It was Joan of Planet Joan who first mentioned ages ago that she had enjoyed reading Carol Drinkwater’s Olive Farm books. Ever since then I’ve intended reading them, but wanted to read them in order, so when I saw The Illustrated Olive Farm at the library last week I borrowed it. Perfect timing as there are lovely photographs in it and it was just what I needed during this cold snap that we’re having at the moment. Armchair travelling to the south of France.
Before writing these books Carol Drinkwater was better known as an actress, although I think I only remember her being in All Creatures Great and Small, the series based on the James Herriot books.
Anyway, in this book she tells of her search for a home in France, something she had had a hankering for for a long time. It was a job offer which eventually led to her marrying a French executive producer, and together they found a very dilapidated property, over time they make it habitable and bring the olive trees back to health and are able to sell the crops.
I enjoyed the photos of their house and the beautiful surroundings, trees flowers and animals, mainly dogs. It’s a beautiful area and I’ve never been there, I imagine that the south of France is always very busy with tourists, and that thought puts me off.
In a weird way though it was quite heartening to discover that French business people seem to enjoy ripping off fellow French people, I had been thinking they just fleeced Brits whenever they could, at least they are even-handed about it!
A Romance with French Living by Carolyn Westbrook is another such book, eye candy, but this time it’s interiors to drool over. The book is beautifully photographed but I’m a wee bit puzzled by the title as most of the photos could just as easily be of British traditional settings. There’s a lot of leather chesterfield type furniture, wood panelling, silver, crystal, decanters, baskets and claw-foot baths. Maybe a book titled A Romance with British Living Interiors inspired by classic British style just wouldn’t have sold as well in the US.
I must admit that I’ve never heard of Carolyn Westbrook but according to the blurb she is a well known lifestyle designer. It’s an attractive book anyway and the last part of it is about her daughter’s wedding which took place in the family garden in Texas. Stylish but relaxed.
I’m glad you enjoyed the Olive Farm book. I haven’t seen this illustrated one, so I’m going to hope my library will have it.
I don’t want to go to places where there are a lot of tourists. We’ve been to many of those places and I prefer the off-the-beaten-track places. I saw a show about St. Lucia the other day. It looked like you couldn’t walk three feet without falling over a posh resort. When we were there in the 1980s, I believe there was only one of those. The rest of the island was pretty much devoid of touristy places and it was beautiful.
Joan,
Eric and his wife go to the south of France every summer and he hates it, I think it’s just too touristy for him. I would be happy to go in the off season, when it wouldn’t be so hot or busy. St Lucia would be too hot for me anytime! You were lucky to visit those places before they were spoiled.
Eye candy is good for the soul especially in winter. You comment about the French made me laugh. I have a coworker who is French and she always talks about France as though it is the gold standard to which we should all aspire. We give her a hard time about it of course and torture her by badly mispronouncing French words. đŸ™‚
Stefanie,
LOL. I have always said that the worst thing about France is there are too many French people there, and it is a myth that the French are stylish. I saw one well dressed woman in Paris – apart from me.
Ooh – you could try growing some man-getouts this year!