Casino show

Last nights vernissage at the Casino was good -lots of friends turned out (thanks all!) and the staff at the place were fabulous, really generous and helpful.







Here's me posing next to my self-portrait as a lion

Here a staff member is fabulously useful  :)

and below, the backs of some heads; Jenny, Elaine, Bieke, Kat, John -

 Bad girls, Jacqueline with Susie and Lou in the foreground and below, Jacqueline and Susie and Mike. Dear Susie hitched all the way from Bugarach. Hope she got home safely.

Hey, news about Deev, here with Isobelle and Jean-Francois - he and his wife have bought a chateau and grounds to work in and exhibit his sculpture, plus run B and B. See his site
www.chateau-de-lagravade.com
and of course www.vanorbeek.com for his work -
Its away from here, sadly, but I daresay we'll all be visiting

More news as Caroline introduces her fiance to all, seen here with Angus and heaven knows what Dermot  is telling Leo, below

Graham looking serious, Leo erm, I dunno - and here are Liz and Kate in the foreground, below Angus and Mary and Aileen-

Lots of people escaped my camera somehow, for instance the Scottish Daves turned up (half of them from a far-flung desert that I can't spell)   and Leos brother. Some of us ended up in TyRex and carried on for a while longer. I admit to being a wreck today.

Here Jean-Francois and friends look terribly French and here is Angie, who with Sammi is moving to
Esperaza tomorrow after their long sojourn in Rennes -les-Bains. So thrilled that they are becoming our neighbours!

Thanks all for coming and making such a memorable night for this old painter xxxx

Im off to Slovenia now. Back soon

calming breakfast

Voila! A much-welcomed visit from Maggie, only 2 days  alas - shes off tomorrow. Breakfast at Alains, the cafe in the square where we caught Olle-Bendick also breakfasting.
                       DONT'T FORGET TONIGHT; my vernissage at the Casino. All welcome!

Annie vernissage

 Christalle of the eponymous gallery before the show, bunking off -

 Here's Annie with one of her daughters - they are so grown up now I don't know which is which, Maud or Salome - and Christalle's brother, who's name I don't think I ever knew.


Nice evening, good turn out, congrats all round  :)

Baleful bunny

 

Here is the rabbit formerly known as Princess Alice Tete de Lion, now plain old Alex. 

Obviously not forgiven us for the alterations to his/her sexuality. 

Lots of departures going on but by the weekend other friends are arriving and the weather is glorious -

my old neighbours have bought wild asparagus, thank you! - so lunch will be delicious chez nilz 

                                                                                                         *Diary dates;

Thursday night is Annie Poulans vernissage in Christals gallery, Saturday night is mine in the Casino at Alet and on May 11th, 14th and 16th Jenny is doing her famous wild orchid walks - 10 - 4 with a botanist and a picnic-  30 euros per person, email her on jenny.corrick@free.fr
                                                                                                         

Easter day

 Esperaza was graced by a visit from Les Hermits - young people who wear white make-up and blacken one eye, following a brass band or two round the cafes, extracting money from anyone who can't get away to feed their drinking. This festival has its roots in antiquity.

We were on a different mission today; celebrating the second year of the arrival of Ryan and Alicia in our lives. Decided to head for Gayda where the view of the mountains is amazing. Unless its pouring with rain:)

 Nonetheless, the food is fantastic. Our first visit there and we were impressed - lobster croquettes with oyster and stuff, lamb with Egyptian garlic and stuff, chocolate and rhubarb and strawberries and the others had foie gras in vanilla and chocolate and brandy and oh dear, its exhausting. Time for a lie down. Life is good and Ryan and Alicia have made it much much better. Thanks guys xxx

emergency apero

Whilst sending my invitations to the exhibition of my paintings next Saturday, (26th April, Casino, Alet les Bains, 6.00-7.30, buffet and Blanquette, please come) I realised that many of our friends are going away at least till June; a quick round up was called for to say goodbye -










 and so, farewell to Bob (leaves Monday), Gert (Tuesday), Gus (dunno) Leo (ditto) Stuart (any min) Pete (ditto) Andrea, Annie and Max (mostly Tuesday) Toby (also I think Tuesday) Olle-Bendick is remaining. Someone has to look after things. >Sniff<

cabinet changes

Bobs brother John has posted a you tube video of the team moving a cabinet.  erm, thats it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoMA4VTNKZo

exciting times

 The day dawned well with coffee at le cafe du Pont - here are Gert and Elizabet, staying at their Esperaza home for a few more days before returning to Denmark, with Annie Poulan (potter of these parts )

Thence to meet with our new leader Georges Reverte. Georges called the artists of Esperaza together to consider a project which turned out to be the colonization of the old Presbytery; a huge space full of delights which every artist in town immediately started to lust after.

 You have to hand it to him. We met at the town hall and he asked us to follow him. Ever heard the phrase, herding cats? Olle-Bendick wandered off to Chez Charlie. I met Stuart. Various others floated off. Finally we all got to the same space without the use of cattle prods.

 Here George outlines a few possibilities whilst the artists scamper about the large space, the courtyard, the outlying studios, generally beaming with delight. When we thanked him, he said we don't want you to leave town - wow, is that ever a first:)

Such a buzz.
After that I had my first singing lesson. Quelle experience! I have muscles I didn't know I had in my back aching, I have new muscles in my face, I have a song in my heart. Amazing.

sightseeing in Limoux

To Limoux with Bob's brother John and nephew Richard plus Alicia... hung out in various cafes, restaurants, churches and the Abbey at St Hilaire. The sun shone hotly and it was lovely to be idle and pleased with everything :)

 

The evening was Cous cous with the tribe - behold! Pete, Annie, Gus! Laughter was frequent and loud. Often unseemly.

Toques et Clochers 2014

 

The team! We went early to the Toques et Clochers - bus from Sieur d'Arques in Limoux to the dear little village of Tourreilles - but still managed to miss the main procession. It didn't mattter.

Usual high level of organisation, no cars, all streets surrounding the village closed, lots of art and white wines and delicious food.

This years theme was aliens. There were lots.

There was a little ceremony to commemorate an 11 year old drummer killed in the Battle of the Aude, way back when. The band played the Marseillaise.
The weather got better and better and crowds rolled in so we went home for a kip, no stamina... Stuart, Toby, Leo, their friends, Max, Andrea and theirs will be milling about. Annie and Pete are here too - but not at the Toc et Sloshers, as they call it.  Fireworks programmed for 10.30 tonight so we will be a small party for dinner. Possibly  even a sober one.