Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
As we collectively mellowed, one bottle of the
Château de Selle Côtes de Provence
Rosé
mysteriously evolved into two of the scrumptious stuff. This had a pleasantly calming
effect on us all and even Jack was beginning to relax and take an appreciative look at our
beautiful surroundings.
Our quick snack had turned into a long lunch and, apart from the absence of meat, had
been a good idea after all. Taking care to form my words carefully I asked ItsWill to start
briefing us about the afternoon's viewing. Of course I already had the information, sent in
advance by Anton, but I now had no confidence that it would accurately describe the place
we were about to visit. Predictably, ItsWill's eyes lit up at the question.
“Well,” he said gleefully, “now that we've been able to enjoy this magnificent repast
I can tell you about the tremendous surprise I have in store for you this afternoon. I just
know
you'll be thrilled!”
Jack looked decidedly un-thrilled. In spite of the very pleasant rosé, I could see that he
was quickly working himself up into one of his rages.
“I hope you won't think me rude Will, but let's not forget that this morning's property
was showered with equally positive fate-tempting prose. So let's not count our chickens, or
should I say lettuces, before they sprout.”
“Oh no, perish the thought old chap, quite,
quite
different this one. Do have another
glass of rosé won't you?”
Snapped into full consciousness again, I anxiously observed this slightly edgy ex-
change.
ItsWill, wily old fox that he was, quickly realized that a short verbal diversion was in
order. He rapidly steered the conversation away from properties and on to firearms. It was
an excellent tactic and diffused the rising tensions. Jack's demeanour immediately softened
to the sounds of technical terms and, with something akin to camaraderie, the pair of them
began discussing the relative merits of
Purdey
shotguns.
This gave me a few minutes respite and time to reflect on why things had gone so hor-
ribly wrong. Despite my confidence levels being at an all-time low, I was convinced that I
was not entirely responsible for all the disasters. Mentally I recapped on the properties we
had so far visited.
The first was ill-fated (to say the least) because of the cyclone that had struck the night
before. Cataclysmic events aside, the area seemed ideal for our needs. My estate agent's
set of particulars described a
domaine
that was almost perfect but nowhere in the blurb was
there any mention of a second property or the fact that it turned out to be a hotel.
The second property was doomed too. Extensive woodland, photographed from sev-
eral different angles, turned out to be a copse. Furthermore the house was decorated as an
algae-filled fish tank. Additionally, the
tramontane
, that chilly and body-flatteningly fero-
cious wind, might have caused Jack to become even more eccentric. No, it would not do at
all.
