End of the French odyssey

Well, looks like I've sold the Abbaye at last. Its a bit sad because its a lovely place and we've had some great times there, but restoring a 1,000 year old monastery with maybe a hundred rooms (never quite counted or possibly even saw them all) was seriously daunting. Especially in the current chilly financial climate, which has particularly impacted the owners of dilapidated 1,000 year old Abbey's in Northern France. Or anywhere that matter.

The new owners, apart from being brave and presumably hugely rich (well slightly less rich now) will probably be slightly puzzled by the eclectic interior decor. As we've been using it for photo shoots over the past few years and have left some of the wallpaper and paint finishes in the rooms, Laura Ashley's sedate flower prints and gentle colours fight against Tricia Guilds altogether more startling designs in the Salon. Subdued French grey walls in the stairs hall uncomfortably contain sizzling metallic wallpapers in their 17th century moulded panels. Upstairs one of the creamy crucifix lined corridors has a great splash of deep red paint thrown against the wall for no apparent reason, as if there had been some pagan attack on the old monks.

In fact one of the early Abbots was assassinated nearby, while shaving. The old oak tree from which the assassin launched the fatal crossbolt still stands. And another Abbot, Grimaldi, went on to found a dynasty in Monaco. Oodles of history in a place like this. Saints, miracles, apparitions (one potential buyer had a great fear of ghosts; he had been convinced by the agent that there were none when a huge article appeared in one of the regional newspapers alleging that it was the most haunted Chateau in France. He pulled out of the sale and bought a much inferior chateau nearby, owned by the local government who had been desperate to sell it. I suspect foul play at the highest level).

Every time I walk past Designers Guild on the King's Road the Abbaye winks at me from the window displays. In the past its reminded me of the disintegrating plaster in the seldom visited, almost mythical upper floors, of the little red Fergie tractor sitting rusting in the carriage house, brought at great expense from the UK and sniffily dismissed by Marcel the caretaker who preferred to rent a new one with air conditioning and surround sound to cut the acres and acres of grass. A job we latterly turned over to sheep. Of the enormous task I had taken on. But now I can walk past that Kings Road store and frankly feel relief. I can however lots and lots of advice to anyone brave enough to take on a historic house in France!

Flower Power

Was privileged to meet Donovan, the face of the 60's flower scene, at a tea party in London last week.

I reminded him that I had actually been on his staff when I was 18, having managed to get a job as cabin boy on his fabulous yacht Vagrant in Mallorca. He didn't remember this, which isn't surprising as I don't think that he was actually aware that he actually owned it at the time (it had been bought on his behalf by his manager, Alan Klein of Apple; while I was on board apart from the Klein's George Harrison was also a guest. He rode one of those French Velocette bicycles clean into the sea one night).

Donovan is performing the whole of his iconic album, Sunshine Superman, at the Royal Albert Hall on the 3rd of June, with over 30 musicians. A unique event, and I plan to be there.

NIce Care Home Furniture

I created a range of largely solid oak furniture mainly for care homes last year. This has been quite a success, and so far we have fitted out two brand new care homes, and are making the furniture for a third. Considering residents can be in their room up to 24 hours a day, I thought that it was essential to provide them with well designed, contemporary furniture made as much as possible from natural sustainable materials free of toxins. And anyway I'm not getting any younger, and would appreciate a cool environment to retire to myself. Should I ever retire. We are also pretty proud that we are making real furniture from real materials in the UK, rather than importing something inferior fromm the far east. Get in touch if you want more details.

Aga total control launch

I was invited to the launch of Aga's Total Control cooker at the Saatchi Gallery in London last week, where I bumped into Charlie Smallbone (who is creating a range of kitchen furniture for Aga subsidiary Fired Earth), and hooked up with old friends. The new Aga is bound to be a success, offering all the features of a traditonal Aga, with the vital difference that it can be turned off and turned back on again in monents. Apparently you can also talk to it via a moble phone, which is slightly alarming (together with the Total Control concept it does have rather totalitarian resonances!) Seriously, it seems a great idea. More info on www.agaliving.com.