A Dusty Suitcase and Other Stories
A bit more than twelve months ago, on a very hot day, I made some self portraits for my instagram account, wearing the silliest dress I got, a lovely thing made of too much tulle and sequins, and I really loved it. All summer I've been wanting to repeat it but I guess fate had me waiting for the dusty suitcase. The one I've been talking about to you in my last post. So the dress I'm wearing here is an original vintage piece, I'd say from the end of the fifties, something for a summer garden party, cocktails on the verandah and canapés with shrimps and a band playing. Gentlemen in linen blazers, all survivors, and how glorious life could be. I didn't have a real life occasion yet to wear the dress but sure I'll come up with one soon.
In other news, a little stray kitten was left on our back door, presumably by his mama, a very handsome grey lady, seemingly abandoned by the owners because, I suppose, she was pregnant. She was pretty friendly but disappeared, leaving me with an extra savage fluff ball, super shy and frightened by everything except Maitre PdT, our sweet blind orange cat. We named him Pfupf, which is a VERY Swiss word and means something like a whiff though with a funny notion and some more energetic meaning. A Pfupf is also something tiny and then a Pfupfli, which is the diminutive form, and which we call him all the time, is the kind of very loud and very slow motorbike young men try to impress young girls with. Pfupfli is one lucky boy as he already found a home with the best of people who luckily happen to be our friends AND near, so I'll still get to see him, for I'll miss him terribly.
After a very busy summer season of hosting at the castle, we resumed restoration works and started on our winter parlour. We carted out a ton of rubble, laying bare the centenary beams on the ceiling. It's going to be quite a journey, with a completely new parquet en pointe d'hongrie, wooden paneling and an antique built in stove in the cheminee. I started stripping the old wallpaper down, it's layers over layers over layers, some really very beautiful. Now we hope to be able to get the floor in by end of October, wish me luck!
Also last spots available in the upcoming retreat on 12/13 October, which includes a professional shooting by Cassandra Jackson-Baker. This is for solo travellers, but also possible to join as a couple or with a friend. It's for those of you who'd like to get a set of memorable images, celebrating yourself, your love or your friendship. In the evening we'll do a soirée, cooking in the medieval castle cuisine! More info here or inquire via hello@lespoissonchats.com. Looking forward to hearing from you!
