Bath

I’m in Bath, England, for the summer term – kids are weekly boarders and I’m on a sabbatical of sorts – writing a screenplay based on a book that I’ve optioned. More on that soon.

Last night I moved in to #14 – a beautiful Georgian townhouse in the heart of Bath.

It felt like coming home – I’ve stayed here before back in the Autumn so its familiar – the ever so slight creak of the floorboards as you cross the kitchen to put the kettle on, the elegant staircase winding up and up to the bedrooms we each already know and love. Minty on the first floor, me up another flight and Rémy at the very top with the best view in the house across Bath to the countryside beyond.

The house is filled with soft greys and filled with light. Birdsong from the garden filters in accompanied by the gentle tick of the clock. I made myself a pot of tea – loose leaf Chai from Fortnum and Mason and took a few minutes to relax into the space. The roses are from my garden in LA! Carefully packaged up and transported half way around the world!

Having unpacked I used the petals of one rose that was beginning to fade in my bath and my Away suitcase as a bath side table!

I feel far away, removed from my usual life back in Los Amgeles – living my best life as I embark on new challenges. The hot bath was followed by a deep sleep – uninterrupted by jet lag.

I wake up early, alone in a large Georgian townhouse filled with ghosts from previous inhabitants. At one point Jane Austen lived across the street – from all I’ve read she wasn’t very happy nor very prolific. Did she admire the sweep of The Royal Crescent whilst stopping to smell the spring narcissi on an early morning stroll?

My morning run was short but sweet – made even sweeter as I spotted two magpies pecking about in the grass under a horse chestnut tree in bloom – two for joy – a good omen for day 1 of writing.