The Glory of Encaustic Tiles

19th Century French Encaustic Tiles

The more houses we look at in France, the more I love these tiles. It’s an easy way to make a big statement. They can really transform a bland space into something very special. Unfortunately I wasn’t brave enough to use them here in larger rooms, but we have them in some of the bathrooms. Next house I’ll go for something more dramatic somewhere. I’ve been trying to get a client to put them in her kitchen, but she’s not yet convinced. They’re heavy and thick and made of cement. The pattern isn’t the result of glazing but of different colours of clay. There are printed versions that are cheaper and also have a similar effect. Modern designs are also available.

In one of our guest bathrooms they look like this:

In related news I recently found an interesting fellow designer on wordpress. You should have a look at his work. His name is Orlando Soria. I love his sort of very American approach to design. Everything looks very sleek and new. I’m used to dealing with art and antiques and clients who more or less want their homes worked around things they already own. Except, obviously, for that project I’ve been posting about recently. The one I’m still not entirely comfortable with, precisely because I’m not used to this style. He’s also quite good looking, but I swear that didn’t influence my opinion.

Dinner for Six

The weather is lovely today. We’re having people over for dinner. Best of all, I’m only making the starter! The main course is a leg of lamb which someone came to start preparing at noon, then they come back at 5 to put it in the oven I know that probably sounds horribly lazy- but I just didn’t have the energy to do it all myself. There are some people who host all the time and do it without help- I have no idea how they manage. Ironing napkins, polishing cutlery, flower arrangements. All of that takes half a day, then the cooking time on top. Exhausting. We’re going to sit outside, by the pool. More of the irises are opening, they look absolutely stunning.

Sunday Lunch & A Roundup

We were invited out to lunch yesterday. Then we all ended up back at the house for coffee. Then that turned into cheese and wine as the afternoon progressed, then that turned into an improvised dinner. Mike says I’m like a pushy drug-dealer, but for parties instead of drugs- c’mon, just have one more drink. After I get the ball rolling down the hill, it’s very hard to stop At the end of the evening I was distributing paracetamol and milk-thistle. That’s my anti-hangover cocktail, always works for me.

It was a beautiful day, very bright sky, so I wore light colours. I did a terrible job at ironing my shirt, which I only realized when I took this picture, hence the stern look:

French cuffs have to be very properly ironed, or they look stupid. The Spanish irises I planted a few months back are starting to flower. They’re stunning, I should have planted many more:

 

Saturday I got a picture of the place I’m working on. The living room needs more colour, which I’ve been saying all along. The coral needs to be echoed throughout the room- but other than that I think it looks lovely.

 

And they’re up!!!

The trees are up. The props have to stay on for a few months, but they’re not horribly offensive. Apparently the new fronds will eventually (naturally) break the string that’s tying them together up top. I’m pleased!

 

It’s annoying when other people are right.

acflory acflory.wordpress.com

Submitted on 2013/02/21 at 11:43 pm I love your gazebo but if it were mine I think I’d build a second retaining wall around the first using local stone and then I’d fill it with those white flowing plants you mentioned – to tie the gazebo to the plants and the plants to the ‘natural’ surroundings.

In my business you need to have a filter- one that zones out what’s merely opinion and only lets through ideas that are well reasoned. Needless to say, when something didn’t cross my mind, but crossed someone else’s- I’m annoyed. Anyway, the local stone thing is too complicated because of the sprinklers and electricity that allows for light in the pergola- but yesterday we planted the whole thing with Stephanotis (Madagascan Jasmine). It does incredibly well in this part of Spain. Still deciding if I should plant something between them to cover up the brickwork that forms the base of the pergola. Or perhaps grow moss on the bricks (yoghurt method is quick and easy). Here’s how it looks with the ‘just planted’ jasmine. There’s one for each pillar.

Saint Laurent & The Majorelle Garden

YSL’s House in Marrakech

I’m trying to come up with a plan for the gardens. Since we’re on the edge of a forest, surrounded by hundred year old trees we never felt the need to have anything but lawn and a couple of details here or there- but I think we can do better. Create something very special and interesting. The obvious choice, since we have a Moresque style house would be to go down the Majorelle/Saint Laurent path. But our place isn’t Majorelle blue and I’m too freakishly controlling to be surrounded by that laid back style. Plus, I bought those white chairs for the pergola and I have to find a way to make them fit in.

So, I’ve decided to take the white thing further. I’ve bought a ton of huge white planters which I’ll dot around the landscape. They’ll be filled with Iris Reticulata and Peacock Orchids (acidanthera bicolor). I think it’ll give the place a slightly more contemporary feel without being annoyingly minimalistic. That plant on the pergola will hopefully, one day, eventually, cover the whole thing. Its flowers are white with a burgundy centre- same colours as the acidanthera, but a very different shape. I don’t want to ruin the ‘clean’ view we get from the terraces- hopefully this will add some interest without looking fiddly.

A lovely gift or two

Cousins arrived last night. We ate, we drank- ’til late. I got a stunning pair of 19th century plates with our family crest on them. I also got a hardback copy of Les Ligneaux. Our mutual cousin, the baroness’, fictionalized account of the family’s last summer at Migneaux before the death of her grand-mother (my great-great grandmother). The house once belonged to Marie Louise O’Murphy (mistress of Louis XV)- it was later bought by our family. Now it’s been turned into apartments. I’m going to hang the plates in the dining room.

To Millionaire Or Not To Millionaire- The Aesthete’s Conundrum

Okay, millionaire is understating it. There’s talk of a job, perhaps a huge job at a giant house for someone who really doesn’t have to worry about their bills. My bones are saying, no, no, no. Absolutely not. Not my style. Not my thing. My head is saying it might be all we need to get back there. To have a bit more security. No offer has materialized as of yet, so I may be panicking entirely unnecessarily- but I tend to do that. If push comes to shove, and something comes of it, I think I’m doing it. We’d be a team of people and I’d only have to work with the only person in the team who I can stand (like?). I need to practice staying very quiet and controlling my patronizing/condescending tone. Sunglasses tend to be sufficient in hiding the eye-rolls. I’m a bit wary of team-work. I’m of a nervous disposition so I end up taking control and ‘appropriating’ everyone else’s job. Que será, será.

This week I bought a mid 19th century mirror from Cristina, one of my favourite dealers in Madrid. It’s nearly 2 metres tall. It’s going to be delivered tomorrow and I’ll hang it somewhere just to see what it looks like in the house. Then I’ll take some pictures and you can see what it looks like in the house. It’s really not a time to be buying things for myself, so I will sell it on, but for a little while it’s mine. MINE! MINE, I say!

“T’wis” the day before Christmas

and all through the house, is a mess.

The dining table has stacks of plates and serving platters that have just been cleaned

The silver was polished yesterday

Napkins are in their designated cloisonné rings

Champagne will be served on arrival, by the fireplace

Self-service from the seafood-buffet

-then we sit at the table

The centerpiece has just been delivered. I can’t take credit for it, it was done by Sabine (my amazing interior designer friend) and sent over as a gift. It’s about 2 feet in diameter, just huge and low and wonderful.

 

One of our guests called yesterday to announce they had a rather spectacular gift for us. I found the sound of that a bit frightening, ominous? They’re all going to Morocco for the New Year and Tuscany next summer- it better not be tickets or stays for any of that because I’ve already said I don’t want to go. And I hope it doesn’t make my gifts look bad. I’ve gone for an entirely unconsidered selection of pashminas, scarves and some amusingly bright jewelry (some in coral and some in turquoise) from a Greek jeweller. I didn’t know what to get for the film director guy that’s coming, so I have to ashamedly admit he’s getting a box of chocolate. I’m rather impressed he’s coming even though I’ve been unkind/snarky to him a couple of times-

My hair has been cut and tonight we’re off to dinner at a glorious penthouse in the marina. Small group and I believe we’re having lamb. I mustn’t go overboard drinking because I need all my faculties for tomorrow.

What? A life before ‘me’? Is foie-gras a vegetable?

We went to lunch up in the hills today at Venta Garcia. It’s in the Michelin guide, although with no stars attached to it. I thought the food was lovely in a simple, country, sort of way. It reminded me that Mike’s old house (the one pre-me which is also up there) has gone on the market. It used to look like this when he sold it:

It wasn’t my style, but I’ll admit it was pure charm. Full of colour and personality. The new owners seem to have beaten the life out of it. As I looked through the pictures I noticed there wasn’t a single antique or a piece of art that says something. Perhaps that’s why this time around Sotheby’s isn’t handling the sale. According to the video, the new owners want 2.1M. for it. Personally, I think that’s too much- although it is a lot of land and the views are quite spectacular. I have the impression Mike much prefers the place we’ve created together, and there’s really no comparison on the pre-me art collection to the post me art collection if I may say so myself

Sometimes I find it funny/shocking that he had a life that didn’t include me. Before me. It seems absurd or ridiculous; Or absurd and ridiculous.

I worked a lot today (post-lunch) and questioned myself on whether I should or shouldn’t correct a client on her spelling and pronunciation of Lutyens. I decided  not to mention it and just keep writing the correct form in the hope she’ll notice (even though it annoys me tremendously). I sold a rather nice set of French silver yesterday, which is great because I’ve just bought a collection of over 100 pieces of French silver. Does that make me sound like Judas’ richer nephew? I was given a bloc of foie-gras last week. I know it’s bad and cruel and all that- but it’s so delicious. I’ve been eating it privately, with tomato marmalade. I know that doesn’t quite fit in with my goal of becoming more vegetarian- unless we start calling foie gras a vegetable- which seems like an interesting option to me.

The four poster is in place. I’m done-ish

I finished painting the ‘Georgian’ chest. The four poster bed is in place in the guest room. We both thought the bed looked a bit spindly, so I gilt the lily, as usual. A Chinese embroidery, tassels et al. It’s got a bit more personality now. It’s not great but it’s just a guest room, so it doesn’t have to look better than this (I tell myself in an effort to forgive my laziness). I love the curtains. We found a bolt of art-deco bridal dress fabric ages ago and bought the whole thing. Now it’s curtains.

WORK, Work, work

It’s 11 pm and I’ve just sent out an invoice for a set of two armchairs and four side chairs. 

I almost never work with new items. I have tremendous difficulty understanding the logic of people who purchase new things. Period furniture has a reasonably stable market value. Good quality new furniture is expensive and re-sale values are erratic at best. In any event there we are. I’ve done it. It’s a very architecturally modern house and the designer wants me to add some gravitas. She says that when I place something it looks like it has always been there. That’s not so hard with antiques. We’ll see how it goes with new furniture. The living room is in shades of blue. I have an amazing (huge) late 19th century Japanese embroidery that would certainly add some flair to the room. I’m going to show it to her tomorrow to see what she thinks. Three of our rugs may also be going to this same project, which is great. My hope is that apart from our reserve/investments we always begin the year with enough money in our current account to pay all the bills for that year.  We’re not quite there yet, but depending on how this project goes, we might get there just in time

Meanwhile, we’re re-doing the largest of our guest rooms. The most frequent guest of that room has sent over a stunning Italian four poster bed because that’s what she prefers to sleep in. As these things go, when you add a very good piece of furniture, other things can look shabby- so I spent the morning moving things around and decided to sand and paint the Georgian chest of drawers (late 19th century, not actually Georgian). Pictures of the finished project shall follow- eventually…

Le château de Bellevue détruit au lieu d’être rénové ! – Potins.net

Le château de Bellevue détruit au lieu d’être rénové ! – Potins.net.

Side Note: There’s never been a day when we were building or reforming when one of us wasn’t on site.

A Very Attractive Vintage Silver Drinks Tray Table

This is going into the Sabine Medina online shop too. I-LOVE-IT! The tortoise-shell lacquer is stunning.

Have You Missed Me Desperately?

Sorry comments have gone unanswered lately… There’s a general strike today but I honestly cannot afford to participate- besides, I work from home so I doubt my working will be noticed

It’s been a rather busy few days. I was asked to start/manage an online shop for Sabine Medina Interior Design. It’s slightly different to what I normally do as she wants a very specific style (more rustic than me) and the focus is more on the style than the rarity. I suppose I’d call it decorative antiques. Popular 19th century chairs rather than signed 18th century Louis XV chairs. She also wants items that are priced within reach of the average person. I like the idea and Sabine is an amazing designer. She’s done things like the clubhouse at Valderrama Golf-Course and hotels and some really stunning homes. It’ll take very little time out of my week as it blends into my regular work and I admire her work so I’ve accepted the challenge. I’ve contacted a few people and I’ve started trying to put the whole thing together. You can see it here. In the next few days I’ll be adding tableware because she particularly likes my table settings and asked me to include a section of flatware/crystal/porcelain similar to  what I use at home. I have a passion for old Christofle, so I’ll be including a good few sets by them. They’ve got the largest and heaviest cutlery on the market and the older sets are absolutely amazing in detail and quality.

I’ve also been asked for a polychrome secretaire in light colours for a study. So I’m hunting. It’s a rather plain study, so it really needs something showy.

They want something like this, but that has a pull-out desk fitting.

Fascinating Documentary About a Delicious Monstrosity; Das Geheimnis des Hauses Mantin

“Maison Mantin was commissioned by Louis Mantin, a wealthy man from Moulins, who wanted to showcase his art and antiques collection. It was designed by a noted local architect, René-Justin Moreau (April 28, 1858 – September 18, 1924), in collaboration with his father, Jean-Bélizaire Moreau (1828–1899), also an architect, and built in 1893.

Mantin bequeathed the mansion to the town of Moulins in his will, written before his death in 1905. The will stated that the house be kept intact, so as to show to visitors in 100 years “a specimen of a bourgeois home of the nineteenth century”.

Consequently, the house was kept shuttered for over a century, with all its original contents, and fell into disrepair. After extensive restoration, it was opened as a museum, and a showcase for the eclectic taste of its former owner.”

Casa de Indianos

The architecture is deliciously hideous. The interiors, however, house a superb collection. All four parts of the documentary are available here. It’s in German (spoken slowly and clearly), but just seeing the images is worthwhile. They show some interesting befores and afters and the house through time. Spain also has a strain of delicious monstrosities. They come in the form of Casas de Indianos. ‘Indianos’ were Spaniards who emigrated to Latin America and then returned to Spain after becoming wealthy.

A while back I saw one such monstrosity that I fell in love with. It’s known as the Palace of O Corgo (aka Pazo de Adai). It was built by General Tella during the dictatorship in a mishmash of absurd styles and happened to be owned by a fellow art/antiques dealer who also used the house as a showroom. It’s still on the market and for a very reasonable price considering the size and materials. Nothing but the best for the general. Granite pillars, parquet de Versailles, carved wood decoration on the ceilings… Unfortunately (as I constantly whine about), Mike insists that even the house we’re in now is too big for us, so not much of a chance of getting him to agree to one of these. Plus, he hates the architecture.

The weather forecast says it’s going to rain heavily on Friday. Meanwhile the sky is blue and the temperature is 20º C.

 

Sorry, I don’t have a wide angle lens.

In the hopes that my new internet friend/almost neighbour, RoughSeasIntheMed, doesn’t follow through with her threat of posing as a buyer to come see the house… here are more pictures. The first picture is from google maps. We’re the big arrow and the little arrow is Villa Trianon, which used to be our guest house until we started transforming it into a full blown house which we sold in April to a nice couple from Gib. The house has been three different colours. Now it’s a very light cream (as in picture 2). It’s hard to photograph and my new camera doesn’t have a wide angle lens, but the penultimate picture shows most of the building.

..for a magazine with an hd camera. The colours look artificial

circa 2004, before we added the new terrace area and the tent style awning

The render was still drying… circa 2001/2002

Here we go again. The worse salesman ever-est.

An agent called in August because he had a client to see the house. I told him no. Sorry, we have guests. They’re very private- no can do. Can I at least show them around the grounds? No. You can drive past the house slowly. That should be enough. Call back in October.

Well, it’s October and wouldn’t you know, the bastards flew in from London and wanted to see the house yesterday. I spent half the day cleaning glass doors. There are around 20, but it felt like a million. My leg muscles hurt. I also grilled the agent on the phone. Are you sure they want to see this house? Have you told them the price isn’t negotiable? They really want to buy a house now? Do they understand none of the furniture or art is included? Are you sure they can afford this house? Hmmmm, I’m not sure I trust you. None of it worked and they came at 6pm. After years in the business, you get a feeling for clients. I knew as they walked through the door they weren’t the sort of people that would buy this style of house. That thoroughly annoys me. They’re ‘tourist’ clients. They come because they’re curious to see what it looks like on the inside or what a house that costs _____ looks like.

Before they came, though, I was back on the mental roller coaster. Selling means leaving Spain where I’ve spent my entire adult life. I feel a bit like a traitor leaving now (in the event we sell in the near future). On the other hand I get to realize a lifelong dream which has always been to live in a chateau or an hôtel-particulier. Mike vetoed my chateau plans, so an hôtel particulier it is. I keep telling him that an hôtel-particulier without a chateau is rather pedestrian. He keeps telling me we’re not in the 18th century. Who knows, in a few months I might be waking up to rain, snow and gilt boiseries. I keep wondering what life will be like in a completely different environment. Not knowing anyone at all. I get to re-invent myself. I could be the guy that only wears black. I could join the Front de Gauche and smoke gitanes. Or I could start going to the gym again and have a nice body like I did in my 20′s. I could become a vegetarian and stop smoking and drinking -HA- not a chance! Our identities are so very much influenced by our environments. I wonder what total anonymity will be like? Will it last? Or after a few years will I have re-created a version of the life I have now, lunches, dinners and all? I doubt it. I’m anxious to try relative anonymity. I don’t invite you and you don’t invite me. Bonjour Madame, Bonjour Monsieur. That should be the extent of my conversations outside the house.

They can’t use this room!

As chances are we won’t actually sell in the near future, our forays into event-land go on. We took advantage of the house being presentable and had a couple more meetings with wedding planners. Another one is coming at 3pm tomorrow. There were two we met today who we particularly liked. Heather and Tara. Their company is called Fiesta Sol and they do stunning work. Fantastically elegant and they understood the house. The idea is they get the entrance tower, the larger living room, the guest kitchen, guest suite and the two upstairs bedrooms are emptied and small sofas are put into each one so they become men’s/ladies’ rooms. They also get the gardens, obviously. I’m impressed at the prices they suggested we charge per event and at the quantity of events they do. We’ve set maximums. Two events per month max. 60 people for sit downs and 100 for stand-ups. We’ve had 100 sit-downs before, but it’s pushing it because you then have to put tables on the terraces and that interrupts the flow from inside to outside. Who knows, it might turn into a proper business.

A few months back I got a sofa at Ikea. It’s called Ektorp. It was for the guest wing, so we could have something there that would allow me not to get mad in case it was ruined. In the end I loved it and put it in the living room. It was only 300 euros (which is a bit funny because that’s less than the two Beauvais tapestry cushions I put on the sofa) and it comes with machine washable slip-covers. Depending on how the events thing goes we should probably remove some of the better furniture from the main living room and fill the place up with more Ikea Ektorp stuff. I just have to find a balance because I’m sure the style and furniture was factored into the rental prices they gave us.

They can’t use this room!

and they can’t use my study either.

or my kitchen.

A pair of Spanish Colonial parcel-gilt, polychrome-painted and carved torchères 19th century – Sotheby’s

A stunning pair. 15 to 25K at Sotheby’s NY on Oct. 11th.

A pair of Spanish Colonial parcel-gilt, polychrome-painted and carved torchères 19th century – Sotheby’s.

Personally I prefer the Venetian variety, like the one Mike’s mother gave us (below). They’re much more refined. But I like blackamoors in general.

Alcohol, Guests & Dogs

I haven’t tried this yet, but it looks fab. Everything Cavalli is good. Why would the vodka be any different? 40 Euros per bottle, though.

A lovely Fourcas. I keep telling people not to give me expensive wine. I drink much too quickly to appreciate it.

This is how much gin you pour into a glass BEFORE the tonic. Jodhpur is good, but so is Larios.

I’m not ready for photographs!

I SAID NO!

Now I’m ready

How do I look?

Why have these English women tied this to my head?

I don’t get it but I’ll go along with it.

Get used to it, kid. They did this to me when they visited last year too.

I almost forgot, Vizcarra is excellent, a hint of caramel and not too expensive.

This should last more than eight days, but it won’t.

To Movie Location or Not To Movie Location, that is the question.

We’ve been approached by a production company because a film director wants to use Villa l’Africaine as a movie location. It’s great money considering we don’t have to do anything. The production company says they could bring us a lot of clients for photo shoots too… I think it would feel strange having people walking through my house; But, I suppose it’s a smart move to consider that as a business possibility.

I didn’t mention it because I was annoyed, but we received an offer last week, it was laughable. They wanted the house, the land and what is basically my life, and they asked for a discount of 933,000 euros. My life is not for sale at a discount. It’s not a discount, bargain basement life. I’ve spent over a decade perfecting this thing. I was very polite and didn’t say anything rude to the buyers about their offer. It wasn’t easy. It must be Mike’s influence. I have however spent much time considering what I would have said to them had I blown a fuse.

I’ve had fracking walls built with special recesses and lights for art. NO DISCOUNT.

 

Where have I been? I hate technology. Maison Jansen. Higher stats- Who are these people? There was a book, then there wasn’t a book.

We sent the computer in to be re-formatted last Friday. The man took longer than expected. Windows 7 is very nice, except my canon camera doesn’t work with it, neither does my photo editing program etc… etc… The technology market is a scam. They force you to buy new stuff every few years by knowingly ceasing support for older products. The shame is my digital camera works perfectly and will now be retired; And I’ll have to learn the ins and outs of a whole new imaging program- one is not amused.

The few days without the computer were actually quite refreshing. It was the first time I’d spent more than 48 hours without the internet in the past 12 years. I read, I watched Judge Judy, I sat  on the lawn and played with the dogs. It was good because we had to get the house ready for a visit. Not a visit from people interested in buying the villa but from their architect, Mr. Rojas. They think we don’t have enough bedrooms. In my head I answered “What are you planning to have here, a polygamist compound?”- but I held my tongue. I ended up working myself into a frenzy before the visit, it’s something I’ve done since childhood. My grandfather even made up a little story when I was around ten in the hope that if I understood what I was doing I’d stop it. It went something like this:

It’s the Easter holidays and a man’s driving his Jaguar in the countryside. He sees a sign that says nearest town: 10 miles and soon afterwards he has a flat tire. He looks in his trunk and realizes his spare tire is also flat. He’s angry, but mainly at himself. He decides to walk to the nearest town, tire in hand. He’s reasonably calm at first but something  starts building in his mind: It’s a Sunday, the guy’s going to charge me extra to fix this on a Sunday, around $50. In fact, it’s Easter Sunday, he’s going to charge me a fortune, $100. Time lapse. When he sees it’s a Jaguar tire he’s going to think I’m rich, he’s going to charge me $150. Time lapse. By the time the man arrives in the town and finds the garage, he’s furious. Before the mechanic has a chance to speak he’s already screaming: You THIEF! $550 to fix a flat tire! You THIEF!!! How dare you! Do you think I’m an idiot?

…And in that spirit I was ready for the visit. Some self-important architect is going to come here and say my house doesn’t have enough bedrooms, ridiculous! He’s going to criticize everything… He’s going to say… He’s going to do… This is probably a ruse to use against us in the negotiations… I’ll slap him. I will you know!

The visit was nothing of the kind. The man couldn’t have been more charming and more complimentary- and I felt like quite the fool. We had wine and discussed classical painters. I showed him my Maison Jansen coffee table that arrived this week. I’ve been looking for one that I liked and didn’t cost a fortune for years. I considered this one, but  I wanted an all bronze/brass version. Then there was this one, that I love, but it was just too small… Anyway, I finally have what I want and if Mike is kind enough he’ll take some pictures for me to put up.

My stats keep climbing steadily. Not to huge proportions, although I have no idea what’s big and what’s small in blogworld. Every couple of weeks I get a new busiest day thingy. It usually coincides with a day when I don’t write at all. This week the number is 875.

I sometimes wonder who these people are and if they really having nothing better to do. Mike tells me that I find my life uninteresting because I’ve always been me…

On my prolonged disconnection from the internet I’ve been reconsidering the (a) book. Two years ago I finished writing one, got an agent, lined up a publisher, but then somebody said it was brilliant. It wasn’t brilliant. I was surprised, afraid, then slightly offended, then I pulled the plug. I think that I might perhaps use the good parts and build a new story around them. It started like this:

I was born against my will on March 23, 1978, Maundy Thursday. I fought the Caesarean section, I fought the doctor and I fought the forceps; Three hours later I had lost my first battle against the world. In protest I screamed. I screamed so loud it made the nurses shudder. 

Live Writer Post from Safe Mode. More 90’s Versace. More bad mirror pictures. Chimichurri.

I’m writing from Windows SAFE MODE. In case you’ve been wondering where I was or if I decided to abandon you for better things… I have not. Mike downloaded something three days ago and the computer has gone haywire. So here I am in safe mode, still running programs that were named by people who evidently love sci-fi. Everything is a killer or a defender or some such.

On Tuesday we went to an Argentine Grill that first opened in the 70′s. The decor is quite brown. The chairs are frightfully upright and uncomfortable, but the meat is excellent. They have an excellent chimichurri sauce.

Chimichurri goes very well on any grilled meat. I’ve played with the recipe and came up with this:

½ cup olive oil
½ cup red wine vinegar
1 bay leaf
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
3 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tsp ground paprika
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 tbsp paprika
¼ tsp of salt
¼ tsp pepper

Mix well and let sit for at least a day. Then you can keep it for a few weeks in the refrigerator.

I dug through my closet to find something to wear that would annoy the local bourgeoisie.

I came up with more 90′s Versace.

Very sparkly Jeans Couture. When light hits them, I turn into a disco ball.

That’s me!!!

Ever since the police (outrageously) accused me of driving whilst intoxicated last year, everyone is afraid of getting caught and sentenced to community service at the Red Cross- so we reserve our heavy drinking for when we’re within the safety of the Sotogrande gates. We left the restaurant and went to Karen’s house. She has a gorgeous antique door from a Finca.

Angie has a gorgeous Patek Calatrava and some respectably sized diamonds

I made fun of Angie’s rear-end

So she tried to set fire to the house

But it was a lovely evening anyway!

Useless fact of the day: All of my veins are visible to the naked eye.

Cultural Fridays: Zarzuelas, Cruz Herrera, Amazing (NEW) Artists

Because everyone needs a break from the news, campaigns and politics- I’m introducing Cultural Fridays. Because of my work and interests, my everyday (non-Pink Agendist) life is entirely culture-related. I get to peek backstage at the goings on of the arts world, so I’ll share my voyeurism with you from now on, every Friday.

On this first post, I’d like to talk about the joy of seeing new artwork. Most universities/colleges/art-schools do regular exhibitions showing the work of students. Many of these students are exceptional. You can generally buy these early works for very low prices, which in my experience has been an excellent long-term investment.

One of the people I saw a few years back and who I’m pretty certain it’s just a matter of time before she hits the big-time is Inmaculada Naranjo. This was the painting that hooked me:

It’s big, about 130cm x 90 cm. I think the broken hourglass is pure genius, so are the sunken feet being engulfed by the sands of time. If I remember correctly, the price was around $600. Her technique was already amazing then, now it’s out of this world. Here’s her more recent work:

The Cruz-Herrera Museum is new and quite spectacular. It’s in a small town called La Linea de la Concepción where José Cruz-Herrera was born. The Museum is an effort by his family to preserve his legacy and promote new artists with an entirely free service where they can advertise and show their work. Cruz-Herrera was one of the the Andalusian greats of the 20th century. His paintings sell for significant amounts of money, so the family’s efforts aren’t about self-promotion or self-interest. His orientalist paintings done while he lived in Morocco sell for the most money, but I find his early work particularly interesting. If you remember those paintings tourists used to buy  on the street in Spain from the 50′s to the 70′s of a woman with a guitar or flamenco dancers they were derivative of Cruz-Herrera’s work.

Most people who aren’t into music don’t know what a Zarzuela is. It’s like an Opera, but with spoken scenes as well, often comedic. They were incredibly popular in Spain and Latin America in the 19th century. In Spain popularity diminished because of the civil war. Zarzuelas often had political themes and were used to criticize the government. Dictatorships don’t like criticism.

Classical singers aren’t in vogue as they were during the days of the Three Tenors, but if you like them, you should have a listen to Rolando Villazón. He’s not as well known as Placido Domingo, but even Plácido recognizes how amazing he is. A few years back Plácido was part of the creation of Rolando’s cd called Gitanos. Here he is singing one of my favourites: Por El Humo Se Sabe Dónde Está El Fuego

Coming up next Cultural Friday: The Marquis of Villafuerte’s Hotel-Museum on the Canary Islands, Spanish Islands off the coast of Africa. I had the opportunity to supply them with some of the items in their permanent collection and I’ll give you a peek at them.

My blog? You can’t read my blog. It’s private, how dare you!

I was caught entirely by surprise yesterday afternoon when sitting around the table in Gaucín. Mike started to recite my racial profiling post. Word for word. I had no idea he was reading any of this, mainly because he’s never read it while I’m  in the room looking over his shoulder.

Then people started asking questions…

Where do you write?

What do you write about?

Can we see it?

Please give us the address…

I gave the same answer to all questions: It’s none of your business!

Then I explained my blog is private. I already have to be (sort of) nice to people in real-life, here I want to be free! I get to say stupid and random things and not care what anyone thinks. Mike tells me that if thousands of people are reading what I write, it’s not exactly private. But I still disagree. In real life people have to negotiate relationships, care about what other people feel, read social cues- but not on a blog. Here, I get to ignore social cues all together. Hurray! And fingers crossed people I know don’t find this! But if they do, oh well, too bad.

Doctor: I’m sorry, sir, but there’s no cure for your condition.

Me: What is it doctor?

Doctor: It’s a chronic mean-streak.

On that note: Lady Rosalind Dulverton, stop telling people to call you Lady Rosalind Dulverton. Lord Dulverton has been married to someone else for decades. It’s not even a good title, most of my furniture is older than that title. My grandparents are older than that title. They probably have ketchup in their refrigerator that’s older than that title. Announcing yourself when you walk into a room is also ridiculous. At first I thought this was done as a joke and I laughed. The expression on your face was priceless.

Yesterday I mentioned Iraqi exhile Namir and his wife Linda, they’ve built a quite exceptional and unusual home in Gaucín. Today I remembered they have a website full of pictures of their place. It’s for sale.

I also hear the Kanoui family have put their estate (three streets up from us) on the market. You don’t know the Kanouis? They’re the people who bought Cartier in 1972. Price-tag for Casa la Manzana, 25 million euros aka 32,300,000 US$ dollars.

This is in their garden:

Our place is unfortunately not for sale at 25  million euros. We’re stuck in the seven figures bracket. A few years ago that would have depressed me no end. Somewhere along the way, those things stopped mattering to me. meanwhile we are whittling down our French home selection.

We both LOVE this townhouse