Where am I writing today?

An unusual Playroom in the Loire Valley!

 

Today I am sitting comfortably on a deeply sprung, worn leather chair in the playroom of a holiday home in the Loire Valley. 
Outside, my grandchildren are splashing around in the pool with my hubby, Kevan, and other members of my family. I used this time to join some writing colleagues online, hoping for no disturbances. Up until now, I haven’t had a spare moment to do any writing.

 

So why a children’s playroom, you may wonder? Well, it’s like no playroom I have ever seen, so I wanted to write some notes about it for a future setting in one of my stories. 

It’s an unusual room with mainly antique-style objects and furniture, including a pinball machine; the song Pinball Wizard by The Who and the film Tommy immediately come to my mind.

 

A few framed pictures decorate the wall, and one depicts a rather elegantly dressed hare, brightly coloured and appealing to children. In comparison, hanging beside it, is an old black and white print which shows a gathering of French men on a bench! 

At the room’s centre are three old brown leather chairs adorned with modern white furry cushions. The old with the new seems to work. Two other tiny wooden chairs — complete with well-used Steiff teddy bears — sit positioned between them. 

 

Upon the antique chest, on the opposite side of the pinball machine, sits a vintage black Bakelite telephone; the kind where you lift the handset that’s attached by a braided fabric flex, and a rotary dial. It reminds me of several films set in the 40s and 50s, such as Casablanca, High Society and Gone with the Wind. A particular favourite of mine from the 60s is What Ever Happened to Baby Jane, starring Bettie Davies and Joan Crawford. 

The lamp on the back wall looks like something from a similar era. Standing beside it, there’s a tallboy-style wardrobe with a glass door having curtains on the inside to obscure its contents, which makes me think about The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis.  

The wardrobe has a shiny brass gramophone perched on top. Immediate memories of my mother & father watching the Sunday Matinee’s — particularly my mother love for the film Casablanca, where the gramophone was an essential prop for the song As Time Goes By. I’m not sure I would have this precious music maker in a playroom!
Above the chest, a wall shelf displays practically ancient books. I fear if lift one to read, it may disintegrate. A separate modern-style bookcase holds books for children, all written in French. 

There is a 40s-style suitcase displayed as an ornament, which reminds me of another classic novel and film, The Railway Children. The room is like a throwback in time, and yet, there is a dolly in a mini pushchair that’s modern in its entirety, which should look out of place, but it doesn’t.
Aside from a few more pictures, ornaments and games, there is a small wooden desk and chair bringing memories of my school days during my early years. It has an inkwell and a groove for pencils. Casting my mind back, I think my love of writing must have started much earlier than I remember.

 

 

This room evokes lots of memories, and most of them relate to the written word, whether by lyrics, films, or stories that have stood the test of time and remain in our memories.

Being in this inspiring room surrounded by vintage objects and classic literature confirms to me that my writing is worth it, no matter the critics! If the written word gives just one person a fond memory, and the lyrics of a song replays in our minds igniting emotion, then it must be worth it.

 

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If you want to know more about my novel Bitter Pill, go here: https://ajlinney.co.uk/bitter-pill/