Thursday 20. 08. 09 It has been a hot week here this week so have been swimming a lot in the sea (Sunday Marseillan), the river (Monday Leroque) and the lake (Yesterday Lac du Salagou). Have also been to see Good Morning England with Bill Nighy and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Amusing. We had Le Foire des Vins last Friday where all the local winegrowers show their wares. You buy a glass for 2 euros and then wander around the stalls tasting all the various varieties. Quite a pleasant way of spending a summer’s eve. Tuesday evening I went to see Les Femmes Savantes by Molière at the Theatre Verdure in Pezenas. I had read an English synopsis of the play so I understood the story but didn’t get much of the French which was in verse. The experience was rather like going to the opera. Today am back to the painting.
Month: August 2009
Birthday
Monday 10. 08. 09 Had a quiet birthday on thursday but a very pleasant one. I drove up the Hérault as far as Valleraugue photographing various potential sights for the river series of paintings and prints. It was a very hot day so was pleasant drivng through the Cevennes. I had a picnic lunch enroute and got back in time to see Whatever Works, a Woody Allen film at the local cinema. I had already celebrated on the Sunday with the ladies before they returned to Canada but on Saturday I was invited over to Giséle and Jonathan’s for dinner with a swim before. Very relaxed. Sunday, again with Giséle and Jonathan, we went to Lamalou les Bains to see an exhibition of paintings there by Elly de Groote. A very good show set in a new gallery which was previoulsy an old railway station. Elly is a fellow student in my French class at the Acceuil.
The Last Week
Monday 03. 08. 09 This morning I was up at 4.30 am getting organized to leave for Montpellier airport at 5. The ladies have had a really good last week. We have been to the beach several times and also the lake. We have had Giséle and Jonathan to lunch and also been over to their pool. We have had Aperos up the hill with Laurene and George and even a trip over to the Cevennes to Mt Aigoual with lunch at La Cravate. Last night we celebrated my 68th birthday early with a delicious dinner at Le Terminus. Today it has been quiet here but I am intending to get back to work tomorrow on my painting and printmaking.
