The new year arrives and so do the Mayles. But settling into their glorious 200-year-old stone farmhouse complete with wine cellar, courtyard, swimming pool and almond trees proves unsettling, for the infamous Mistral, a bitter cold northerly wind has also arrived. It freezes the water pipes on the second day. And so the Mayles open the door to the famous Colombani, the Napoleon of plumbers , and with him comes a flood of delightful characters that will keep Peter Mayles busy writing all year...even if he does have to write with his gloves on
The magnificent Provençal spring rolls in and so do the out-of-towners. From April to June, the Lubéron Valley fills with the sights and sounds of Englishmen and Parisians, who disrupt the sublime tempo of buds and blossoms. Like the locals, Peter and Annie Mayle are amused by the invaders' ignorance of the art of Provençal intimacy. Three kisses is the greeting, no matter how dirty the cheek. Conversation is punctuated by the index finger, thrust firmly into the listener's chest unless he is a she. Squeezed shoulders, slapped backs, pummeled kidneys and pinched cheeks are the norm. In Provence, the greater the friendship, the more chance of bodily harm.
Ah, the summer in the south of France: the sun is high, the days are long and the earthly flavors of the season tempt the palate in remarkable ways. In the town square, the annual goat race is at hand. Peter and Annie Mayle place their bets on the winner and learn that the loser will be, well, delicious. Come September, the Mayle's grapes are ready for harvest. But before his crop is crushed into vintage, Peter is curious to find out just how good his "year" will be. His quest leads him to the heart of the world's greatest vineyards where the full-bodied tastes of the region dazzle the senses.
Fall in the Lubéron Valley brings crystal blue skies and the intoxicating scent of logs on the fire. Amid the crisp autumn days, Annie and Peter Mayle have reason to celebrate: their houseguests have all returned to dreary old England, the renovations to their home have finally been completed, and the wine cellar is stocked full of vintage Mayle. Now, as Christmas nears, the meals become heartier and the locals' regard for Annie and Peter grows. At the same time, the Mayles' affection for this land where time is measured not by weeks and days, but by seasons deepens. After a year in Provence, the Mayles are right at home.
1. Garlic Press 2. Le Mistral 3. The Recipe 4. La Poste 5. Truffles 6. 2 Kilos 7. Uninvited Guest 8. Maid Marion 9. A Thank You 10. Who Did It 11. The Oracle 12. Du Pain
1. Guests 2. The Resistance 3. New Friends 4. How To Win 5. Real Wine 6. Fate 7. Noise Complaints 8. Saving The School 9. Arrangement 10. Respect 11. Just 3 Days 12. Presents
