Phils post mortem birthday memorial event

 Had Phil been spared, he'd have been 67 yesterday. We ate at his favourite restro, le chaplaire, and celebrated him.

Peter Dunn and Margaret

John and Jamsie

Siggi and Margaret

Also there; Bob and Yuri, rubbish photos. Fine meal, as ever... very good indeed. For a weird occasion, sorrowful and joyful at the same time, it was good.

Kittens for Europe

 Voting process beginning here ... unusual to find a kitten standing. All good in Esperaza, its chilly and grey but pleasant. We tick along.

Sylvan home

 Found lots of art in Montpelier - especially heaps of Courbets, see above for a sample. He did spend some time in the Languedoc, of course... magic. 

Lovely to be back in Esperaza though. Prefer the rolling mountainsides and the green forests to foreign parts.

Interesting info: if you want furniture and general stuff to get out of your life forever, go and register it with the town all before noon on May 31st. They'll tell you when Le Monstre will collect.

local news.

The doves outside the Pont café, waiting for the breakfasting Brits to feed them... and the river, looking much healthier than of late. Weather struggling to decide whether to stay or recommence chucking it down.

 Yesterday, Msr Bricolage in Limoux was closed because of flooding! Oh la.

I'm outta here for a few days in Montpellier, in search of art. Will report back.

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