Book : The Olive Farm A Memoir Of Life, Love, And Olive Oil.

-Titulo Original : The Olive Farm A Memoir Of Life, Love, And Olive Oil In The South Of France

-Fabricante :

Penguin Books

-Descripcion Original:

When Carol Drinkwater and her fiance, Michel, are given the opportunity to purchase ten acres of an abandoned olive farm in the South of France, they find the regions splendor impossible to resist. Using their entire savings as a down payment, the couple embark on an adventure that brings them in contact with the charming countryside of Provence, its querulous personalities, petty bureaucracies, and extraordinary wildlife. From the glamour of Cannes and the Isles of Lerins to the charm of her own small plot of land-which she transforms from overgrown weeds into a thriving farm-Drinkwater triumphantly relates how she realized her dream of a peaceful, meaningful life. About the Author Carol Drinkwater is a multi-award-winning actress who is best known for her portrayal of Helen Herriot in the BBC television series All Creatures Great and Small, and is the author of more than 20 books, both fiction and nonfiction. Her quartet of memoirs set on her olive farm in the south of France have sold more than a million copies worldwide, and her solo journey through the Mediterranean in search of the olive trees mythical secrets inspired a five-part documentary film series. Carol lives in the south of France, where she is writing her next novel. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. The Olive FarmA Memoir of Life, Love, and Olive Oil in the South of FranceBy Carol DrinkwaterPenguin BooksCopyright © 2002 Carol DrinkwaterAll right reserved.ISBN: 0142001309Chapter OneWITH PASSIONfour months earlierShall we look inside? suggests Michel, climbing the stairway tothe main entrance, which is situated on the northwest side of the upperterrace. The estate agent, Monsieur Charpy (pronounced Sharpee), confessesthat he does not have a key. No key?. It is only now that he owns up to the fact that he is not actually representingthe property. But, he swiftly assures us, if we are genuinely interested,he will be able to faire le necessaire. I am in the south of France, gazing at the not-so-distant Mediterranean,falling in love with an abandoned olive farm. The property, once stylish andnow little better than a ruin, is for sale with ten acres of land. Once upon a time, Charpy tell us, it was a residence of haut standing,which owned land as far as the eye could see in every direction. He swingshis arms this way and that. I stare at him incredulously. He shrugs. Well,certainly that valley in front of us and the woods to the right but, helas?heshrugs again?most of the terrain was sold off. When? Years ago. I wonder why nothing else has been constructed. The villa still standsalone on its hillside, and the magnificent terraced olive groves Charpypromised us have become a jungle of hungry weeds. An olive farm with vineyard and swimming pool, he insists. We stare at the pool. It looks like an oversize, discarded sink. Dottedhere and there are various blossoming fruit trees and some very fine Italiancedars, but theres no sign of any vineyard. There are two cottages includedin the purchase price: the gatekeepers house, at the very foot of the hill,is firmly locked and shuttered, but even from the outside, it is plain thatit needs major restoration; the other, where the gardener or vine tenderwould have resided, has been swallowed up beneath rampant growth. Asfar as we can tell, for we cannot get within two hundred meters of it, allthat remains is one jagged stone wall. The villa was built in 1904 and was used as a summer residence by awealthy Italian family. They called it Appassionata. I smile. Appassionatais a musical term, meaning with passion. Pied dans leau, continues Charpy. Yes, it is ten minutes by car to the sea. From the numerous terraces,the bay of Cannes is within tantalizingly easy reach, while the two islandsof Lerins lie in the water like lizards sleeping in the sun. To the rear of the house is a pine forest. Most of the othe