"So, I hear you've moved to the country," people would say when I bought my house in West Oxfordshire 10 years ago. "Do you have any pictures?" Gamely, I'd pull out my phone, swipe through my photos and then choose a nice, pretty, Christmas-y shot where snow covers the front garden and clings to the roof. Nine times out of 10 the reaction would be the same.
“Oh my god…” they’d say. “It’s just like the house from that Cameron Diaz film… The Holiday.”
This happened time and time again. Most often at Christmas time, almost exclusively women excitedly point out my home’s remarkable similarity to the country cottage in the Nancy Meyers romcom starring Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Jude Law and Cameron Diaz.
(I say, mainly women because most men have never actually seen any romcoms, never mind one set in Surrey that has male characters saying stuff like “I sew and I have a cow in the backyard” and features the most spectacularly unlikely “meet cute” of all time – a drunk but collegiately dishy Jude Law, who after finding a gorgeous, sun-kissed Cameron Diaz answering the door, somehow persuades this complete stranger to let him stay on what he claims is his sister’s sofa, for the night and then, almost immediately, sleeps with her.)
Details, details. Eventually, I did watch The Holiday and discovered some remarkable similarities (with the home, that is not seduction techniques).
Okay, so my own honey-coloured stone cottage is in the Cotswolds, not Surrey like the one in the film. Mine is also in a small village and is semi-detached, while the house in The Holiday has no party-wall neighbours and is in the middle of a field, but otherwise, it’s pretty much the same deal. Same four windows drawn on its corners like a toddler’s artwork, same gabled front door, same age-sagged, stone-tiled roof.
Esta historia es de la edición December 19, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición December 19, 2024 de The Independent.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
England's selection issues in a defining year for Stokes
England’s busiest year of Test cricket finished with a bang. Just not the type they were after.
Jesus scores hat-trick to secure Arsenal comeback
Gabriel Jesus scored a second-half hat-trick as Arsenal staged an impressive fightback to book their place in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup with a 3-2 win against Crystal Palace.
Reds survive late surge to reach Carabao Cup semis
After a full and imposing pre-season under his belt, Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott had lofty ambitions this season. Could he crack a regular starting spot? The diminutive left-footed playmaker, signed amid so much promise from Fulham five years ago, certainly would not have anticipated his first start of the season coming in mid-December. But on a torrential night on the south coast, Elliott shone brightest as the Carabao Cup holders, ultimately, sneaked through at Southampton last night.
Rashford's love affair with Man Utd nears its sad end
Forward ready for a new challenge’ after baffling slump
Inflation is up again... and it's fired by 'greedflation'
With inflation jumping to 2.6 per cent, is it time to start discussing \"greedflation\"? This was a hot topic a year ago when critics said companies were failing to pass on the falling costs they were benefitting from as inflation came down. Even the Bank of England voiced concern.
Edgar-Jones misses mark in Tennessee Williams classic
The star of 'Normal People' fails to achieve emotional lift-off in 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' stage return, writes Alice Saville
Fergie may be the key to a peaceful palace Christmas
When it comes to royal ructions, Prince Andrew is the gift that keeps on giving. Step forward someone not traditionally known for being the voice of calm, writes Harry Mount
It's no Holiday living in a 'perfect' Cotswolds cottage
If the classic Christmas romcom makes you fantasise about moving to a beautiful old house in the countryside, then Simon Mills, who just did that, has this warning for you
This 'cuspy Waspi' woman is furious at Labour's deceit
\"I've always been pleased that I was born at the end of the Fifties. It was a time when you could easily get a GP appointment, and when schools had new buildings. War-time rationing was over. Clothes were colourful, toys were plentiful, and I had the Sixties music of The Beatles, Dusty Springfield and The Monkees as the soundtrack of my childhood.
Musk-Farage meeting hands a political gift to Starmer
The talks between Nigel Farage and Elon Musk at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida have highlighted the urgent need to reform the UK's archaic rules on how political parties are funded. No money for Reform UK was agreed and Farage described reports of a $100m donation by Musk as \"for the birds\".
