50 and feeling chic: where to celebrate a big number
This is #50 of this newsletter so I'm having it as a theme!
This is issue number 50 of the newsletter since I started counting!
I sent my first newsletter many years ago, and changed emailing platforms many times so I have no way of finding the actual number but I think it would be close to 100 as I’m about to reach my 10th anniversary of running From the Poolside.
This will be in September and I’m quite excited about it and trying to think of ways I can celebrate this with you.
To stay on the number 50 theme, I thought I would this week highlight in the extra finds some special places where you can celebrate a big birthday. My own 50th birthday was odd, to say the least, as it’s the day I left hospital after a week recovering from massive surgery but we made up for it by going to two nice hotels, listed below later on that year. Plus a few more that I wouldn’t mind going to for my next big birthday!
On the personal update front, we are entering exams month with Mademoiselle having her big weeks of GCSEs from tomorrow. I don’t know who thought that May was a good month for exams. I remember revising for my baccalauréat (the French A levels) during a very sunny and hot month of May while Roland-Garros was on. The sound of tennis balls bouncing back and forth will forever be the background to exams for me!
It’s a privilege to share each week my latest finds and rambling thoughts with you. Whether you’ve been there from the start or only subscribed a few weeks ago, I hope you’ll stick with me for the next 50 issues at least ;-)
And as always if you have wishes on how I can make this more useful to you, do tell me, in the comments or by replying.
Good luck to those of you who have exams in the household this month!
Also, I’m just shy of 1,000 subscribers so it would mean the world if you would share this newsletter with others to get me closer to that other big number ;-)
Jolies Choses - gift ideas for a big birthday!
A French perfume, mais oui! - my perfume brand of choice is Guerlain. I’ve been wearing different eaux de toilette or perfumes from them for decades. In Spring, I particularly like their Aqua Allegoria collection as it’s so French. I’ll go either for the Mandarin one or Herba Fresca.
A classic trench - for my 50th birthday Mr Big went big (ah ah) and offered me a Burberry trench coat. Obviously quite a budget but you can find some similar look such as this Abercrombie & Fitch or try this one from Rouje, a very French brand which now has a UK site (so less taxes to pay than when you had to ship it from France).
A poncho - two friends gave me a navy one for my birthday and 5 years later it’s still impeccable. It is so practical and always makes you look stylish. It was from Jigsaw but they don’t seem to have it on their website. This one is bigger and would have many uses (such as a cover on a plane).
Extra finds- great places to celebrate turning 50 (or any other decade really)
One & Only le Saint Geran, Mauritius
From £490 (off season) - Check latest prices and availability
Our firsts luxury winter sun holiday was a few months after my 50th birthday as I needed to recover from it. I’m not a fan of big hotels as you know but we went out of holidays and therefore the hotel was less busy and was cheaper too. We really liked it and it was exactly what we needed after a few difficult months. Everyone was really nice, the setting was magical, the food was really really delicious and the weather was mostly clement. Read my full review (in 5 parts!)
Domaine de Murtoli, Corsica
From 320 Euros - Check latest prices and availability
The Domaine de Murtoli is a vast estate with 8km of coast and 22 shepherds houses to rent. You can therefore have several friends in a big house or a few smaller ones. They’ve added a hotel too since our last visit so mayybe it’s busier now. Certainly at the time, it was paradise. Each house is totally isolated with either a view of the valley or the beach or just the countryside. The sense of peace and relaxation brought on by nature, silence and beauty is priceless. Read my review.
Coco Barn, Les Landes
From 510 Euros for 3 nights - Check latest prices and availability
How about renting all of the lodges at Coco Barn and have fun as a group? They are only few kilometers from Capbreton and 5 minutes from Hossegor between ocean and countryside, in the heart of the Landes forest. The Pool house is a heated space from May to September and there is a spacious 11×5 swimming pool nestled in the heart of comforting greenery.
Mangerton House, Dorset
From £5750 for a 3 nights weekend off peak - Check latest prices and availability
This is a beautiful house nestled in a valley 2 miles outside the Dorset seaside town of Bridport. This is one for a big party as you can sleep up to 20 people. You can also rent the beach house in the domain and best of all, you get an indoor pool ! Kids can have fun in the playroom and in the tee pee island with trampolines, rope bridge and swings.
Passalacqua, Lake Como
From £870 - Check latest prices and availability
Truly for a special occasion as it’s really not cheap but it really makes me dream. A beautiful old palazzo on the shores of the lake has been reinvented and offers a stunning setting, a pool and opulent bedrooms. I’m starting to save to go there in 5 years!