Do you like the colour red? (le rouge in French). Most men prefer blue, but my husband, unfortunately favoured red. I say unfortunately, because after 6 years of being a Red Maid, I had hoped to avoid wearing it when I left school! Even our first bedroom had a burgundy coloured carpet and bedspread!
“Burgundy” is “Bordeaux” in France, both good red wines! In the Biarritz region all the woodwork of the houses must be painted dark red. It’s said to depict the “blood of the bulls”. The house-holders buy the paint from their local Mairie (Town Hall) at a discount price. That was the only corner of France that we were glad to leave! Some of you may remember using rouge on your cheeks (the ladies I mean!) In France it’s called “Le fard”. When some one is very angry they are said to be seeing red. In French “se fâcher tout rouge”. Why am I chatting about red?
Well, I lunch regularly with various groups of friends. I’ve just met up with four ladies, three of whom I hadn’t met for fifty years! We all lived in the same road as children, houses 40, 42, 44, and 46. It is so interesting to learn how our lives have all taken different paths.
One lively lady, Margo Cevik, is the leading lady of “Cotswold Gems”, a branch of the Red Hat Society, which started in California. Their ethos is to have no rules! It’s a social club with members from all walks of life, who support each other. Their inspiration for no constraints comes from the poem “Warning” by Jenny Joseph. They believe in living life to the full. On Margo’s birthday some of her group arranged a surprise trip in a fire-engine. On their birthday they wear a purple hat…. and yes, she wore a purple crash-helmet! One of her group, a young 60 year old, has wing walked, abseiled down a building and hiked in the Himalayas amongst other things. Am I joining? I’m not brave enough to do daring acts, but I agree that we should make the most of every day. I wish Margo and her Red-hatted members continuation of their fun filled adventures.
I’ve just returned from celebrating my birthday in France as always. As I write, I am looking at the muguet (lily of the valley) that some of my friends gave me for good luck. On April 30th we had lunch at my favourite restaurant in one of my “top towns”. Have you ever visited ”Le Touquet”?
With my husband Ron, it was the first place in France that we saw in 1956. We caught a plane from Kent, it only had ourselves and two others on it. Le Touquet airport is like a car park with hundreds of tiny planes, row upon row.
Anyway Peter and I had a fabulous lunch! Ask me if you want any addresses or information. My meal ended under a sea of raspberry coulis. So it’s back to the red again!
I wish you all a red-rose June and may all your days be “red-lettered” ones. Have fun. Enjoy every day!
Esmé
“Burgundy” is “Bordeaux” in France, both good red wines! In the Biarritz region all the woodwork of the houses must be painted dark red. It’s said to depict the “blood of the bulls”. The house-holders buy the paint from their local Mairie (Town Hall) at a discount price. That was the only corner of France that we were glad to leave! Some of you may remember using rouge on your cheeks (the ladies I mean!) In France it’s called “Le fard”. When some one is very angry they are said to be seeing red. In French “se fâcher tout rouge”. Why am I chatting about red?
Well, I lunch regularly with various groups of friends. I’ve just met up with four ladies, three of whom I hadn’t met for fifty years! We all lived in the same road as children, houses 40, 42, 44, and 46. It is so interesting to learn how our lives have all taken different paths.
One lively lady, Margo Cevik, is the leading lady of “Cotswold Gems”, a branch of the Red Hat Society, which started in California. Their ethos is to have no rules! It’s a social club with members from all walks of life, who support each other. Their inspiration for no constraints comes from the poem “Warning” by Jenny Joseph. They believe in living life to the full. On Margo’s birthday some of her group arranged a surprise trip in a fire-engine. On their birthday they wear a purple hat…. and yes, she wore a purple crash-helmet! One of her group, a young 60 year old, has wing walked, abseiled down a building and hiked in the Himalayas amongst other things. Am I joining? I’m not brave enough to do daring acts, but I agree that we should make the most of every day. I wish Margo and her Red-hatted members continuation of their fun filled adventures.
I’ve just returned from celebrating my birthday in France as always. As I write, I am looking at the muguet (lily of the valley) that some of my friends gave me for good luck. On April 30th we had lunch at my favourite restaurant in one of my “top towns”. Have you ever visited ”Le Touquet”?
With my husband Ron, it was the first place in France that we saw in 1956. We caught a plane from Kent, it only had ourselves and two others on it. Le Touquet airport is like a car park with hundreds of tiny planes, row upon row.
Anyway Peter and I had a fabulous lunch! Ask me if you want any addresses or information. My meal ended under a sea of raspberry coulis. So it’s back to the red again!
I wish you all a red-rose June and may all your days be “red-lettered” ones. Have fun. Enjoy every day!
Esmé
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