family fest

 John, Bobs brother, and his partner Jean arrived yesterday with Maddie, Jeans grandchild - so with Ziggy (the missing brother Phils widow) we tipped off to Couiza in the rain - had an excellent light show :) and far too much food. 

todays weather is keeping us guessing. Sunshine at the moment. 

bye bye for the moment

Angela Espinosa and Jon Walker heading to other places, alas...

and here's Garrick last night - he too has left us this morning. 

 We all meet again in September at the Metaphorum conference in Manchester UK.  We were entertained by many things last night, but this song may have won the round -

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BDXKO7-KC0&list=RD4BDXKO7-KC0&start_radio=1Stafford Beer

Later, in the bar...

People who are into Cybernetics will recognise that the real work of thinking happens when a group of people are relaxing together, hence the after-conference meetings in the bar - and last night, our visiting cyberneticians made the point well! 

Garrick Filewood, Angela Espinosa and John Walker have been whirlwinding round Europe filming a movie about my papa Stafford, who was born 100 years ago this year. They are staying here for a few days.

Our Gracie is already staying here and is not fazed by cybernetics; Fanny and Dom are Montazel inhabitants and already known within the group.

Gorgeous night!! Much joy in discovering connections -
  we'll be doing something very similar tonight, probably.

Charlottes birthday

Billy and Jo with the birthday babe

 

Rose and Ole-Bendik in the background 

Gordon, failing to evade camera

Clare, Atmo, Billy and Jo

Such a lovely evening. Many old friends happily chewing the cud together, or rather eating Charlottes delicious nibbles. She made guacamole in tiny cones, set in palettes; little burgers, veggy and animal; polenta fried with wild mushrooms; all washdown with blanquette from Ole-Bendik (thanks to Norbert!) And thanks to the PMU people who made us welcome -

Love this time of year. House martins and sand martins, swallows and swifts are sweeping the sky unless the buzzard family floats over when they all go quiet and hide. The river is still a bit fast for the regular birds, no herons, no kingfishers and no sign of the otter I saw a month back - the lizards and geckos are posing in  the sun - and town is quiet, hardly any traffic. Guessing that the May Day holiday has meant people going off for the long weekend. Enjoy!!

Love Fest

 

Teresa and Didier married yesterday - with an audience drawn from across the world - 

Christian

Teresa talking about marriage -

We were at the Domaine de Castillou, in the hills above Luc-sur-Aude. All this week the sun has shone. Just before the marriage party the rain started, which is regarded as luck in France - and at some point there was a rainbow.

Met some smashing people from Minnesota, much talk of politics and war.: fascinating. And many local mates of the artist variety, much gossip :)

This from the ceremony;

To love is to risk not being loved in return.

To trust is to risk being broken.

But not to love or trust is to be already dead inside.

 

Sunday afternoon

 The mornings can be a little grey but they blossom... well, so far. None
of us know what's in store.

John playing an invisible clavichord

Lizzie and I had lunch (from Ruben) yesterday and Rushton popped in, followed by some entertaining Australians.  Lovely afternoon :)

Missed the vide grenier (everyone said it was merde, dealers and crottes), missed the harp festival, caught the market - life is good.

Frantically burying the bodies now, Bob due back tomorrow.

seven years

Maryann, Terry and Kaye

Maryanne and Kay were celebrating a seventh anniversary yesterday and invited the tribe to share their joy - fizz and feasting - much hilarity!

Norbert and Maryanne

Louise and Mike

Yvonne, Rose; Tim at the other end of the table!

Maryann, Terry, Kaye and Bev

Missed out posting many more photos of many of the other guests for various politick reasons. 

Our hosts were amazing, catering to the cantankerous among us and constantly making sure all were fed and watered... and that the conversation never faltered (as if!) Here's joy to their next seven years.