Chateau de la Goujonnerie

Readers of a dieting disposition will be relieved to hear that in the following piece I post no food pics to taunt, other than my photos being a feast for your eyes!

Taadaaah ...  I give you my calorie-free post.

During a recent trip to France, we were delighted to stay for a few days at
Chateau de la Goujonnerie (briefly posted on here).

The Chateau was purchased in an extremely dilapidated state in 2006 by three guys who've been together in business for many years.  They had set up what became an extremely successful restaurant and bar in London fittingly named called Les Trois Garcons.

 They have also run successful antiques, furniture design and interior design businesses.  And you can understand why when you visit the renovated Chateau.  This place oozes style, good taste and individuality ... with touches of humour thrown in for good measure.

The three guys have worked wonders, creating a comfortable yet quirky home.  And that leads me to a heads up - the entrance can be a challenge to find as the Chateau is not signposted because it is classed as a private home (oh, how I wish my private home looked like this!).

(Oops, tree shadow, sorry!)

We were greeted by the extremely affable Stefan Karlson, wearing a loose blue shirt, shorts and a straw hat (the day was very hot) which instantly breaks down any barrier between owner and guest.  "This is going to be a good experience" I thought as I instantly took to him.
He is Swedish and is one third of the trio.  He oozes bonhommie and creates such a wonderful and relaxed welcome for his guests.

He arranged aperos in the evening so that the guests could meet up and get to know each other over drinks.  So it feels like you are at a house party in someone's extremely stylish country pile.  (Like I am familiar with that sort of lifestyle!).

Staying here is a thoroughly wonderful experience.

The charming Stefan was hosting and managing the place whilst we were there along with two delightful English ladies who have both lived in the area with their families for many years.

Stefan wasn't around when I was taking photos but let me introduce you to

Julie.

And Sheila.

Stefan and the lovely ladies effortlessly nailed the smart casual look.  And the lack of "hotel" uniforms is yet another way of making guests feel like they are spending the weekend with friends.  Clever, huh?

Stefan, Julie and Sheila made our stay a wonderfully pleasant and amazing experience.

Now, enough from the rambling Pout.  I'll let the pictures do the talking.  Prepare for your eye feast!

Guests enjoy a super-choice breakfast at this refectory table, country-house-weekend style - it creates a relaxed and friendly experience.

Yes.  Really!  I did say the place is quirky.

There are many lovely places to sit and read, have a coffee or a drink ... don't fret, the elephant's head is just pretend.

BTW, I'm dotted around the pics to give you an idea of the a scale of the décor and ephemera.

Me guarding the gold doors to the loos!

Chess anyone?  

I guess in a massive Chateau you certainly have the space for Big Everything.  This chess board alone would fill my cottage lounge!

The drive to the Chateau is lit up with stars at night.

Before checking out, and after another of their splendid breakfasts, we were invited on a tour of the Chateau.

The Versailles-style mirrored dining room ... a-ma-zing!

The Chateau can be hired out privately for functions, weddings etc.  Is perhaps this smiling Photographer forming a plan to renew our wedding vows here next year? :-).

There are several reception rooms, each in a different style but all laid out with the same degree of panache and quirkiness.

Taxidermy runs throughout the Chateau as a predominant theme.  It's one of the guys' specialist areas.

A giant gilded insect sits nonchalantly in a hallway.  Why wouldn't it?!

We were able to look around a few of the unoccupied bedroom suites.

Can you tell that I adored this old stone staircase?!

Even the shower rooms leverage on the beauty of the Chateau's old stone.

Lots of natural light streams throughout the property.

We were staying in the adjoining stables.

Our stylish bedroom

which had a beautiful view through to the pretty grounds.

Reservations for the Chateau can be made through Booking.com here. 

And if I haven't sold the place to you already, the Chateau is near to a wondrous place called Puy du Fou and is a convenient stay if you're proposing to visit the  attraction.

At the entrance to our quarters.

We absolutely loved our stay here.  It's such a special place so I was really excited to share it with you today.  If you are in the area, please do check in to the Chateau - you'll love the experience too and you can tell me all about it!

 And now, I bid you adieu, dear reader, or hopefully,

a la perchoine.

Fear of Packing

We woke up today to a lake at the bottom of the garden which is no surprise as we've "enjoyed" constant torrential rain, hailstorms and storm-force winds for days, though today the wind has finally dropped.  

This weather got me thinking of warmer times, holidays past and clement weather ahead.

Now, for me the downside of travel is - queue Jaws music - packing; I have packaphobia. 
Our 15kgs and 20kgs allowances for flight carry-on and hold and luggage respectively and is bad news for one (me) who likes plenty of dressing options, so packing needs serious consideration. 

  

My packing process? I start with a list, make amendments, then a total re-write before packing, whittling down, re-packing.  You get the picture. I fear it.   So I was relieved to read that there are others like me out there in the bloggisphere and help is but a google away. e.g. here with 

this lady

These sites bring succour to those who share my condition.

My packing isn't as scientific as that lovely lady's but there is method to it. I photograph the final packing spread out on the floor, then I endeavour to take daily photos of what I actually wear, followed by a review whilst sorting out the snaps on return. 
It's become apparent that the same core items crop up day on day, they are my workhorses; aspirational stuff packed doesn't see any more action than when I schlepp it round in the suitcase.  So nowadays I pack the identified workhorses.  End of.  Fin de.
E.g., it's early summer, Denmark and mainland UK, 3.5 weeks.  I packed layers as I've previously experienced snow there in June!  But it was beautifully warm.  The workhorses?

M&S cut-offs, Woolovers French Navy cardi and top; Next pumps, crochet taupe/white bag, grey/navy mix silk scarf bought 35 years ago in Copenhagen - I took it back to its "roots", the store (Magasin) from which it was bought!

L: M&S jeggings, The White Company taupe top, Navy Woolovers cotton/silk cardi, Next pumps;

R: M&S beige cut offs, beige Alexon longline top, Woolovers French Navy cardi, Clarks sandals (very comfy).

M&S black jeggings, grey cotton/silk cardi and top from Woolovers, comfy Ecco Sandals (bought there), the old grey/navy silk scarf tied as a head bandau.

A close-up of the scarf; mix-and-match bracelets from Accessorize a couple of years ago.

L:Black Next modal top over black t-shirt, coral M&S cut-offs (6-7th summer!), black Ecco sandals.  R: M&S Limited Collection modal t-shirt, Cotton Traders white cut-offs, same sandals;

the scarf is the grey/beige/black silk sister of the yonks-old Tie Rack scarf which I showed in My First Time Blog - therre, now you have met that little family!

Fairly pedestrian outfits, fitting for a lady in her 60s :-), but these were my mix-and-match workhorses for 3 weeks. 
Packing will be a doddle this year!

And during a 3 week trip to sizzling France, the photographic evidence is that I wore a variation on this throughout.

East layered cotton lawn skirt (ca. 2004, so light, it's a summer travel must-pack),
White Company vest in taupe, and that little crochet bag.

Same skirt and same bag (bien sur) with a multi-coloured jersey dress which I tuck up and use as a long vesttop (£3 charity shop find from 2004 another summer must-pack).

I'm embarrassed to add that we drove on that holiday and I filled our boot with a shocking amount of clothes and shoes (because I could).  And I seem to have worn one skirt, two tops and one pair of sandals!

So, nothing exciting or uber-stylish but the point of this rather long rambling is that if you do a bit of holiday photo analysis, perhaps you too will discover that you wear just a few items on a mix-and-match basis, so pack that and all the fancy stuff can stay at home!

If you have managed to stay awake after all my ramblings, well done you!

A la perchoine.