Saturday night fever in the Lecrin Valley

Last Saturday, was all about having fun and get ready for a 80's disco party. Our friend Rosie celebrated her 40^th birthday and her invitation mail said it all: glam it up baby...And so did I in a chiffon mini dress in pastel shades of blue and high heeled strassed sandals. Ready to party baby, yeah..…

She and her husband Jonji live in a charming village called Niguelas, not far from my village. A former music producer and a former actress, they created a yoga retreat in beautiful surroundings. As usual, we're late. Monchéri and I are slow in dressing up and gift packaging. And rushing does no good to me. I forgot my camera at home. Oh...no..what a bore. I so wanted to show you pictures of our lovely hosts and my beautiful girlfriends. But look, I tried to do a little sketch of Rosie in her first 80's grown up baby doll outfit.

The glamorous girl changed twice during the night and her lovely hubby as well. Jonji was less eccentric in his garment choice, elegant Chinese pajamas with a cow boy hat.

For us, the little artistic bunch in the Lecrin valley outside Granada, Rosie is the epitome of glamour chic. A blond, very tall girl with the complexion of an English rose. She's gorgeous, funny and full of life and we were all sad when she made up her mind to leave the valley and settle in Aix-en-Provence which happens to be my native town. She thought food and culture would be better there and in the end decided life was sweeter in our sunny and quiet valley.

Her birthday party was meant to be a big thank you to her friends: I love you all and I don't want to leave you ! and even if we started to be slightly sleepy at 3am, Monchéri and I didn't want to leave. As soon as we got there, we felt the warm tide of love and joy of meeting new smiling faces and dear old friends. I had the feeling I spent the whole night, hugging, kissing, catching up with friends I haven’t seen for ages.

The scene was perfect. Young pretty girls with long eyelashes were offering drinks with a bright smile. The garden has been transformed in a chill out zone with sofas and chairs. Women were glittery and so happy to dance, shaking their bare shoulders. Men had twinkles in their eyes and were so happy to dance. I must say Jonji was an ideal DJ. We danced on the grass by the pool. We danced in the living room under the spotlights. A friend called Emma, alias Miss Punkett was projecting giant images of flowers or vivid psychedelical shapes on a wall. The music was loud but it felt good. I’ve never been to Ibiza but it felt like being in Ibiza. When my feet claimed for a little bit of rest, I went to lie down with Monchéri on a secluded terrace covered with Moroccan rugs and leather poufs and cushions. We were in love, perhaps a bit more than as usual because the night was exciting, because of the bubbles of Spanish champagne, because everybody was so naturally happy.

Jonji insisted we visited the lower garden to catch better views of the hills nearby and maybe see a shooting star. It was so dark, we barely avoided the cactus barring the path. I was still taking off some tiny thorns, this morning, but never mind, it was fun. We watched the stars, someone pointed at one and said it was scorpio. We waited for a shooting star, ready to make a wish but alas not one was in view.

Up there, the party was going full swing, Rosie had changed clothes and was now wearing a long black satin dress, low cut in the back with a red feather boa. Some girls threw away their high heels and were now dancing bare foot on the grass. My friend Susie joined us and sat on the oriental cushions. So impeccably elegant with her long black gloves, a vintage black dress and flowers in her hair. For me Susie is like a twin sister of my friend Gym. She's an interior designer and a sculptor. She just finished decorating her house in Granada and I can't wait to see it and show it to you of course. I need to talk to you urgently, she said, about a project you would love! And because it’s just a project for now, I won’t say anything more except that it has to do with fashion and that yes I love the idea. Another friend, the happy owner of a lingerie shop down on the coast asked me whether I’d model for her again. Monchéri laughed but was secretly pleased. Antonia, a lovely painter friend asked if Monchéri and I could cook a couple of days for a music producer in a nearby village. We already did it 2 years ago and we loved the experience.

Oh my! can this be true or are my friends pleasantly victims of the continuous flow of Spanish champagne ? But yes, they sound bloody serious...We even talk about money now.

- What you say ? How much do I want to model this time?

- Oh my God…The Bee Gees ! Love it….Let me see…make it ****, no ? is it too much ?

- Well we'll see…come on let’s dance!

I can't believe Gym is actually dancing on Saturday night fever under the disco lights. Rosie, the dancing queen of the night welcomes late newcomers, goes back dancing and singing, takes up the mike to start a very funny speech in a Hollywood style. Thanks so much for being here tonight...I'd like to thank my agent, my producer.....We laugh and clap and shout We love you Rosie!!! I think we forgot to bring the cake with the candles but what does it matter. We danced a little bit more, thinking we've got the whole day tomorrow or rather what is left of it to rest. Even tired, I didn’t want to go home. I dragged Monchéri in the kitchen and there we stayed kissing and laughing by a bowl of basmati rice.

Oh…what do you want more from life?