Tuesday 3 July 2018

The 'Au vent'.



It's been hot all over Europe, and, apart from a handful of bikinied sun-worshipers, we've all been desperately looking for SHADE.

I have always claimed that the most important room in any local house, is the 'au vent'. A covered outdoor room where one can eat, snooze, read, and enjoy alfresco living without the risk of sunburn or rain.

If, like me, you enjoy the son et lumiere of Summer storms, then your au vent is the perfect spot to sit and admire.


In the above photo it was 30 C in the shade, and goodness knows what, out in the sun.

Believe me; our little au vent is essential.



41 comments:

  1. Looks lovely and cool. Lovely sunny day here. 14 degrees with 1 degree forecast tonight. I am happy with that - much prefer it to rain.

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    Replies
    1. The house is cool, but it's nice to be outdoors. It's next to the pool, so we can also hear the water moving; it's like being beside a stream.

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  2. Replies
    1. It's not as big as I'd like, but it serves its purpose. Without it we'd be lost.

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  3. I left the window open (I mean your blog) after visiting first thing. I couldn't write "green" again - so I wrote nothing. Just keep popping over to have another look (though did miss Chloe's comment) and get lost in reverie. Am now ready for breakfast au vent.

    U

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  4. I wish our flat had an au vent! That looks so inviting.

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    Replies
    1. You know what it's like here; it's essential. We have friends with a second home who have the most wonderful open 'hangar'. I've been telling them for over 20 years that they should make it into a living space with BBQ etc. Last year they did, and now they live there all the time (when they're here).

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  5. You and Lady M have good taste; your au vent is a dream. It must be wonderful to listen to the pitter-patter of the rain there!
    Re yesterday's post, lovely photo of blue sky and the rolled hay bale. I must be strange because I love to see vapour trails in the sky.
    Greetings Maria x

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    Replies
    1. Being outdoors (but indoors) in a storm is wonderful; it's the cheapest theatre there is! I don't really mind the vapour trails, but to see pure blue sky for a change was very nice.

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  6. The only au vent I know is the vol-au-fucking-vent.

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    Replies
    1. They reminds me of my mother. She used to make them with shrimps in a white sauce. Very 1950's chic.

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    2. And then there were the Horse's Douvers.

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    3. Things on sticks, which usually didn't go too well together.

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    4. Cheese, ham and/or pineapple (tinned).

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  7. Replies
    1. Not really heaven, but very important for summer living.

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  8. Here it is 30c every day from now on until September. What a beautiful place to live outside you have.

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    Replies
    1. It's around that here too, but this morning it rained (unexpectedly). Hopefully we will swim this afternoon.

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  9. That reminds me (I don't know why) I've got my washing drying on the balcony. I'd better bring it in.

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  10. What a lovely place to have and enjoy the summer days and nights. You have it decorated so pretty. We just had an outdoor room installed and I am out there as much as possible. The temperatures are 10 degrees less and bearable. Not so sure about today as it is supposed to be over 100 F.

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    Replies
    1. Quite hot here. This evening we shall be indoors watching England play football; otherwise we'd be out there tonight too.

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  11. What a nice outdoor room. Is there a low wall around it? I couldn't tell from the pictures. We have a screened porch at the cottage and boy did we have an epic storm yesterday.

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    Replies
    1. Yes the flower pots sit on a low wall. Behind it is my studio.

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  12. Green and shady, how inviting insummer heat. We have our entrance way in the shade till siesta. Garden all around and an outdoor shower. So nice to sit and read and listen to the cicadas

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    Replies
    1. No cicadas here as yet; not even any Crickets. Maybe it's just too early.

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  13. Looks to me to be the perfect Summer relaxing place. Have you thought of bringing your beds out so that you can sleep there too?

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    Replies
    1. We used to have a sofa bed in there, but our 'outdoor fridge' has now replaced it.

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  14. Oh Cro ...... it looks idyllic and the perfect place when the temperatures are high. .... stop mentioning the pool ...... I am so envious in this weather..... I did sit with my feet in the sprinkler the other day 🤣 XXXX

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    Replies
    1. Hot, isn't it. Sorry, but there are only two ways of keeping cool here; both of which I will try not to mention.

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    2. You're always complaining. It's raining you're depressive it's Hot it's too much.

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  15. Replies
    1. I hope you're feeling refreshed after your holiday. Have you ever thought of buying a little place out there?

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  16. I don't have an au vent on The Poor Farm yet but its a goal. Yours is fantastic. We do have a shady area under a weeping Mulberry that I love but rain gets through those limbs. A nice covering for next year perhaps?

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    Replies
    1. Eating, or relaxing, under a big tree is beautiful, but as you say it doesn't keep the rain out.

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  17. Your au'vent looks wonderful. However, here in our triple digits I'm not sure it would be enough to get me outside... especially these last few days with the heat and the dust from the Sahara.

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    Replies
    1. It's bearable heat here; only up to about 33 C. I was once in Greece with temps of around 40 C, and that was far too hot. People died.

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  18. Never mind 'au vent', I would be wanting, 'unite d'air conditionne'.

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  19. It has been hot hasn't it? Did you get the storm yesterday - it was our turn today. Danced in it for a minute, fabulous. Saved me having to water the veggies too.l

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