Wanderers return

 Knackered from their voyaging but back, Ladies and Gentleman, I give you (drum roll....) ANNIE AND PETE!
A simple supper and a dog walk last night and their 6 month disappearance has itself disappeared. Long may they stay. Theo and Gus turned up somewhere along the line; they have been transformed into engaging young men of good humour and amusing conversation. Must be the drugs.

Et voila, this is what happens to the garden tablecloth if left out all winter with stuff on it. Rather lovely. I'm thinking of calling it The Joy of Entropy.

Jonathons project

 This from Jonathon.... seems timely, apropos of my posting about the expo in the MJC the other day.
Do take a look at his site.


Are There Any People Here?

Six years in the making, "Are There Any People Here?", by Jonathan Moss, is a
photo-book of a concentration camp in the south of France and a journal exploring
past and present feelings towards the Holocaust.

"Are There Any People Here?" is a limited edition (signed and numbered) artist's
book of photographs taken at the camp at Rivesaltes here in the south of France.
The images are accompanied by the journal that I have been writing during the last
six years, recounting my encounters and experiences with locals associated with
the camp. It also features my interview with Norbert Herz, who was 
interned there during 1942.

The Rivesaltes Project book is now available to pre-order on my website.

If you feel that this is something that you can support, it is also possible to
make a donation of any amount.

All the details can be found here:

http://www.jonathan-moss.com/projects/rivesaltes-project/

If you're on Facebook, please "Like" the project page.

Some of you have already pre-ordered the book and/or given a donation. Thank you
so much for your support.

Best wishes
Jonathan Moss

sunshine back

 Its such a shame that Bob endures the cold and rain - and this week has been miserable - then has to leave while the sun shines and the vide grenier occurs in Esperaza.


Annie and Pete were there, just in from elsewhere (rumours of the Moroccan house sadly inaccurate) Many other friends also hanging out. Such a pleasure to chatter in the sunshine and hunt junk.

Every year I think it was better than last years... this year I got a fish kettle, pale blue leather gloves (Kat says they look like marigolds but they don't), a glass saucepan, 2 home made beeswax candles and a possibly silver spoon. Anyone read the runes below?

 Yesterday - during the deluge - the Comite de Jumilage had their lunch at La Salle Maroc Louis Alibert, over the footbridge. Catering by Plan B. 
Toby was sweet enough to come to and we had an interesting time :)
Here is the apero before the meal; below is our beloved mayor helping to serve the meal; below that is Toby being engaging with Paulette and another lady whose name I don't know but she was a hoot -

friends reunited

 A night at the Creperie, with Leo who seems to have evaded the camera, Pieter and Peter, Toby and Lose,me, Elaine and Kat and Le Captain. Small pix on account of they're not very good; unlike the red wine at the creperie, which is. Very good.

In Memory...

... theres an exhibition in the MJC about the Jews and others who were deported from France to die in the camps. Its awful; very harrowing. Should be seen by holocaust deniers and anyone interested in the history of this place. Smashing chap called Georges is at the expo, speaks good English and knows his stuff. His father being Spainish was in the camp in the Ariege so he has a deal of knowledge about the Nazi occupation here. Closes tomorrow so get there soon.

Mud Fest

Yesterday was the annual Rose Festival at Solorama, a fave venue - in the hills above Luc sur Aude, miles of little roads going through fields of lavender and smelly flowers, to the place where they are traditionally transformed into perfume and stuff.

Despite the startling hail storms we thought it would be fun to visit the distillery and generally hang out.

And so it was. The tractor managed to pull us out of the car park where we had sunk into good red clay - as had everyone else - and the ensuing chaos made for a good humoured and entertaining afternoon.

Lila and the rest

 Here's Lila!! Unbelievably cute. A sister to Oswald the tortoise....


... and Andree talking to Fred at apero at her house last night and Bobs brother John -

after apero we ate at T Rex, then continued chatting at mine. It was a fine last night with Fred and Shirley who are off today, flying back to Dakota. Come back soon guys:)

 This morning the sun is shining again - yesterday was good but loads of rain in the night.
Now is the season of swift hurling; when the idiot swifts crash into windows and walls, they can't take off again so after a suitable rest (to get over the shock) you have to carry them as high as possible and throw them mightily into the sky. Very rewarding

The struggle for power

Our Mayor has asked me to be on his 'list' as a municipal councilor; last night was the first meeting of the newbies. Alarmingly, the list that were elected with him are reduced by 60%. Why have they quit? Where are they buried? 
The new list must be made up a la method sandwich - homme/femme/homme/femme . Lovely way to describe equal ops. :) Difficult to find women, though he didn't say so - they are child rearing or generally busy -
The Mayor made much of the attacks one can expect as a councilor. He said that most people have one project and aren't interested in the larger picture. If the one project is stymied you can expect trouble. The hardest thing is hearing what people say, shaking your head hard and letting it out of the other ear.

Getting anything done is long winded. He and the other elected councilors told many stories of  frustration - working with the river authorities, the road authorities, the electric/gas/phone companies - they had tales of months and years spent trying to get simple things arranged. Ha! I thought. This is just like the English trying to get a house renovated - we know all about this -

The election isn't till March 2014. Time is short though - we need this May and June for reflection, for thinking about what our town needs. In July nothing happens. September is when the kids go back to school and the universities throw open their hallowed portals, causing chaos throughout France. In October we can start to plan.November its finished, December is no use, January and February we start the campaign. Take vitamins, we were told, there will be no time to have La Grippe.

It was all very interesting and good humoured. Probably a trap but I'm so nosy, can't resist getting involved.
Got ideas about the area?

Here's the idiot blackbird who has build a new nest by the back door, under the little balcony, thus getting maximum human traffic disruption. 

bee day

Fred and Shirley...

...and Andree and Ryan :) Great lunch yesterday, brilliant to be home - Ryans folks here are from Dakota and we were hoping they'd get decent weather, what is with this grey?? They are off to Mirepoix market this morning having exhausted ours yesterday 

Artistes a Suivre

 Got back from frolicing in Tuscany late Friday night, in time for the Artistes a Suivre; only managed the road from St Jean de Paracol through Rouvenac to Fa and Couiza. Strangers to this ritual may not know that the Artistes a Suivre is a series of routes through our locality going from one arts destination to the next. The artists submit their work to a jury for selection and there are evening arts events arranged by the phenomenal organisers, Victoria Milroy and Caty Pech and their team. Our Jim does the web site which explains all, see
http://www.artistesasuivre.org 
One new thing has emerged this year. Local artists who are not included in the official event just open their studios and hang out a sign saying Expo Off - these events were as well attended as the advertised ones and everyone seemed happy about it. Expect more next year. 
Our Kat has opened her gallery and studio and has hung many of our artist neighbours... pop in this morning during the market (Rue de Republic, between the place and the bakers) There are several other spaces in Esperaza that are doing alternative expos. Kat has the map.

Last nights' party was at the Hameau Taziels, small place between Rouvenac and St Jean de P, in a large tent. Les Quat'Cats were playing - thats Eddie, Kate, Stan and Mark - seen here at the sound check before they changed into their very fetching stage gear. They played Beatles and Stones stuff guaranteed to please and the tent erupted into a frenzy of leaping artists as soon as they started to play. It was extremely cold so a very good way to warm up and besides, who can resist the pull of Paint it Black?
Should you be looking for a rock'n'roll dance band for any reason, take a look at their site
www.quatcats.com   They come with the full quota of stars and are professional and house trained:)

 My photos got worse, sorry - it was the red wine and the dancing - but got Olle-Bendick spinning Mary, below....

 The Captain didnt come with me as he was playing host to the football fans of Esperaza - Ryans parents are staying here and we hoped they would enjoy the British ritual of the cup final. And lo! WIGAN WON. Seems I missed a very good game but you can't do everything.

Below is the man himself, in, erm, Sienna? Florence? Piza? Its all a bit of a blur... holidays, BTW, are not at all relaxing. We got  pickpocketed in Piza ( I caught them and got wallet back but an unpleasant experience for all concerned) We were unknown in an hotel in Sienna where I had booked and pre-paid for our stay - worked out OK, but not easily. All balanced out with some serious upsides mostly to do with painting, despite the queues for everything. 

Anyone at a loose end is welcome to come and see 300-odd snaps of renaissance art and architecture.