RIP Russell Cooper

 Rachel, Russells daughter, has announced that her father has died. Lifted this photo of him from her Fb page - obviously captivated by his grandchild. Many condolences to Pat, his wife, and all the family.

He and Pat turned up at my studio in 2003, on the occasion of the first Chemin des Artists (the precursor of Artists a Suivre) I thought he was French and he said he often forgot what nationality he was. 

He was long established here then, a carpenter by training and living in commune at Lavaldieu. Pat and he gradually took over the place, farming, breeding horses - his parents Jill and Tony turned up in Esperaza in the fullness, followed by his sister Sian. Quite a dynasty, which have all preceded him; he'll find a noisy welcome in heaven :) 

There'll be a send off starting at Lavaldieu on Thursday at 10.00. and thereafter at the cemetery at Rennes-le-chateau. Rachel says to be aware that parking will be a problem and to think of car sharing, and to bring a bottle and some food to share. If you would like to speak during the event, please contact Rachel -

Russells impact on the area was huge and his legacy will outlive us all. I'm strangely lost for words when I think of his life and times... hugs all round.

Kat and the fish

Our Kats back - been doing culture in London with Roland for the last week. Here she is in the market on Sunday, a sunny and sociable day for many of us  :)

Weather clearly getting better - here are the fish that live in Annie and Petes old bath, rising to eat for the first time in months.

 

Bill Norris RIP d. 26 Jan 2026

It's cheeky of me to write an obit for Bill since I barely knew him - but knowing him ( a little) its not altogether inappropriate...

Everyone who did know him talks of him with great affection and it would be difficult not to, his evident qualities shining out. The word Gentleman gets bandied about, terribly polite with a most mellifluous voice; even when he'd forgotten who you were and what you were doing there he was charming. He felt like an old friend as soon as you met.

I got into contact with him late in life when his daughter asked me to drop by and play chess with him. Always on the look out for a game, it is possible to pop into the Maison de retrait where he was ensconced at any time after 11.00, avoiding meal times.  It became a quiet retreat for me, a shelter from the hurly burly :)

Here's a bit of online biography :

William (Bill) Norris spent more than ten years working for various newspapers in England and Africa before his appointment as Parliamentary Correspondent to the prestigious Times of London. Afterward, as the Africa Correspondent for The Times, he covered a wide range of political beats in Biafra, Nigeria, Angola, the Congo, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. He went on to counsel young journalists as the Associate Director of the PressWise Trust (a British media ethics charity) and present at colleges and conferences for many years, publishing numerous works of fiction and nonfiction inspired by his investigative journalism. 

Many things Bill spoke of stick in the memory. His favourite place was Nairobi. When asked why, he said it was for the lions walking in the streets. He wrote many books and told me the worse thing was that people lied, all the time. Deceit hard wired. His job was to untangle lies.   

Bill was quite content in the retreat home, as long as he had lots to read he was happy; I rarely turned up there without a book or two having myself a terror of nothing to read. We would chat about books, in the garden when the weather was decent, where he would expand visibly in the open space - 

He seemed to have forgotten his French as he'd aged - he forgot a deal of stuff - but his memories of the distant past were lively. His chess was erratic! Sometimes he's throw a game, probably bored by me, and sometimes we'd have a good fight. 

Deeply saddened by his death and when I examine that feeling I think its more than Bill that's died, its a whole culture that's gone with him. It's become a trope to say we'll never see his like again, but... but who knows, perhaps we'll meet again.

 PS Big thanks to Saveria for letting me use the photo of Bill -

Just in case you had church-going plans...

 

Sunday lunch in the heavens

It was a two Claire lunch... 

featuring Rushtons new jumper

Peter and Claire -the other Claire - given a surfeit of wild boar, invited us to lunch to help eat it. There was apple sauce and ratatouille and roast potatoes and fennel and green beans. It was just the job, sharing with great mates.

The weather was lovely and the views from La Serpent were as ever spectacular. Until someone noticed,  just after lunch, that the light had changed and a white wall was streaming up the valley. Never seen the approach of a rainstorm before... picture fails to do justice
 

Thanks all. In these scary times we have so very much to be grateful for. Be safe, y'all -

possibly too much detail on a Thursday nights outing

 Peter Dunn looking great! Had a meal with him and Clare last night at Le Chapaire, which made me consider astrology and the like. Chiefly, Bobs bad luck - which is legendary. 

...not only is he ill, he is currently iller with an inability to walk. 

In days gone by our date night was a Wednesday when we'd join our friends at Tout-la Apero; since Jean-Luc has bunked off with a major eye op that has been closed (get well and SOON, J-L) The team devolved to the newly cleaned Pont restaurant and decided to settle there. But on a Thursday, since they are closed Wednesday.

Alors, last night the captain grimly limped off. Pete was practicing with the band and Clare and I were accompanying himself. It wasn't raining :) and it was most impressive that Bob was making the effort.

Round the corner, Norbert pulled up next to us with the news that the Pont was inexplicably closed. Heigh-ho for Lucs (as was). Norbert loaded the unambulatory and Clare and I trotted along the road.

Getting to Luc's, realised this was a mistake. Not a seat in the place and a deal of noise. I had had the foresight to book a table at Le Chapaire so the team drove/walked there, so early that we disturbed the staff at their meal. All grateful to be able to sit down and order and get a drink...

...our meals arrived. Erika, a very very experienced waitress, lost her grip. Bobs meal was hurled into his lap and thence to the floor.

Erika poured salt onto his lap which would apparently remove the stains. And of course we all ate our meals while Bob watched and awaited and reflected on the bad star he was born under. He did get to eat eventually, of course -

On our way home bumped into happy friends who'd stuck with Lucs place and had no problems - and then I remembered that that very night was the first of Nightingales tenure at the creperie! When himself can walk again, will be there -

Bored yet?

 ...you get the picture! Not unpleasant, just drizzly. River not notably up. Which reminds me, yesterday I videoed the heron eating a large fish, very pleased with myself.  This site wont accept it as its too gorgeous, or something. It's on my Fb page if you want to check [Nilla Beer].

Other news; the church will be closed to the public from 24th to 31st of this month while the woodwork is treated for beasties. Ever wondered why this is rare in blighty? The answer is simple; incense.