Thursday round-up

 Today is fresh after welcome rain in the night - its been a little too hot hereabouts. The whole town smells of lavender.

 Yesterday Kat and Margaret and I decamped to work en plein air and it was hard, despite we were in Couza at the little charming river Salz. Redeemed by lunch;

at the Pink Hotel in Rennes les Bains. Here's the view...

Pretty good day :) 

If like me you keep forgetting to deal with this, pay attention now -

Other news of the world - Allenna has made it back to Toronto, a 24 hr trip with delays and  baggage drama, all now OK: and here in nearby Limoux the cafe by the station has re-opened.... La Gare d'Eden, great name :)

Age cannot wither her

 Cleopatra was at the nightmarket and brought Ole-Bendik- many of our friends were there but frankly, Cleopatra was the most photogenic :) 

It was something of a chilly evening though most exciting to have life become normal. Ish. Today has been hot and according to the pundits the rest of the week will follow suit. 

Poor Allenna has left us for a series of flights back to Toronto. Bonne voyage to her.

Gladerest

 Lunch on the terrace of Pete 'n' Clares, here with Allenna and Regina  at the start of the feast - thereafter when the gentle rain started, inside the house - where (naturally) much conversation ensued. Here are Pete 'n' Nel talking to Margaret, an old mate of Pete D's who it is to be hoped will return to grace our lives again. And Pete D and Allennna below that -

Mille mercis to all, a most memorable and interesting and comforting Sunday afternoon...

Even gladder...

 ...to be home as I reconnect with friends - here is Andy with whom Allenna and I breakfasted together with Max, joy joy, and Allenna at the Auberge de Faby where we lunched (excellently) yesterday.

Allenna is here for a few more days; look out for someone who looks a bit like this without glasses. 

-And the Auberge have invited me to hang pictures there. So with the Cafe de Fa (who are extending my show by a month) and Wills Place in Rennes les Bains I continue to lather the region in art. 

Covid free

 After my extensive European tour, thought I'd better get checked before being released into the community... and here I am, covid free. Just worn out and knackered. My travelling days are behind me, it seems.

 Big thanks to all who helped in the trip(s); Kat, who got me to the train station in time to discover that the fires in the south had caused my train to be cancelled and that the replacements would throw out all the connections; to Allenna for getting food and hotels organised in Leuvern and to all at the Metaphorum conference; to friends in Brussels for succour; nice folk on the Eurostar, only delayed by half an hour; many friends in London; my sister Polly who rescued us from the UK train strike and got us to Heathrow, where we only had to sit on the tarmac for half-an-hour; and to Louise, blessings on her, for fetching us from Carcassonne airport to Esperaza. 

Between all the hideous travelling were various exhibitions and fond meetings - the sort that make the hassle worthwhile. But I am soooooooo glad to be home :)

SADIE Charlotte Alice FRIELINK

 How exciting is this!!

Toby, the happy grandma, sent this over and all our little group of old Brits are delighted and send love to the young parents... See you all soon, please.

I'm away from Esperaza until the end of next week having been doing some European wandering. Jolly tiring. Be glad to be back.

Honeymooners

Here's Liza-Jane (LJ) with Alex, her husband of a few days...  

....and where do you go on honeymoon except le creperie? Here is the overworked Kevin.

In a happy synchronicity, Bob and I have been married 21 years today. Let that be a warning to the young ones hahaha
 

Esperaza latest

Bad boys on these mean streets.... Ole-Bendik Madso and Ferren Macintyre a-ponderin'

and Jean-Luc; the damage to his new pergola thing at l'Apero is amazing. Volume of water in yesterdays storm bent metal. It was being repaired and strengthened speedily....

and our Kat! Over the covid and back among us, none the worse for the experience. Roland still positive but expected to recover shortly.
 

Rovers return

 Just back from a few remarkable days in the Alps to a beautiful Esperaza day. Went for a walk -

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when the storm broke I was near enough to the graveyard to take cover, assuming it would pass -

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dear Bob rang to find out where I was and came and got me. Funnily enough the 3 second dash to the car was the only time I got wet and I was soaked.  Handy space, should you find yourself in a similar position; there is a roof and a bench and metal gates to get behind; though they do quiver and shake with the thunder.

Today, all looks beautiful again.