RIP Frank Dunnett. d.20 02 2026

Frank left Esperaza with his (then) wife Liz in 2019, deaf to our pleas to get them to stay- 

they were a delight to be around and we shared many a meal, many an interesting conversation, many a merry evening.

Frank had the sweetest manners; we all know that Esperaza is the safest place one can imagine but he would insist on walking me home after many a riotous party. He and Liz were most kind to my appalling dog Lily too, knowing I was a vegetarian they'd keep bones for her. She adored Frank!

I visited them in the UK... here they are in Bexhill-on-Sea, where they'd relocated. Frank was a member of the yacht club and of course maintained his golf obsessions. He was well-known in Esperaza as the man who bought his wife a golf club he wanted for christmas. She didn't play.

Their divorce was a sadness but after 40-something years - and diverging interests - it arrived. 

Liz rang me today with the news of his passing and instructed me to let his old friends know.

                                                   All the best to her and to Franks family. 

 

Sun set last night

-not only beautiful but there were bats! Perhaps this endless winter has finally moved on. 
 

Early market

 Thick mist!! It'll be cleared, no doubt, when I go back for round #2 Below is Ruben, preparing our lunch. He's simultaneously hosting breakfast for the other stall holders, they take it in turns - wine, bread, cheese, pate. That's why they're always so cheerful :)

Day off in Carcassonne

 Most of France appears to be underwater which we've been spared. 

Again today, wind and rain.... so glad yesterday was sunny and hot because yesterday I bunked off with Rushton to the the Gallery of Contemporary Art in Carcassonne. We had a comfortable and ungormande lunch in the Place Gambeta and then tottered off to the show.

Here are the international artists showing a bit of work apiece, all of them new to me.

The work looked mostly familiar though, developing familiar themes... nice nonetheless.

One installation alone had an impact on me. By Yoann Ximenes and called Mantras, the artist had taken significant speeches from these times (and before), taken a copy of their soundwave patterns and translated that into hanging pieces, most ingeniously (layered circles of polystyrene), surprisingly beautiful.

 In case we missed the point, the actual speeches were broadcast in the gallery. Happy time trying to match speech to vision which made me suspect they were not an actual copy -  I've always been a pedant. Still worked as a sculpture and idea IMHO.

Speeches by Mandela, Churchill, Obama, de Gaulle,  Allende, Guevarra and the like - sound bites rather than speeches actually but enough -

Entry free, staff sweet, beautiful building (ex-monastery and old bank) Well worth a visit.

CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY ART - Office de tourisme de Carcassonne

PS just had a visit from a neighbour who has a friend who is having a vide maison, since his ma has gone into the maison de retrait. Forgot my camera! If you are yours are looking for good solid French furniture or any number of dinner services, lamps and so forth, you could do worse that contact Tim who is managing it for the family. Message Timothy Price on Fb.

consolations of a wet sunday

Not a lot of stalls in the market, what with impending rain and a bit of wind - hardly a patch on what we had been led to expect - Rushton and I had arranged to meet and were joined by Louise and Pete, below, and then Norbert... Nel is in recovery from her last treatment but doing fine.

Got home, where Pete was entertaining Bob... and offering a blessing :)

Water level of river down from yesterday and though the sky is grey, urgh, all is manageable. 

 

The rising Aude

 

Despite the flood alerts, the mighty Aude is only teasing...

Rain is forecast for the next WEEK! 

But as international world-famous traveller Max Johnson has been heard to remark, there is no such thing as bad weather - only inappropriate clothing. Dig out those wellies.

Forgot to photograph Thursday night which was brill, starting at the café du Pont  and evolving to La Chapaire where some of us had chicken in chestnut cream sauce, fantastic! What will they think of next. 

Discovered that the new tea and plant shop in Rue Gambetta (opposite the temporally defunct tout-la) does amazing cake, BTW. Recommended.

Erm... that's it. Enjoy the quiet.

esperaza red alert

 Poor old Heron having a hard time this morning - fast flowing water and a fierce wind, which blew it backwards when s/he tried to cross the river.

Apart from that... no trains between Carcassonne and Limoux until the fallen trees have been cleared (I daresay they'll be running buses...)

We're still on the reddest of alerts, which means all the emergency services are paying attention.

-erm, the sun has just come out!

attention weather...

Us locals have all been sent a weather alert from the town hall.. stay in, close shutters, don't leave cars by the river or under trees. Stay prudent. 

Its only spotting with rain now and seems quite pleasant but no doubt the fan will be hit soon. 

Took this snap this morning, showing that the river had a way to go before it breaks the bank.

Apart from that, the plane trees opposite the cafe du Pont are having a radical trim.

 

Overnight guest

 Look who turned up - en route to Africa - yup, Zoe! Trailing hardly any chaos.

good luck with the trip, hope the plans work out OK

Birthday lunch

 

The Captains birthday, which would have been a lot better if he hadn't been crippled by painful gout. Poor chap; though he was largely off his head on painkillers.

Ziggy made the chocolate and banana vegan cake. Bananas, not chips, on top.

 The guests are waving at Regina who has not fully recovered her health after a sudden hospitalisation, so is absent - 

Given the circumstances, it went well :)

The topic of health was unavoidable but we moved speedily onto spooky stories of unexplained miracles. A new and cheery focus.

Yesterdays funerals

Leaving the graveyard at Rennes-le-Chateau after Russell Coopers burial yesterday- beautiful photo by Suzie, as is the one below which shows the spectacular view up there. Couldn't get there but many many people did. Russell carved spaces in all our lives.

And a little farewell to Bill Norris, with Tia his daughter, Saveria and Sebastien, Juno, Guy and me... and Bill on the table :) Which he'd have loved -

 

Get knitting

Ria is establishing a creative group -! Grab your needles and get down there 

Tricoter, crocheter, coudre ensemble c’est relaxant, amusant, convivial et enrichissant.

 Envie de nous rejoindre ?

 Tous les lundis après-midi de 14h à 16h30.

 24, Avenue de la gare Espéraza 

 Apportez simplement votre bonne humeur et votre matériel de loisirs créatifs.

Market thrills

Blown away by this little van library arriving at the market today - thoroughly agreeable librarian with but a handful of English books and they theological or generally esoteric. Bliss! He'll be doing the Sunday market too...

and here's Nightingale, hurrah, back in the creperie and as lovely as ever!

The Capt and I ate there last night and v good it was too - 

Here, below, is yesterdays sunrise. significant especially for the strange glowing thing on the bank (right side) Any ideas? Bob thinks plastic bag. He's wrong.

Tomorrow is Russell's funeral.

Also tomorrow Tia, daughter of Bill Norris, will be at the Pont from 17H so we can share memories of Bill over a glass of wine.

Bonne courage tous.

 

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 Friday 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.