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.

 

...it raineth every day

Cats waiting for the rain to stop, above the Pont; news from the bakers (its May 1st tomorrow, 8a8 open in morning, ditto boulangerie but after that it'll be quiet) 

O-B and Cleo dropped in, being cool and interesting. That's it, I think. All that's fit to print anyway.

Hat factory: living history

 497 women and 317 children were imprisoned at the Montazels-Couiza concentration camp on the 8th February 1939.

The camp was closed on the 8th May 1940.
Spanish refugees in France were sent to build roads in the Aude region, to work in the gold mine at Salsignes, north of Carcassonne, or to Nazi extermination camps.

I knew nothing of this until after last nights' play, On the Cut, when we had a brief talk on the subject. Sitting in the same space where these poor women had been imprisoned, with less care than we give to dogs, was harrowing. 

The play was a challenge too, dealing with class issues, racism, the poverty of the workers in wartime. It was set on the canals in England and masqueraded as a radio play being performed in front of us - so two women sat in front of microphones with scripts while the BBC chappie read out what was happening and others did sounds off.

It was so well done!! AND it was funny. Beautifully written and produced and presented.

Couple of hundred Brits there and a token scattering of French friends... many congratulations to all involved, especially of course animateurs and producers James and Alex (who are become the major cultural force in Esperaza.)

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Norbert and Louise and I came out hungry and saw there was a tiny space in La Chapaire. There were many friends there. Sally! Who was beginning her birthday celebrations in preparation for today

Like this picture of Guillame photographing some of the fun :) Better than any of mine. 

Goings. And squirrels.

 Can't believe that Gert and Elsebeth are off again - how the last two months have flown! They gave me and Kat a farewell apero last night and will be back in September. 

Safe journey dear ones xxx

We had some decent weather, briefly, this morning. Saw a red squirrel by the river down by our garden. Nice neighbour said there are three there which is good to know - not seen even one for years.

yesterday...

 ...lunch wasn't all that festive on account of Petes' family having suffered a major loss: but one must eat, so Pete and Di and Jasmine and l went to the Pont where pintard (guinea fowl)  was the plat du jour, much to everyones approval.

(The person sitting behind Jasmime was a stranger so she is here ineptly rubbed out, hence odd object in background)

All sorry to have cancelled Petes birthday party but it would have been no fun - another time, he says.

Weather here dismal. Says <11 degrees and feels like 7>  on my app, but having just been out I'd say it feels more like 4.

Despite this; a baby nuthatch appeared this morning!! Chubby and fluffy and ravenous. Feathers in tufts. Sensationally lovely.

I bear bad news from Jean-Luc though. An a Vendre sign has appeared above his door - and its true, he will leave us when the building is sold. There are enquiries already but he will go at the end of the year anyway. Too expensive, he says - so Tout l'apero will no longer be a feature for us foreigners and indeed, for the many French folk who have espoused it. Will try and get there tonight, see if we can make him change his mind. 

Esperaza dawn

Dramatic dawn... not sure what it portends. Will wait and see...

and here's yesterdays demo in the market, all five protestors.  Attracted a large police presence but as far as I know there were no Israelis claiming god-knows-what against them. 

Impressed that the young people are bearing witness.

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Small and select and jolly soiree last night, largely fuelled - literally and figuratively - by Margaret and Wee Ann, who brought most of the food. And Jamsie is back!!

 

testing

 Here we are again, testing the bistro des amis (think that is what its called nowadays) in Rennes le Chateau - David Baileys place, anyway. Excellent. Lunch enjoyed by all :) Ann wanting to get home for a rest.

Attention party goers; those many people who were going to Peter Dunns birthday party tomorrow will probably know by now  -  its been cancelled. Very sad news for the family, who have all decamped to the UK to be together at a tragic time.

Love, strength, courage to them.

Busy town

Look who turned up this morning! Joy and delight; Peter and Annie, as I live and breathe. Though Annie is off tomorrow and Pete will only be here a couple more days (and with Gus, apparently. )

Yesterdays arrival was Toby, at last - here for 5 weeks, awaiting the appearance of the rest of the family.  Hoping to spend time with her soon xxxx                       

 

A departure... and Jean-Luc is away so Tout l'apero closed. Sigh.

speed gossip

Wee Ann said we look as if we are waiting for our carers to collect us.

Great soiree at the ex-creperie, now le marin d'eau douce but generally known as Kevins. 

*Tobys flight was cancelled yesterday - weather stuff - but we expect her today. 

*Took tea with Karin and Jem at their new gaff in Couiza on Monday - no photos but lovely place and they are pleased and happy. Working hard to create an on site gite, of which more anon.

Grey and cold. Out of the frying pan, into the fridge. Bah.

 

Hot and heady with the Vox Vallis

 I'd thought since so many friends were actually in the choir, there would be lots of seating for those of use who are not - but the MJC was packed -

extra seating was called for but there were still people standing. I got there early but if dear Claudine hadn't saved me a seat, I'd have been hanging from the roof :)

Vox Vallis are very good and the fact they can pull crowds is evidence.... see www.voxvallis.com 

Congratulations to all involved! Alex and James for the organisation and the choir for the rest. Keep up the good work everyone.

Bad planning on my part meant I had to skip the apero afterwards. The parrots had to be exercised before nightfall and generally cleaned and fed - being market day I hadn't done them at their normal time. Like I say, bad planning...

Keep cool out there. Forecast says temps are dropping soon.