alrighty i’m back for a day and a half before shooting off to scotland to see the northern lights (hopefully) and seals coming up to shore (definitely).

so saint-remy was beautiful like i expected it to be. we stayed in ‘the garden house’, at the bottom of the garden from the main house, that is usually rented out as a self-catering chalet-type thing, but more classy than a chalet - a self-catering cottage.

the party was at les baux in a quarry, and the rock is just amazing. great huge cavernous space, a really creamy white stone, terrible acoustics but hey who’s minding when there’s 250 litres of red wine to go.

the pre- and post-party stuff was definitely more enjoyable than the party itself, with brilliant conversations over luncheons and dinners with the expat community in saint-remy and the alpilles region. it’s a bit like how i’d like to be when i get to 50 - free to do whatever i want, and live wherever i want, after soliciting my ass for a couple of decades.

but anyway, we also went to see les antiques - a roman relic - and more disused quarries, there was a walk around a lake, a lot of lavender and olive plantations, and a lot of swimming and jacuzzi-ing, sitting on deckchairs and suntanning. oh, and so much eating and drinking.

great trip, shame about short length of time. i hope we go back soon and spend at least a week, because only that will truly do it justice.