BOUSSAC 

A gentle place, where time stands still

This great photo was taken by Nicolas Neyret, a photographer living in Boussac whom I met on the day I left!

What is it about Boussac? ... I have asked myself and others this question so often.  Boussac is a small market town in the Creuse - a rural Department slap bang in the middle of France.  It is a town that is difficult to get to.  There are numerous ways to get here, by train and plane, but there is always a drive involved and it does become tedious!  We have been wondering whether the TGV will, in fact, be routed nearby as was once suggested...   Of course,  this also ensures that Boussac remains in some sort of time warp as tourists seldom choose Boussac as their destination.  

We have loved our quiet holidays here and this time was no exception.  I love to cook when I am in France.  There are the markets where locally grown fresh produce is beautifully displayed in colourful wooden crates.  I love Thursdays in Boussac when the markets come to town.  I normally sling the basket over my shoulder and take the short walk up to the square where the hustle and bustle of the stalls going up begins at 6.00 in the morning.  

My first stop is usually the  mobile Poulet Roti van where I buy a farm reared, roasted chicken or poulet fermier.  There is usually a queue and it is always good to get there early!   Predictably, Thursday lunch is cold chicken and a salad!   Poulet au Pot, seen below, is one of my favourite things to cook in Boussac as the chickens in France are so delicious, always tasting like 'old-fashioned' chickens!  This dish is so easy to prepare, so hearty and comforting on a chilly evening.

My preparations for Poulet au Pot

This year, we arrived in Boussac just in time to catch the last of the white asparagus season.  I adore the subtle flavour of these ivory spears.  The photo below was taken just before I cooked them.  I usually add the white spears to a salad or alternatively, serve them with lashings of butter and lemon juice!

Although I love cooking in France,  I also like to prepare dishes that are easy and summery.  Loads of roasted capsicum,  grilled zucchini, green salads, gently saute'ed fennel and new potatoes, always accompanied by plenty of fresh herbs.    Duck breasts, cooked on the BBQ, beef fillets, veal cutlets and fresh fish are our favourites.

Our beautiful 14thC church square.  There are sometimes wonderful concerts held in this church - piano recitals and opera are delightful to experience inside these ancient walls.  Sometimes, we loiter outside enjoying the sounds drifting out of the doors and windows...

When the weather starts warming up the doors on the small balcony off my bedroom stay open all day.

The warm sunlit evenings means eating in the garden which is such a pleasure.  We have an old Tulip tree sitting in the middle of the parterre garden and the table beneath is in the shade all day.  

I also took to walking each evening at 9.00pm with my neighbour and dear friend Deirdre.  We were grateful for the street lights which guided our return as the evenings grow dark around 10.00pm.  

The 15thC Chateau de Boussac which we pass by on our evening walk.

One of the little cottages which nestle on the flat area beneath the Chateau.

The little river and waterfall beneath the Chateau is always such a lovely sight.

Some random photos of the house and garden follow.

The seating area in the library

View out of the library window onto the garden

The other side of the library

The Long room early one morning

The table in the dining room before lunch, when the weather was chilly.

Taken early one morning with the first rays just touching the house. 

We get exciting electrical storms in Boussac and the two photos above show the build-up.  There was lots of thunder and lightening and hail after this particular storm!

View to the dining room from the tiny kitchen

One sweet corner of the garden

View from my bathroom window

The tiny kitchen where everything is possible!

Happy weekend everyone!

A new discovery in my "Home from Home' series

Number Sixteen, a Firmdale Hotel

A new discovery in my 'Home from Home' series

I first heard about the Firmdale Group of Hotels last year when I met Craig Markham, the Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Firmdale Hotels at Dormy House hotel in the Cotswolds.  We met over breakfast and exchanged tips on gardens and hotel accommodation!   I thought it would fun to try Number 16 in Kensington for our four night stay in June this year.

  

  This boutique hotel has 41 rooms and is small, intimate,  and  a visual feast for the eyes.  Elegantly situated in Sumner Place,  Number 16 welcomes you in a  quiet, comfortable,  cocooning way that feels like home.  A very chic home mind you!  A boutique hotel that still feels like a smart London Townhouse,  Number 16 is alive with colour,  glamour and Kit Kemp's inimitable style.  Mr R-I loved every room and sat downstairs, most mornings happily waiting for me!    

One could easily mistake the exterior for an upscale private residence.  I love the elegant wrought-iron balustrades and white-stucco Victorian facades.  The topiaries are so elegant.

The living room - Mr R-I's favourite room

We loved the vibrant colours in the Library

Breakfast in The Orangery was a daily treat.  Jet lag nudging us to an early waking,  we were the first to arrive each morning,  armed with laptops,  Ipads and the newspapers!   We spent a relaxing couple of hours here each morning,  enjoying the friendly service and the quiet of this uplifting space.   The breakfasts are sumptuous with every breakfast whim catered for!  For coffee lovers - there is a choice of French Press or freshly made Espresso, Cappuccino, and every other combination of short/long/black/white coffee configuration one could possibly want.  Another huge tick!

A delicious selection of fresh fruits, yoghurt, muesli and bakery goods.  Hot breakfasts were equally delicious.

The breakfast porcelain is from Kit Kemp's Mythical Creatures Porcelain collection.   Kit Kemp collaborated with the iconic British company Wedgwood to create this beautiful range.  Kit Kemp has also collaborated with Chelsea Textiles which have included this design in their exquisite hand-embroidered range of fabrics.

Mythical Creatures by Kit Kemp for Chelsea Textiles

I am very tempted to order these little darlings with their blanket stitch edging!

The beauty of eating in The Orangery is that one is easily able to access the charming little garden.   Chilly weather made breakfast indoors more comfortable but we enjoyed sitting in the garden on other occasions!

The charming gazebo or summer house at the end of the narrow pond was a favourite place to sit.

Photo via Firmdale Group

High tea is very popular at Number 16

photo via Firmdale Group

photo via Firmdale Group

 Last, but certainly not least, let's talk about the bedrooms.  Kit Kemp is renowned for her statement headboards which are all over scaled and vibrant.  We stayed in Room 108 - a vision in green and overlooking the garden.  

 

The beds are gloriously comfortable,  and bedrooms are equipped with good air conditioning and complimentary wifi.   The power points are in the right places,  and the hair dryer is new and powerful (another very important issue).  The pillows are just right too.  The bathrooms, while on the small side are extremely well fitted out and everything is new and clean.  I do love a bath and enjoyed a few while staying there.  

photo via Firmdale group

Their bath products are fabulous and I learnt today that Craig was instrumental in the  development of RikRak,  Firmdale's exclusive in-room bath collection  used across all nine Firmdale hotels. "RikRak's signature botanic fragrance, Gardenia Greenleaf is a pure white floral scent of gardenia, rose and orange blossom lifted by green leaves, fresh lilies and bergamot zest and heartened by amber and vanilla."

The room above has just been refurbished.  Isn't it wonderful!!  I adore the chair, the headboard and the curtains work beautifully to bring it all together.  This particular room has a balcony, overlooking Sumner Place.

This vibrant Ikat wallpaper covers most of the walls of the stairwells and passages, although I did hear from Craig that this is soon to be refreshed!

Aren't the Foxtail Lillies (Eremurus) fabulous?!  This table is in the reception hall

These two handsome chairs are also in the reception hall and contrast beautifully with the blousy floral wallpaper!

The staff at Number 16 are incredibly friendly, efficient and professional. We were delighted to meet with Craig again yesterday morning when he took us around the fabulous Ham Yard hotel.  He has a remarkable memory, and perfectly recalled most of the names of fabrics, wallpapers, artists, manufacturers and more.  What an incredible hotel and development! I will post separately at a later date.   Have a great week everyone.