Movie night

Somehow someone found out that Le Capt had a projector, that Ian had a screen, that Ryan and Alicia had the skills that could unite these things with a computer running a DVD.  So last night, with a cast of thousands and Pete and Nel, we sat in comfort with a bottle or two of wine and shared a film. It was great. Want to do it again, Ive got DVD from Dada and Cocteau and many other cultural delights...

Its been raining heavily - thunder and lightening night before last - though calm now. Here is a picture of the blue moon in a puddle taken around midnight.

 

saturday memories

Voila! -Guess who, taken at Stan'n'Debs on Sat by Alecia - and Stan, below, ditto-

ongoings...

...Here is Alicia snapped by a passing Irish tourist :) and below, signs that there is too much fun going on in Esperraza

the good life...

 

a small selection of Ryan and Alecia's labours...  beautiful and totally delicious :)

The Sun also shines

 Sadly I forgot the camera last night - we were at Stan and Debs with many mates and an amusing and visually exciting evening occurred. Eddie was there and here (tenuous link) he is again, in the market this morning when I DID have a camera. Hes chatting with John Marshall, star of many skies, who was with Gail, below, on holiday from Australia. Shes into painting and was very engaging :)

 Below is a link to the Sun newspaper, not something seen on Esperaza Follies before. Its curious; if I hadn't already known of the story I wouldn't have understood it from this report.

The captain has two brothers (all recognisible as they look terribly similar) and one is married to Gala, aka Galavish. Shes very pretty and notoriously kind-hearted, so heaven knows how they got the photo of her looking, erm, anything but. Anyway, Barclays mis-sold one of their policies to her and she sued them to reclaim her money. Barclays affected not to notice the plaint and it was awarded in her favour. Barclays continued to ignore her and she got the bailiffs in, as is her right under British law. In went the bailiffs and Gala was paid off.

Now Barclays are trying for another case of some sort, on the grounds that they were too busy to bother with it last time. You know what they say, there's one law for the rich and another for the poor? Watch this space:)

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4505064/Bailiffs-in-raid-on-bank-HQ.html

how beautiful are the feet

Much cooler today - healthy wind and bright sun, its possible to sleep at night and enjoy the great outdoors. Heres me and Kate C being lovely (though in need of a pedicure) with a suitable sound track

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BbeleIRexM

yesterday slightly cooler perhaps

 Took this by the river yesterday morning when it was coolish; the team haven't got round to trimming the banks yet so all the flowers are out, its very pretty.

Also very pretty is Sylvies hat, carefully constructed to take her pony tail as indicated here by Theo. They are both in town for a few weeks before returning to university in Ireland.

 

Spent the evening at Adrian and Maggies in the hills, here they are in their eyrie where we had a divine dinner...

and here is a nail that has been pulled out of the wall by a passion flower.

Maison de la Riviere en fleur

Here's Jo, a blossom amongst blossoms, tending the terrace in front of the Maison de la Riviere by the bridge... lovely.  http://www.hotelaude.com/

on it goes...

 Zoe and kids are back from Spain. Here they are at La Creperie, Felix admiring his spot arrangement and Kitty her bunches. That was Tuesday; they leave today for London.

 I ducked out of dinner here last night in favour of an arts evening at Kats - here she is with Jean-Noel and Bieke. Terrrific (thanks Kat :D )

 

Spent yesterday in Carcassonne looking at art and decided the old goddesses are the best. This lovely one is not too far from the bridge where the two waters meet,. There is a chapel there devoted to the virgin but money on that  this one preceded her. No information anywhere, anyone know anything ?

a quick look back

 Took yesterday off - went to Mirepoix market with Bob, Ryan and Alicia and very nice too (though hot -) Its much dinkier than Esperaza's Market.

Afterwards was the wine festival at the PMU - Alain had put tables and chairs outside,  Chez Charlie did the plate of meat and the vintners of Autugnac did the wine. Local youff did the music and a good time was had by all.
Here is Ryan attracting another fan.


This morning is miraculously fresh - is the heat wave abating?

tomorrow date

Tomorrow is another festival of wine - like the one at Luc's last month - at Alains in the cafe in the square. Book today! Tomorrow morning latest, as he has to order the meat from Chez Charlie. 5 Euros a pop. Be there!

much lunching

Dear old friend and colleague from London days, Patrique, turned up yesterday after an interval of 18 years. We chattered for many hours:) mostly about the state of the arts and what a laugh life used to be.

Bizarrely his brother is Jean-Noel, who draws with us on a Monday, seen here below with Mira - virtually neighbours. Small world.

Patrique was my first proper french friend. He left London to live in Brazil and was much missed by me and the group of artists that hung around together in those distant days. 

Richard and Alison came to lunch today and though we go back to the mid 1960's agh we generally see each other annually or thereabouts, more often if I have anything to do with it....
They especially enjoyed meeting Ryan and Alecia and talking America. Everyone I know is so cosmopolitan its scarey -  a pleasure to hear such erudition though.

Tomorrow is the market in Esperaza and a vide grenier at Montazels, the weather predictions say it will carry on getting hotter and to wear hats and drink water.

The Maire rang up our Andree and asked if  she was OK and to say if she needed anything, isn't that good? Im nearly as old as her and they haven't checked on me  yet.

funny thing happened in the studio today

 ...You know how it is, you cut out images in case they come in useful and they end up on the floor for months and then you throw them away? This one was cute - been trodden on and splattered and generally abused -

 -then a gust of wind turned it over -

chic peas

Look what Alecia has grown! - This is what chick peas look like before being hulled. As you can see, they are organic and come with their own pretty caterpillar.

Kats expo in Quillan

--- a fairly random selection of snaps from the private view tonight, concluding with Delphine being secretive.

Well done our Kat! Lovely evening, lovely exhibition.

apres dessin avant dejuner

 After the Monday morning drawing sessions it is not unusual for some of the group to meet on the Pont for a fortifier before lunch.
Here are Olle-Bendick, Jean-Noel and Christopher, plus Judith and Susie.

Any artists who'd like to join us - or would like to get downwind of us before committing - are welcome.

Olivier puts us in the shade

Olivier of the cafe on the bridge has put a shade up over the tables on the corner:) That was yesterday; today is overcast and fresh so anyone coming to the market may not need it. Might yet be an umbrella.

advance warning

Kats next expo is at Quillan, the tourism centre next to the Terminus, on Tuesday 14th, private view 5 - 6pm. Write in diary now...

todays people

 The chic esperazannette would not be seen in
anything other than sweat, plaster and dirt this
season, as modeled here by Annie

 Here Peter G and Val model the correct clothes for fruitful gardening, whilst Derek, below, shows how the old classics never fail:).

Derek and Val are very old friends who came to lunch with their delightful grown-up daughters, Penny and Liz.
We couldn't stop talking - eventually they had to take me to dinner at the Creperie.



Temps are 39ish and not all that comfortable for the elderly.
We discovered that moving slowly and drinking copiously was the answer. Blanquette with lunch, water all afternoon and cold sweet white for apero - cider with the crepes and rum with the bananas.

We struggle on...