Kittens for Europe

 Voting process beginning here ... unusual to find a kitten standing. All good in Esperaza, its chilly and grey but pleasant. We tick along.

Sylvan home

 Found lots of art in Montpelier - especially heaps of Courbets, see above for a sample. He did spend some time in the Languedoc, of course... magic. 

Lovely to be back in Esperaza though. Prefer the rolling mountainsides and the green forests to foreign parts.

Interesting info: if you want furniture and general stuff to get out of your life forever, go and register it with the town all before noon on May 31st. They'll tell you when Le Monstre will collect.

local news.

The doves outside the Pont café, waiting for the breakfasting Brits to feed them... and the river, looking much healthier than of late. Weather struggling to decide whether to stay or recommence chucking it down.

 Yesterday, Msr Bricolage in Limoux was closed because of flooding! Oh la.

I'm outta here for a few days in Montpellier, in search of art. Will report back.

Abounding festivals

Julie and Rupert Soskin yesterday... they gave dinner to me and Jamsie and we enjoyed it, their company and their environs. Feel as if I'd had a weeks rest. Lovely people. 

(No blood was spilt in the making of this photo.)

And today was the first vide grenier of the season. 

As is fitting, it was packed and full of useless nonsense and very hot - further enriched by the young contributors to the Festival des Hermits. 

Over the years  we have heard many stories claiming historical reasons for the existence of this festival, none of which anyone has any confidence in. 

Can hear the drummers drumming and the tubas booming as I write; a challenge to the weather which is now threatening big storms.

 

Remembering Phil....

Siggys talented daughter made a video which was played at Phils funeral - here it is, remade for those who couldn't make it -

https://youtu.be/NFI14T_IdoA
 

Goodbye Phil

 Everyone has gone to their several homes -

great funeral! 

Ian has sent this link as a piece of music that Phil loved and it seems a good memory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hpo1GyyiTcU

Many thanks to all who attended, in some cases making long journeys at short notice. And to all those who came back here afterwards. The family were so thrilled to see how Phil had rooted himself in Esperaza and how many friends he had made. We all have Phil stories....

Bit of a limbo now. Di is leaving for the UK today so yesterday we hove to the Pont for sustenance...

and here's Erika in her lovely green frock, telling us off for not eating all our vegetables.

Anyone interested in Life after Death?? As it happens, Marcus Williamson, James Macdonald and petite moi had made a webinar for Julie at Insight and Intuition. I haven't played it yet but I was there and Marcus and Jamsie were great!! There is an into that says you must subscribe but this is a meaningless formality, I'm told - just click it, no charges will be made. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQwQVO8aimA

Closing the shows

 so the Artistes a rencontrer comes to an end, cheerily packing away the work till the next expo...

and now the tribes are massing for Phils funeral. We assembled at the creperie last night and swopped Phil-stories...

John (brother) Charlie (great niece) Richard (nephew)

and gorgeous Sharon, friend and workmate of Phil - there were other Londoners there, I was slow off the mark with the camera. People Phil has told tales about now have faces!

The funeral will be held at 3.30 at Trebes, plus a glass of something afterwards at ours in Dr D. 

All friends of Phils are welcome.

 

arts weekend

 Beautiful moon over Esperaza last night - 

and the afternoons vernissage was fun. Performances and readings, took me back to the old Arts Lab days :)  Here's Veronique, who read her poetry - 

Claudine, examining Valentins photographs of Madagascar -

Arthur, who attended to the musicians sound systems -

A lot else went on, including Carozes performance painting and the Mayors visit. Kept getting interrupted by people wanting to talk about art -!-  so photos erratic.

Open today and tomorrow. Do drop in. And don't forget to visit the many Artistes a Suivre venues, see their site if you don't have a map...

Goodbye from the boys at the bar

John sent this over last night. Phils place at the bar was honoured by being left empty and a full glass left for him. Many toasts were drunk. 

He won't be forgotten swiftly!

In the meantime.... the mayor is opening the art expo at the MJC at 4.00. Please come if you can. 
 

life after a death

 Rather shockingly, life goes on... but please, if you've a mind to, join us at Phils funeral on Monday 13th and come to our house afterwards.

In the meantime, hanging the exhibition which opens any minute at the MJC. Good to have the distraction, really.

Opening party at 4.00 on Thursday - please come -

and I've posted this one because you may have seen it on the old bridge and not been able to read what it says as you zoom past.

Phil Harris RIP

Siggy rang in the early hours this morning to tell us of Phils death.

He died a natural and speedy death, totally unexpectedly; conversely, because he'd been hospitalized for a routine op which he DID think would kill him, he was personally quite  prepared. 

Not so the rest of the family, who are shattered. 

Siggies children are on their way from various points in Europe, which will be some comfort.

Phil after op on carotid in neck earlier this year - 

Phil moved in with us just before the Brexit fiasco,  recognising that he no longer felt at home in Blighty. Wanting to be in Europe, he got here just before the clanging of the portcullis, settling down rapidly. 

In fact, it was a matter of weeks before he met and fell in love with Siggy. He left us and moved in with her. Then he bought a house and they were Paxed (pacte civil de solidarite, in France an unfanciful form of marriage.)

At least he got a few years of a happy life with her. At 66 he could have expected more, but fate had other notions. We will miss him.

News of funeral and so forth in the fullness. 

 

LATER: Funeral on Monday 13th at Trebes, 15.30: there is a book of condolences for Siggy outside the funeral place in Rue Victor Hugo.

Kayes birthday party

Fantastic evening... music, dancing, cake, conversation and a bathroom to die for!!

Heavy censorship has been in place. I've kept the copies though, just in case.

 

Working away

Here's Charlotte, glowing on her birthday which is suitably on May 1st., workers day! Here you give co- workers lily-of-the-valley, or Muget in French. Very good evening at Toutla to celebrate.