Journal

Journal

World Cup, tents and candles

Posted on


Tuesday 13. 07. 10 It has been a busy week so far. Sunday morning I printed out a new monoprint of King’s Cross Station and sorted out some subjects for my show in London in November. In the evening we had dinner with Daisy’s penfriend’s family and Claire at La Bodega in Clermont. A lovely meal punctuated with a few groans from the other diners who were watching the World Cup final. Yesterday swimming in the lake in the morning and then on to Ikea and Decathlon in Montpellier in the afternoon. En route home we dropped in to Maryse Duponchel’s show in Grabels. Interesting show as always from Maryse. I especially liked her drawings on old wine filtres and tea bags. Today we were at the beach in the afternoon. We had taken our new beach tent. It erects in two seconds but we never did manage to figure out how to pack it away again much to the amusement of the other people on the beach. We eventually managed to cram it into the back seat of the car where it sprung to fill the available space. There is a video on the Decathlon website explaining how to take the tent down but it remains crouching in the car awaiting our attention. This evening we took part in the candlelit parade around Clermont to celebrate Bastille Day.  Ended up at Les Negociants for a pastis.

Journal

Bookclub BBQ

Posted on

Wednesday 07. 07. 10 Last night was the final meeting of the book club before the summer break. We met at Judith’s house to discuss Deaf Sentence by David Lodge and to have a potluck BBQ. Judi supplied some tasty Cumbrian sausages and Maddy cooked an exotic fruit kebab for dessert. Invited guests were George, Carole, Daisy and David. It was a lovely evening eased along with a steady flow of various rosés!

Journal

Refreshing

Posted on

Sunday 04. 07. 10 Another hot day. Daisy, Carole and I spent the morning at the gallery and then Jonathan and Gisèle went in to do the afternoon shift whilst we took advantage of Gisèle’s pool!

JournalShows

Vernissage à Baillargues

Posted on

Sunday 04. 07. 10 It has been a busy week. Carole and Daisy arrived in Montpellier on Tuesday after a good flight and connections. I met them at the airport where we picked up our Clio and drove home. Since Wednesday have been putting the final touches to the expo and getting things ready. Jonathan, David and I hung the show on Friday and then we had the vernissage last night. Pretty good turnout for a hot Saturday night. No sales yet but the show continues until Thursday so we remain hopeful.

JournalPainting

Back to stations

Posted on

Saturday 26. 06. 10 There is something about Café paintings – I have done three over the last couple of years and they have all sold quickly. The one I put up on my last blog entry sold within a couple of hours to my last house guests the Watsons. Thanks Chris and Chris. Since then I have been back at my monoprints of London stations. I had had a problem with the density of the black but I have changed the coating on the plate from detergent to Gum Arabic and this seems to have solved the problem. I have also added a bit of spot colour but I’m not totally convinced. Still getting stuff ready for the arrival of Carole and Daisy and the show in Baillarges next weekend.

JournalPaintingShows

Summer is here

Posted on

Wednesday 23. 6. 10 Summer seems to be here, finally. Have been busy in the studio this week and have finished Café à midi (see above). Also have been getting ready for the show in Baillarges. Jonathan and I have had several meeting and I think that we are now organized. I am looking forward to Carole and Daisy arriving next Tuesday so next month will be busy with the show and visitors. Hopefully the weather will remain sunny.

JournalPainting

Housesitting and vernissage

Posted on

Sunday 13. 06. 10 It has been a week of very unseasonable weather. I have been housesitting George and Laurene’s house and had had visions of spending the afternoons lounging by the pool. Sadly last Sunday was the only time when it wasn’t either raining or overcast, until yesterday. Last night was Claire’s vernissage in Baillarges so drove there with Gisèle and Jonathan. There was a good turn out and it gave Jonathan and I a good idea of what to expect when we have our show there from 3 – 10 July.

Journal

C&C in Languedoc 2

Posted on

Monday 07. 06. 10 The Watson’s left this morning for Montpellier. They had spent from last Tuesday until Friday at Le Lavandou, Arles and Aix en Provence and returned safely to Clermont Friday afternoon. We spent saturday morning at the Lodève market and then had a wonderful lunch at the café in Octon before going up to George and Laurene’s house for a BBQ and a swim. Sunday we walked around the Cirque de Moureze and had our farewell dinner at Le Terminus. À la prochaine!

Journal

BBQ

Posted on

Friday 04. 06. 10 Beautiful sunny day for the annual BBQ put on by the Accueil. Great food and ambiance complete with speeches and songs. Started at noon and I got home around 4.30. All the usual suspects were in attendance. Danièle, my patient French teacher, is on the far right.

JournalTravel

C&C in Languedoc 1

Posted on

31. 05. 10 Monday Chris and Chris flew into Montpellier  from Toronto Friday after lunch. We picked up the car and headed into Clermont. First stop Les Negociants after dumping bags chez moi. Saturday morning took in my old scooter to Sports Bike and then wandered around Pezenas market and town. Dinner at Le Terminus where we ran in to Gisèle and Jonathan. Sunday drove into Sete for sardines and enroute stopped at the flea market at Marseillan. On the way back drove out to Liausson to photograph site of the painting that Chris bought for Chris last Christmas. Back for stuffed chicken dinner chez moi. Today drove up the Gorges de l’Hérault and St Guilhem with lunch at the Pont du Diable. In the afternoon C&C explored Clermont and then we ate at Le Venizia. Managed to get in three visits to Les Negociants today!!!