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.