Kat's birthday

It's Kats birthday, still v young obvs...  and a girls night out at l'apero which Roland joined in. Nel, Clair, Yvonne, Gillie, Rose and Louise were in attendance. A not-too-rowdy party. Well, quite rowdy. Before the conversation turned, well, rowdy, we spent some time wondering if it was possible to paint a chip.

 Basis of a competition, best chip painter in Esperaza? 

Back in Esperaza....

 ... the violets are out! That's about it, so far - when I find out anything else that has happened in the last week or so, will report.

In the meantime, handy hint: photograph all your cards and ID docs because when your wallet is stolen in Venice you can get a police crime number and show the stuff to the customs when you try to get back into France without your carte de sejour. (I travelled with the Rushtons which is how I know this) Also travelled with other friends from Esperaza, it was a very jolly ride.

For those who have expressed concern for my nephew Paddy, it is with great joy that I write that I was there, in the neurological rehabilitation hospital in York, when he took his first steps! He was paralysed with GBS late November and has made a recovery that seems miraculous. 

I got the full story. His friends found him and got him to A and E in the nick of time, with one eye and a bit of the mouth functioning. He's 22; no age to die. Whapped onto the ventilator in Glasgow ( where he is a student at the Uni), moved by 'plane to hometown York ICU, hence to rehab. A long and terrifying nightmare- 

Pads has been surrounded by love and care for all those desperate days. The family are amazing and his many friends ditto. As is Pads; humour and strength and courage shone out of the boy throughout..

Many many thanks for all your prayers and good wishes- you know who you are xxx 

captains birthday

 ...
started in the Pont, of course, where we bumped into Barbara and Katherine. Nice. Then lunch at the auberge demi-sel, Quillan -

 with Clare and John Rushton, 

and very good too. Great company of course but the nosh was brill as well. Recommended.

Tea time occurred....

because Louise baked a vegan chocolate cake - yummy and very beautiful!

Pete and Clare have just returned from  a long absence so wonderful to see them; Dougie and Regina have been hors d'combat for a while, so ditto - plus Cen and Norbert, often spotted and always welcome -   altogether a fab birthday for the old boy.

I'm off outta here to see my family in the UK, back in a fortnight. Be good :)

Pathway

The pathway over the river is finished but still closed off -  probably awaiting fences - 

and here is Katherine, being eaten by a parrot while we chat about houses. She is househunting here, anyone got the right place to sell? Needs studio, paint store, garage and garden.

This is Bobs birthday!! Happy day to him xxx.

 

Esperaza night and day

 Rose sent this, as made by her son Gary Reynolds - it shows our little village in all its glory! With some music to die for. Lovely. Thanks to Rose and Gary and the musician , probably Jose Gonzalez. Enjoy.

 https://youtu.be/Z6Rrnzz5j4o

arts and market

 Fab market, bright sunshine, crowds of folk - took this as it was closing for lunch.

Thence to a meeting of artists for the OFF, the local response to the Artists a Suivre. 

The AaS is a wonderful organisation which exhibits 50 artists drawn from a large submission, generally from elsewhere. Local artists therefore piggy-back by opening their studios and exhibiting their work wherever they can at the same time (in May)

They are hoping to get together in a large space. Any ideas? If you'd like to contribute or join in, pop into the studio opposite the Tibetan takeaway - pref armed with 2 A4 sheets, CV and snaps of work. Strength in Unity :)

Sweet Feb

 Strange sky, a couple of days ago... keep forgetting to photograph events but they are small and quiet so fol de rol. Tobys gone, back in March; Max and Andi here in a couple of weeks; Steve and Leslie are here; as are most of the regulars.