Lunch at the Mill

 Perfect summer lunch at Annie and Petes with Simone and Michel, Gus and Theo - newly awarded his BA, as can be seen in the photo where he displays his new-found sense of gravitas.

After lunch Alecia and I went cherry-picking at Andrees - turns out that Oswald is a fan.

Then the weather turned and it rained and blew and stormed.


This morning seems OK if a bit misty.

Girls night in

 Louise has revealed a talent for dressmaking and knitting and crochet-work and has started an occasional evening where we can all come and play. It involves wine and cake and chatter plus making stuff; wonderful!

Here are Lou and Kelly, Victoria and Alicia and our Kat getting measured.

Rainy and windy in Esperaza

Not a lot happening and the weather is rubbish. Kat and I took coffee this morning at Luc's where we happened on two Margarets, a  Barbara and a Mike doing the same  - and for our edification, a speed trap was established outside the cafe. Here our local law-enforcers wait to challenge miscreants.

Below is a photo from Merrie Englande, taken in Horsham whilst visiting my sweet sister Polly. Amazing what they get up to there.

 

Back in harness

Got back yesterday afternoon - lovely Jo was on the 'plane so I hitched a lift home with her and Roy. Which meant I could have a bath and meet Kat and Elaine for an evening drink at Lukes bar; from whence to Robins' St Gobain for dinner with Toby and Leo.

Soooooooooo good to  be back:)

Below Toby and Leo is a snap of the market -  all is well in this best of all possible worlds - which was followed by lunch at mine with Annie and Pete and Gus. Then to Andrees where I watched open-mouthed as the males amoungst us swarmed up her cherry trees and denuded them. Forgot camera, alas.

Casino show

Last nights vernissage at the Casino was good -lots of friends turned out (thanks all!) and the staff at the place were fabulous, really generous and helpful.







Here's me posing next to my self-portrait as a lion

Here a staff member is fabulously useful  :)

and below, the backs of some heads; Jenny, Elaine, Bieke, Kat, John -

 Bad girls, Jacqueline with Susie and Lou in the foreground and below, Jacqueline and Susie and Mike. Dear Susie hitched all the way from Bugarach. Hope she got home safely.

Hey, news about Deev, here with Isobelle and Jean-Francois - he and his wife have bought a chateau and grounds to work in and exhibit his sculpture, plus run B and B. See his site
www.chateau-de-lagravade.com
and of course www.vanorbeek.com for his work -
Its away from here, sadly, but I daresay we'll all be visiting

More news as Caroline introduces her fiance to all, seen here with Angus and heaven knows what Dermot  is telling Leo, below

Graham looking serious, Leo erm, I dunno - and here are Liz and Kate in the foreground, below Angus and Mary and Aileen-

Lots of people escaped my camera somehow, for instance the Scottish Daves turned up (half of them from a far-flung desert that I can't spell)   and Leos brother. Some of us ended up in TyRex and carried on for a while longer. I admit to being a wreck today.

Here Jean-Francois and friends look terribly French and here is Angie, who with Sammi is moving to
Esperaza tomorrow after their long sojourn in Rennes -les-Bains. So thrilled that they are becoming our neighbours!

Thanks all for coming and making such a memorable night for this old painter xxxx

Im off to Slovenia now. Back soon

calming breakfast

Voila! A much-welcomed visit from Maggie, only 2 days  alas - shes off tomorrow. Breakfast at Alains, the cafe in the square where we caught Olle-Bendick also breakfasting.
                       DONT'T FORGET TONIGHT; my vernissage at the Casino. All welcome!

Annie vernissage

 Christalle of the eponymous gallery before the show, bunking off -

 Here's Annie with one of her daughters - they are so grown up now I don't know which is which, Maud or Salome - and Christalle's brother, who's name I don't think I ever knew.


Nice evening, good turn out, congrats all round  :)