GLF - Hauteville House and Clare Balding

Hectic but brilliant!  That is how I would describe this year's Guernsey Literary Festival, detail here.

We have had such a busy yet fun time. The Photographer and I were event organisers for a presentation given by fifth-generation ancestors of Victor Hugo who had compiled a book about his Guernsey home Hauteville House, entitled Hauteville House, Victor Hugo Decorator.

Marie Hugo (credit Guernsey Press)

And as you will know from previous posts, like here, I am a fan of the writer, the man and very much of his house, so I was thrilled to be given the gig.
Laura Hugo wrote the book's narrative and artists Marie and Jean-Baptiste Hugo provided illustrations etc.  The artists gave the presentation and were charming, providing great insight into Hugo.  We heard of a first visit to the house and of their involvement with Hauteville House over the years.
We came away with newly-gained knowledge, some great memories and a beautifully illustrated book signed by two of the three authors.

All festival presenters (authors, poets etc) who were on the island on Friday morning were taken for a tour around the house and were also able to see the Hugos' presentation.  You, dear reader, are so lucky, because I have given you two tours around the house in the last six months or so!
They were also taken to Victor Hugo's statue in Candie Gardens and were treated to a performance of Les Miserables by a local theatre company.
All of this was filmed by The One Show, a prime source of reference.  I'll try to let you know when it is to be televised, just in case you want to get a better glimpse of it.  Alternatively, pop over to the island and see for yourself!



Here is a statue of the man himself at Candie Gardens (credit website)

I once mistook a statue of Prince Albert for Victor Hugo here.  I put that down to the fact that I'd just left the hygienist's chair and was in a bit of a daze after having been given a "gold star" for my efforts.



But I know what's on your mind right now, dear reader. it's that proverbial burning question - what did The Pout wear for her gig?!

Well, we were obliged to wear the team t shirt.  So I devised my outfit around the t shirt, the weather and the event itself.

The t shirt.  Black with a white logo (have I not recently read that logo t shirts are bang on trend?!).  The festival logo is set inside an angular book shape.  On my body, it looks like it's inside a curvy beer tankard!)

The weather.  The day was bright but windy and a bit nippy.  So, jacket required, methinks.

The event.  My gig was about a French writer and his home and was being presented by French authors and arty types to boot, so I was inspired to go Left Bank.
I "styled" my t shirt with black Peacocks waterfall biker in plevva, black Per Una jeans and M&S snakeskin flattes (lots of walking around involved).
Spookily, quite independently and without any bossing guidance from me, The Photographer also teamed his t shirt with black jeans.  We were soooo Team Jean Paul Satre!

Our efforts and attention to detail with the Left Bank theme appeared to pass unnoticed by presenters and audience alike  😤.


We also attended some fantastic presentations.   Our first was to see Clare Balding who was launching her first children's book (see below).  Well, Clare was absolutely brilliant!  I've been a huge fan ever since I first saw her presenting on BBC sports progammes.  She comes across as a person who puts everything she has into all she does; she's thorough in her research and loves her subjects (gosh, that makes her sound about queen-like but I think you know what I mean!).  She loves people as well as animals!  And generally Clare seems to be a pretty nice lady, all round. 
All that comes across on telly.  And in her blinding presentation and in person she is every one of those things, bigly! 
We thoroughly enjoyed our evening with this special lady.

Of course, I was eager to get some books signed for the grandchildren.

She did a second take when I mentioned this one was for child with barely a year of school under his belt - you see, it is not written as a children's book.  I explained that as there is a fun story in there about Queenie and a flying sausage, which I thought would definitely appeal to a five year old, I planned to read this and other excerpts out aloud over time.

Phew!  I got over the first hurdle and the book was signed.

Hope this horse gets over the hurdle!

Her new book is definitely a children's book and definitely suitable for an older child who can read it herself, so hurdle cleared!

I'm so looking forward to reading all the books purchased over this fantastic festival.  Maybe you might fancy reading some of them too.

But enough about books.  Time for the truly important stuff again.

What I wore to see the amazing Clare Balding.

An M&Co navy top with crotchet trip, bought recently in their sale for a ridiculous price!

Peacock taupe skinnies, M&S v. old linen mix taupe cardi, "massive pearl" pendant.

I have to apologise for those thin stockingette-socks (what are the called?).  I have a case of early summer blistering caused by the previous blog's Walk of Cockiness.   You know, that first walk of summer when you don't give a second thought to pairing unsocked feet with shoes you haven't worn since last October?  My Walk of Cockiness has dictated that I will be mostly accessorising with Compede blister plasters for the foreseeable.


So, what do you get when you mix Victor Hugo and his house, Clare Balding and her books, and two days of outfits?  A bloomin' long post!!!



A la perchoine.

My Staycation Postcard - Victor Hugo's Guernsey House, Encore!

Hello, sweet readers.
I'm back home again, unpacked, laundered (both the contents of suitcase and self!); photos still to be unloaded but I'm raring to go.

And where will I be going?
Well, tomorrow is our Liberation Day.  It's a bank holiday. I'm crossing fingers that I'm going to be taken out this bank holiday.
Somewhere.  Anywhere.  Just not the attic again!

Then after that,  I will be involved for the rest of the week with the Guernsey Literary Festival, a fantastic event held every year or so.  Pop over sometime, but always check event availability first.

I'm longing to report back on the event which The Photographer and I organised, but in the meantime I thought I'd give you a little taste of our island's literary heritage by repeating a post I wrote last September.  In the spirit of Mons. Hugo, I'm giving it to you encore une fois!

What is more, as the dear French people have just evidenced modern day suffrage, what more fitting a time to be thinking of the dear Frenchman and his political struggles.





Victor Hugo's Guernsey Home



It's a while since I posted a piece for those of you who like a bit of history, so I give you, tadaah - Victor Hugo.

Hugo lived in Guernsey for 15 years from 1855.
Not a lot of people know that.



 He wrote that he fell in love with the island from the moment he set eyes on it as he sailed into the harbour to live his years here in self-imposed political exile.  He returned to France when Napoleon III was toppled from power. 



He bought Hauteville House in Guernsey, which guaranteed him permanent residence.   He liked that he was able to speak French and French patois with the locals. 

Because he was in exile and could not freely commicate with those in France and news would have been slow to reach the island, he channelled his concerns for his beloved France into his writing.  The island provided the inspiration for some of his greatest works, like Les Miserables.   His strolls through to St Peter Port's harbour and the fisherfolk there would have no doubt inspired him to write Toilers of the Sea, another great work.




He enjoyed striding along the cliff walk to Fermain Bay and climbing Victoria Tower, where he allegedly used to meet his mistress.  In fact, because of complications in his marriage and how things were handled back then, his mistress was his great love of over 50 years but it would seem they lived apart.  And, probably appropriate for the time too for those who could afford it, he bought her a house just down the road.

His house is open to the public for guided tours, by appointment as numbers need to be controlled.
I have been coming to this house since my school days and it is still one of my all-time favourite places to visit.  It always amazes me.  If you visit Guernsey, please find time to arrange a visit. 

Now, fancy a look inside?

A man in exile needs a room for his pool table.

An annex to the dining room has a fine display of plates on the wall ...

... and on the ceiling.  Was Hugo running out of space for his collection?

The dining room has a beautifully tiled fireplace and walls.

It includes a little crevice for washing hands between courses.  How clever.

As well as being a renowned writer, Hugo was also a dab hand at the old DIY.
Not a lot of people know that either.
He took great pride in his house.  He scoured second hand shops and made new pieces of furniture from various pieces and recycled and upcycled like nobody's business.

He clearly enjoyed a bit of whittling.  Numerous carved writings are dotted around the house, some humorous, some rather morbid, some with a hidden message.

He enjoyed leaving his mark in the house.  Literally (pun intended).  His initials are laid out in various forms and materials.  Here an 'H' in tiles in the dining room.  No mistaking whose house it was eh?

A beautiful 1st floor salon.

Hugo used doors and windows to maximise on the stunning views out on to the bay, harbour and castle.

He decorated with rich fabrics and tapestries and strong colours.

He created subtly hidden doors and cupboards by covering with padded damasks.

On the next floor, his massive bedroom includes a writing desk, maybe for scribbling down night time ideas for his next novel.

He used old cotton reels to create this bedroom chandelier.

Hugo's bed.

One of two intricately carved pillars which hold an archway between bed and desk areas.

And up some sneaky stairs to my fave bit in the whole house.

His rooftop conservatory!

Providing beautiful views out to Castle Cornet, Havelet Bay and over to the neighbouring islands of Herm, Jethou and further away, Sark and Brecqou.

 And on an extremely fine day, he would have seen beyond the islands to France.

Creativity and artistry continue to abound in Hugo's conservatory.  And how very modern, a multi-fuel stove set into the glass framework!

The conservatory includes comfy seating areas and a glazed floor area,

providing light and a sky view to the stairwell below.

Alongside the conservatory area is a suite of rooms, again

the walls padded.

A fine captains lookout through to the area of La Vallette, the Victorian bathing pools and the cliff path to Fermain Bay.

The gardens are rambling and beautifully maintained.

Thank you, Victor, for coming to our island, for writing such great works, for decorating your home so creatively.  And thank you to all involved in maintaining the house with empathy and  authenticity.

I hope you enjoyed the visit.  You can find some better pics and accompanying music here.

And if you read the post previously here. then I hope you enjoyed it, encore!


A la perchoine.