You could say that Amanda Taylor-Ace is living many people’s dream life – and you’d be right. Amanda splits her time living between Provence and with her family and friends in New Zealand during the French winter. She still walks around smiling and pinching herself that she is living in France, and speaking the language (albeit in a kiwi accent).

Amanda, what do you love about your life?

I consider that I have a perfect life, and I even have my daughter and two grandchildren living less than two hours away. She is married to a charming French man and the children are bi-lingual. My son is a DJ, and often visits from glamorous worldwide locations he has been traveling to. I have many wonderful new friends in the area to wine, dine and travel with, so I feel I am truly blessed. As my friend Roget says, I am a lucky bitch!

When did you first visit Provence and what it is it that you love so much about the region?

I visited Provence over 13 years ago and immediately fell in love with the sights, smells, touches, sounds and tastes – it was though my senses had been deprived my whole life until I discovered Provence. It instilled a new sense of life into me, and after a year in Aix en Provence (where I put my 14 year old into school), I decided without a doubt that I wanted to pack up my life in New Zealand and move to France.

People often ask me what I like about living here and I reply “300 days of sunshine, fabulous cheap wines, beautiful produce and of course the French men, Ooh la la!!” What more could a gal want? There is of course also the fact that Italy or Spain is just over three hours away by car; and Morocco, Greece and Turkey are the same by plane, which appeals to me as an avid traveler.

I am also a keen photographer and I quite often get photos from my trips printed onto canvases to decorate my houses. I particularly like taking market shots of the fabulous produce we have here in Provence – olives, fruits of all shapes and sizes, and vegetables polished to perfection that are beautifully arranged and glistening with colour.

I love local meats such as rabbit, duck breasts, farm reared chickens, quails, lots of different offal, fabulous sausages and of course plenty of wonderful sea food. You can go the market or supermarket and be swept away by inspiration for that night’s meal.

Do you enjoy returning to New Zealand for three months every year?

My time in New Zealand is exciting because I have a new house on Whangamata beach beside my fabulous brother and sister in law, and we just step out onto the beach from the front of the house. We are also keen divers, and we regularly dive off my brother’s boat for crayfish and scallops.

Three months is perfect as I catch up with all my friends and family, have lots of fun in the sun then come back to France when spring has sprung!

Tell me about your experience buying property in France?

I began looking for property and found a little chateau in the Var area owned by an Arab Sheik. We negotiated for a year, but as I was a woman, we couldn’t agree on a fair price. I had a “coupe de foudre” with that Chateau, but all said and done, I am much happier with the two houses I finally bought in St Maximin.

I now own two 18^th century houses both with individual characters, located in a beautiful noted village perched on a hill, with vine covered stone exteriors and a large swimming pool in a private walled garden that receive all day sun.

The houses were basic when I bought them and I have done a lot of renovations, so now they are much more comfortable with additional bathrooms, terraces and new kitchen.

Tell me more about the business you established of renting out your homes for travelers?

I rent the houses out either separately or together for a minimum of a week, but often people rent them for longer periods because there is so much to do in the area. Many rent both houses for special occasions such as birthdays and weddings, so that their family can travel from overseas and stay in the one location together.

The houses are self-catering, but I can also organise chefs, tours, wine tastings, local guided walks and our very popular two week cooking school that I do in conjunction with Ann and Geoffrey Rickard.

We have a number of local chefs who come in to demonstrate Provencal dishes with an unlimited supply of local wines, and then take the group on wonderful sightseeing trips including local vineyards and restaurants. Many have reported that their time staying with me has been a life changing event for them.

Tell me more about the style of your two houses?

The “Maison de Maitresse” was originally known as Maison de Maitre (due to the style of the house), which means House of the Master, but as a joke I renamed it so that it means House of the Mistress (the French are too polite to ask if I am a kept woman).

This house is decorated in a Provencal style and is quite grand with a central staircase running up to the three stories, with bedrooms veering off to the left and right. There is a terrace off the top bedroom with a fabulous view of the valley (although each room has views either over the village or the French country side).

It has a huge terrace overlooking the pool which can seat at least four people, whilst the lower terrace with pergola seats 14 people under the grape vines, and is also a favourite spot for my clients. The lower terrace and pool area are shared with the other house but it all works out well and strangers become friends very easily in the relaxed atmosphere.

The second house is called “Petite Maison” and has lower stud beams and is more intimate, however it still has four bedrooms, and its own terrace that seats ten people. The bedrooms are decorated in a Moroccan style with photos of my many trips to Morocco and colorful fabrics adorning curtained four poster beds. My own bedroom in a private area downstairs looks like a harem – needless to say, it’s full of character!

What are the people like that come to stay with you?

I love the people that come from all over the world, and that I have many repeat clients annually. I have a Professor from the USA who comes for two weeks every year with a group of university students to run a summer school. They have classes every day and exams at the end, but manage to have lots of fun in between. They are always a lovely group of youngsters and a lot of them keep in touch with me after they leave (I think they look on me as some kind of a role model on how to have fun and live your life to the full).

Amanda’s joie de vivre seems infectious, her vivacious personality contagious and her life is an inspiration. This woman is fabulous in anyone’s language.

You can read more about Amanda in a book by Australian author Ann Rickard, “Ooh La La! A French Romp”.

“Take two voluptuous dames d’un certain age, one fond of a romp in the lavender fields, the other an anxious first-time tour operator. Add eight expectant tour guests, throw them together in the French countryside with lashings of good food and wine, and you have Ooh la la! A French Romp.”

Click here to visit Amanda’s website for more information on her fabulous accommodation in Provence. You can also inquire about her two week cooking classes – places fill quickly, so please book in advance.

Amanda Taylor-Ace

“Maison de Maitresse”

6 Place de la Croix,

St Maximin,

Pres d’Uzes’

30700

France.

Image Credit: 1, 2