For my main character, Lizzie’s former UK home, I chose my own Kent village as a setting, mainly because I was inspired by a favourite valley where I walk which has beautiful south-facing slopes and which, in my opinion, would look amazing filled with grape vines. So, I set the farmhouse on a ridge overlooking this valley and Lambertfields was created. Meopham, my village, does have its own award winning vineyard where they grow and produce English white and rose wines as well as Sparkling wine so, naturally was one on my research list.
As many people know, Provence, it’s just simply stunning. The rolling, diverse landscape is sweet music to the eyes. From ancient hilltop villages, deep calcareous gorges and canyons guarding deep-blue lakes to gentle slopes of vibrant colour; poppy fields, lawns of lavender and spectacular sunflowers. And, of course the miles of sumptuous grapevines so intrinsic of the landscape. Lizzie was taken with the Luberon on her first visit and, for Cal, it is a life-long dream to one day own his own vineyard!
Lizzie’s apartment is within a small market square closer to the community life of Cannes but was inspired from my first brief visit to Cannes. It absolutely captured my heart; not just for the fabulous light it illuminates or the near perfect blue skies nor, the fact that it sits on the beautiful Mediterranean but, what is so intoxicating is its scintillating cosmopolitan vibe! As a town, it has everything you would want to love there. Also, I love to people-watch, it’s a favourite pastime so what better excuse whilst eating a gorgeous salad and drinking copious amounts of Provence rose, to just relax and watch the world go by. There are café’s and bistros aplenty from which to choose. If you want something a bit more energetic such as retail therapy, take your pick from the various markets or designer stores on the front or in Rue Antibes, all a short distance. Another plus, is the numerous other resorts, you can so easily reached by train. Juan Les Pins, Cap d’Antibes, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Monaco, to name but a few and the same line will even take you in to Italy. Its charm has never left me.