I'm English, in 2017 bought the wonderful 14th century Priory in Pressigny, France. I'm brushing up my French, which is passable, but not brilliant and loving life in this small rural village where everyone is so friendly. I love cooking, sailing, reading and making things. I really enjoy organising events and even more, I love meeting people from all round the world. I've travelled quite a lot, lived in the Far East and on a yacht for four years and am keen to get back sailing....if you need a crew who can cook! If you choose to stay here, I hope you will love it as much as I do!

The Priory is a beautiful 13th century fortified house surrounded by stone walls. In the 15th century it was, I am told, given by the owners to the Church, who then built a 'modern' chateau a couple of fields away. A tower was added in which lived nuns or the serving women, depending on who you talk to! The ancient bread ovens can be seen in the cellar, next to the refectory. The refectory was razed at some point and now forms the tower terrace. Reputedly a tunnel leads from the refectory to the 'new' chateau a couple of fields away and an arch, which led to a tunnel once connecting the house to the church can clearly be seen in the cellar. Old window frames in the walls and a set of steps leading no-where all add to the living history of the building. Restored some years ago by a Swedish family, the Priory and the Tower retain their rustic charm in this very rural part of France. Now filled with English and French antiques and beautiful designer fabrics (I had an interiors business in the UK for twenty five years), the houses each have their own charm. The Priory is very much a family home, which makes it delightful for small weddings and family gatherings. The playroom is a treat for children, full of books and games. I was told recently I have the best dressing up box ever! The gardens are full of heritage roses and smell divine in May when the garden is infused with their perfume. The Tower is full of delightful English and French linens. Children love the Harry Potter inspired bedroom, accessed by a spiral staircase. The bedroom for the adults is a romantic dream! Antique embroidered napkins and old china, as well as a fire blazing in the massive medieval fireplace greet guests in winter, along with a candle filled sitting room. The garden, with its cool firepit, make this a lovely destination for those who want to return to a simpler life. Microwave and TV are eschewed for the open wood bbq in the garden and a collection of great books.

Pressigny, a tiny, rural backwater hamlet, sits on the bank of an ancient river bed that is 10,000 years old. Charolais cows graze in the meadow and cool their legs in the pond in the heat of the summer. With some very rare birds in the fields and fauna surrounding the village, I was told it is a it is a birdwatchers paradise by a visitor! In the evenings at dusk, deer will often cross the road in front of the car and hares abound in the fields. Wild boar are hunted in the woods and pheasants and raptors, from buzzards to hen harriers are seen on a daily basis. We are surrounded by woodland, which is a delight to walk in in all seasons and a few minutes drive provides wonderful riverside walks. The house is close to the edge of a geological divide - a kilometer from the house the lush verdant wooded valley ends and a plain starts, stretching away into the distance, fields full of ripening wheat, and sunflowers in the summer. Within driving distance are villages and towns with markets selling wonderful local produce, from cheeses to honey, oysters to potted meats. We have beautiful medieval villages, stunning chateau and for the adults, the Loire is an hour away where its possible to book tours of the wineries and visit the vast underground cave systems where the wines have been stored for centuries. For water lovers, a day trip to the Marais Poitevan and its incredible system of waterways is a must - and an experience to see flames on the surface of the water! An unforgettable day, arguably the best day out you will ever have, is a visit to Puy du Fou, one of France's best kept secrets! From the incredible show in the full sized Roman arena to the village attacked and set on fire by Vikings, to the incredible stunts on horseback by the medieval knights as the British attack and the jaw dropping display of international birds, I unreservedly recommend a visit. Once the Priory has worked its relaxing magic, there is so much to do in the beautiful Deux-Sevres region.