From Genevieve Costello

 

6th February - 28th February 2026

In my window that opens as a door in a recuperated fauteuil. There is grey layered on grey layered on grey layered on cement layered on rain. I hear men, I hear the highway, I hear the rain. It sounds grey. I think about Trélex.

In Trélex, I would get up early, my bedroom window faced east and the soleil would make an extraordinary backdrop to the Alpes, making them chiseled. I'd go to the kitchen and make a precious coffee. While I waited for the brew I'd open the kitchen window and stick out my head and look at the village houses and the sunrise again and then close the window and stretch my sides. 

I was quiet, the mornings were quiet, it was our time alone, even before the radio. My studiomate, a figurative painter from London, would sleep until later. I'd sit then, and looking up to the Jura mountains through the window at my desk, I'd write.

I'd do a good morning session, with one or two more coffees. Here in Trélex, I found plenty of focus and force. A resourcing place. Eventually it would be lunch, chats with studiomate about our dreams or the cats with the cows next door or new painting developments of a window shop in Bern she was working on. Another writing session, advance well. Efficiently. Clear. Eventually, I'd shove off my big pink slippers and slide into my knee stroking wellies and ski coat and mittens and head out the door. 

Depending on the whim of the day, it may be a big walk, 3 or 4 hours, and a stop at the village boucherie-cafe and epicerie. Depending on the day, I may depart left, or right. If the day were a Sunday, it might entail an early stroll to the next village over for a double espresso from the boulangerie-cafe-epicerie, where cyclists are to be found, or two villages over, where grannies play cards till the closing hour at 12h30.

Evenings are spent sitting in the window sill writing and looking. Writing and looking in peace. Then bed, then dreams, and then writing again :)

Advice

Coffee: If you are dependant on coffee, bring your own way to make your coffee (if you are particular, inquire in advance if it is induction stove top if you want a moka instead of a french press, otherwise french press should a safe bet)

Grocery: If you can drive, take the car the 10 minutes drive to the supermarché over the French border and stock up here, and or pass by the weekend weekly market (I did not visit but hear it is fine). This was faster and cheaper than paying the train route to get into the next Suisse city over with the expensive grocers. Also, the weekly market in this Suisse town is very expensive and taking out cash was complicated.

In village: The bouchérie and the épicerie are very lovely and if you're really stuck for food on a Sunday or Monday there is the vending machine on the side of the bouchérie, or the two cafés mentioned in the text above have epiceries with the good bits and bobs (expensive but for when you're stuck). 

Pharmacy/SOS Médecins: If you need to go to the pharmacie or to the urgences, idem for taking the car to the French SOS médecins and the French pharmacy. Cheaper (this was even with insurance). 

Phone: personally, I decided to only use my phone through the internet in the residency and did not take a phone contract to use out in the world. This worked well as I was really not doing any visits and so did not need google maps or anything. This added to the peaceful experience I was personally looking for and helped me not be on my phone all the time. 

General remarks: 

Nina is wonderful and ask her if you have any questions or needs or want to talk about your work.

I lucked out and really liked my studiomate, and upon arrival it was a bit natural and maybe isn't for everyone but we talked about how we worked and what our focuses were there etc. and at least on my end I lived this really well, was very friendly environment, and felt reassuring as I was there with a very specific goal in mind, with a certain intensity and rhythm. She had a totally different, relaxed studio approach and flow and honestly was great as a parallel and felt like a super balance. I appreciated that she felt comfortable to ask me to take photos for her, which were important for her studio work, and I felt comfortable to be in my writing intensities around her.

I stayed for 3 weeks, which was perfect and could have imagined happily staying for 4 weeks. I worked in a very determined way, really only writing and going for walks and reading in the evenings. I got done with the writing goal I had set out for myself and even more in the end. This was my personal arrangement and I felt supported in it from the residency and Nina, and felt no external pressures for any particular production!

Thank you for everything, I will love to come again!!