Normandy

Elegance.
A word that conjours up images of sophistication, class, and of course, a certain amount of wealth. It's a state of being most people cannot even aspire to achieving because of its proximity to a certain fiscal capability. Or at least that's what I thought before I came across Aude de Vathaire and her teachings recently.

I confess, I've always wanted to carry myself in lady like fashion, even though my nature and circumstances have required me to be the humble peasant. Not that I mind very much.
There is so much beauty and goodness in this life that can be experienced even from the vantage point of someone who has to get very creative about the most basic things in order to survive.

The trouble is that I grew up reading classical literature and then went on to fall in love with epic fantasy tales. I'll say that this was responsible for me harbouring this grandiose image of what I could be, this vision that I've sorely wanted to bring to life.

Initially, I thought I should take etiquette classes. Knowing how to carry myself in different situations and interactions with people seemed obvious. And then with what I had learnt, I could figure out where to go next. Unfortunately, life happens and the years pass by and with nothing being done because nothing can be done.

Then one day I came across Aude de Vathaire by absolute chance. I was so intrigued that I followed her 5-day elegance challenge online.
There I learnt a few ways that I had been wrong and a few ways I'd been right about the true nature of elegance. She taught us that elegance should not be confused with sophistication. For me this meant that I could aspire to be elegant in my daily life, no matter my financial ability.
She also reassured us that wanting to elevate the mundane aspects of our lives was actually a good thing. This was a relief to me, who had been convinced by others that my wanting to be "fancy" was a foolish sin rooted in conceit.

I've been learning slowly from her videos on Youtube and her emails, taking the time to incorporate her lessons into the way I see and think about things. Much to my excitement, she recently announced her French elegance retreat in collaboration with the Roquefeuil family in Normandy.

Four days of immersive in-person instruction from 5th to the 8th of December in 2025, and set in the beauty and legacy of Château de Boucéel. The rich history of this beloved location certianly lends to the atmosphere of elegance.
The promise is that every detail will be thoughtfully taken care of, allowing those in attendance the chance to simply be present in the moment. This thoughtful in-person coaching is designed to deepen our understanding and sense of French elegance, etiquette, and confidence.

Elegance Workshop

Life Launchsite

Scheduled on the last day's morning is an excursion to the island abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, a UNESCO heritage site and a location that has been on my bucket list. Along with Église Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc which was built on the historic Place du Vieux-Marché, the exact spot where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake for heresy.

This elegance retreat strikes me as a unique trip that is both leisure and work. Only you would be working on yourself and investing in the kind of person you wanted to be, as well as the kind of person you wanted people to experience.

I've had the privilege of being in the presence of people who made me feel very good about my existance by simply being around them and the misfortune of being around people who made me welcome the end of the world by simply being around them. I hope and prefer to become more like the former kind of person to others one day. Perhaps an education in elegance might help me achieve that ideal.

While elegance is not just about setting a table or sending gifts, these are things we can learnt to do that elevate our everyday and convey our feelings of thoughtfulness and affection to others.
I'd like to think they appreciate the effort.
French Guiana
This beautiful location is the site of the European Space Agency's satalite launches. It's a little bit easier to get to space when you're already on the outermost curvature of the earth, apparently.
09/12/25
06:30
35°c
It's a warm and sunny day with windspeeds of 12kmp. Great for oceanic sporting activities.
To Do
You can see a live launch of any of the ESA's projects by booking your spot in advance on centre spatial guyanais. Alternatively, you could explore the Guyaspace Expérience to experience the entire history of the ESA as well as marvel at the prospects of the future. If you're not interested in all things space, there is an amazing diversity of flora and fauna to behold in the savannahs. Every experience is one that cannot be missed.