Lady Ropner and SHE sat on the kitchen terrace and drew up a 'loose' menu and times for meals.. such a 'NICE' woman!
Month sped by.. such charming people to work for who LURVED good food and there was NO question of HER having to do shopping on mobylette... no no, someone was always only too willing to do an early morning run to buy and read a paper whilst SHE gathered what SHE needed for that day. There was only one hic-cup and that was after a fortnight SHE had a weekend off, Penny asked HER to go and stay with her at villa Orla.. upon arriving back, SHE was met in the drive by Sir Robert, who kissed HER hand and said "oh, happy days are here again".. and went with HER into villa calling for his wife.
SHE thought this was a bit odd and asked Lady Ropner "if everything was alright", she laughed and said " Everything is fine, my dear, we have eaten out but Ingrid nearly killed him"... shock, horror on HER face as YOU can imagine... "HOW" SHE asked, "well, you know how you make us that lovely early morning tea when you wake up" said Lady Ropner.. "well, Ingrid very sweetly thought she would do the same.. except she put the tea into the cold water in the kettle and boiled the water"..
As YOU do if YOU have never cooked anything or made tea..
Part two..
SHE moved down coast to St. Tropez. Don't moan, it is almost past HER bedtime, YOU will get it tomorrow
GeeGee Parrot.
August 4th, 2012.
I am alright as I always wear MY very chic outfit of greys and red but it must be so boring not to be able to wear your pretty clothes or shoes in summer.. lucky Patsy in Northern California is probably wearing summer clothes as well.. in fact, most of HER friends EXCEPT those living in UK are wearing their summer clothes.. sigh.
This three part Tale has its' beginning on New Year's Eve 1968.. SHE was with a friend called Victor and at traffic lights, he recognised driver in car beside theirs.. SHE wound down HER window, yes folks, 'wound' down window.. it was long before days of electric windows.. and called "Ronnie", for that was man's name. It turned out they were going to same dinner.
Victor introduced HER to Ronnie, whom, it transpired, ran a Villa company called Continental Villas in Sloane Street, London SW1. And next thing SHE knew SHE had agreed to go and work that coming summer season for them as a ' Villa' Girl in St.Tropez.. "Come into the office next week and I will give you more details, you will start in late May" said Ronnie.
When SHE went back to work after Christmas holidays, SHE told HER employers, Fiona and Ulick Browne, what SHE had done.. "Oh, but you MUST go" said Fiona, "it is such a beautiful place, you will have a wonderful time, meet lots of nice people and your French will improve, come back to us when season finishes", Ulick smiled and nodded and asked whether, in fact, SHE could cook!
SHE went to see Ronnie to learn details.. for first month, SHE would be working in villa as cook for Sir Robert and Lady Ropner who had rented a large villa just on outskirts of Sainte Maxime, there would be Sir Robert and his wife and her sister, Mrs Gubbins and her husband plus additional guests joining them. Then SHE would move into company HQ at Villa Orla, route des Salins, Saint Tropez.. villa's back neighbour was famous Hotel Byblos.
And so early one morning in May, SHE caught Boat Train from Victoria.. Chuff chuff went train.. kind friend, Felicity, who had gone with HER to Victoria had packed HER a picnic and latest 'James Bond' book.. so sweet.. SHE sailed over English Chanel, arrived in Paris, changed stations, caught train for Frejus, yeah, on HER way! What to expect? Fiona had said "it is beautiful and smells delicious".. but what else? Such an adventure, first time overseas ALONE.. SHE had stayed with HER elder brother in Paris but had always been with him or one of his friends.. CHAPERONED!! SHE was 18.. would be 19 that July.
Penny Filmore and Astra Pakenham-Walsh were waiting for HER at station.. Penny driving little white MG 'Midget' Sports car. SHE got in to tiny back seat.. good thing SHE had practically grown up in back of big brother's Triumph Roadster.. SHE knows how to fold HER legs.. and VROOM.. they were off!
They took HER to villa in Sainte Maxime and settled HER in, explained the two couples would be arriving in four days time, that Ingrid MacDonald from Durban, South Africa, who would be responsible for cleaning the villa, would be arriving in two days time. Penny showed HER how to start and ride a Mobylette and said that she would be back next day to show HER local market and shops. Tired after long days travelling and it now being pitch dark, SHE finished Felicity's picnic and went to bed..
And woke up early, SHE went to the kitchen, made coffee, unlocked french doors and shutters and stepped out onto the terrace and fell in love.. for there, in all her glory, was the Mediterranean.
Penny came for HER at ten o'clock and showed HER everything and everywhere SHE would need in Sainte Maxime for food, markets for fresh fish, fruits and vegetables, the butcher, wine, gas for Mobylette, English papers for guests, pharmacy.. took HER to register with local police station, they did a MASSIVE shop of wine, bottled water, etc and drove back to the villa.
Ingrid arrived and then guests who knew area and house very well. Lady Ropner and SHE sat on the kitchen terrace and drew up a 'loose' menu and times for meals.. such a 'NICE' woman!
Month sped by.. such charming people to work for who LURVED good food and there was NO question of HER having to do shopping on mobylette... no no, someone was always only too willing to do an early morning run to buy and read a paper whilst SHE gathered what SHE needed for that day. There was only one hic-cup and that was after a fortnight SHE had a weekend off, Penny asked HER to go and stay with her at villa Orla.. upon arriving back, SHE was met in the drive by Sir Robert, who kissed HER hand and said "oh, happy days are here again".. and went with HER into villa calling for his wife.
SHE thought this was a bit odd and asked Lady Ropner "if everything was alright", she laughed and said " Everything is fine, my dear, we have eaten out but Ingrid nearly killed him"... shock, horror on HER face as YOU can imagine... "HOW" SHE asked, "well, you know how you make us that lovely early morning tea when you wake up" said Lady Ropner.. "well, Ingrid very sweetly thought she would do the same.. except she put the tea into the cold water in the kettle and boiled the water"..
As YOU do if YOU have never cooked anything or made tea..
Part two..
SHE moved down coast to St. Tropez. Don't moan, it is almost past HER bedtime, YOU will get it tomorrow
GeeGee Parrot.
August 4th, 2012.
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