Leaves turn all shades of browns and start to fall, the nights draw in and the weather brings misty mornings and cooler days. Autumn brings changes of appetite and new riches to the table.

If one thinks of a themed party, white is often top of many lists. It can be a casual country picnic, a pool or beach party, or a glamorous evening celebration.

The first time I came to Provence was with my parents. I was a teenager. I fell in love with it instantly.

A pool party is as glamorous as it gets

Bastille Day is celebrated in France on 14th July. It’s called a “Fete Nationale” and commemorates the storming of the Bastille on 14th July 1789, a turning point of the French Revolution.

I often found a picnic to be – sometimes literally – a pain in the backside. The weather is iffy. You end up with cramp, grass-stained and covered by an army of ants. Yet, there is something heavenly about a picnic on a warm sunny day.

Al Fresco dining conjures up scenes of long lingering lunches in olive groves, trestle tables set to accommodate several generations of family and friends basking in the sun.