Journal

29. 03. 09 Sunday Claire came by the house this morning and we went off to lac du Salgou for a hike. It was cool but sunny so we drove to Celles which is an abandoned village on the shores of the lake. We parked at Celles and then walked along the lake shore. Everything is bursting into Spring, the gorse is in flower as are the wild irises plus many other plants and shrubs whose names I do not know. It always surprises me the varieties of plants that survive in this harsh environment. We had lunch by the lake and then walked back to the village where we met a very friendly dog who lead us out of the village on another path up to the ridge and then back. A very invigorating day. Back here for tea after which Claire left for Montpellier.

Tuesday 10. 03. 09 Just back from a weekend in the Pays Basque chez les Deshabits. Took the train over on friday and was met at the station in Biarritz by Marie-Pierre and Olivier and went back to Michele’s for dinner. Saturday we went first to an exhibition of engravings by Michele Lasserre in Anglet before going off to Spain for lunch. Amazing lunch – 3 course with wine and coffee for 9.80 euros. After lunch had a walk around St Jean de Pied du Port before driving out to Eliane’s family farm which is in the heart of the Basque country. Quite a big farm with 300 sheep and I don’t know how many cows. Met all the family and of course had a glass and a slice of Basque cake. Drove back to Bayonne pleasantly tired!!. Sunday went for a walk with Marie-Pierre and Olivier along the beach at Le Chambre d’Amour before a magnificent lunch at Jean- Loup and Eliane’s house. Afterwards M-P and Olivier left for Bordeaux and Michele and I had a drive around Anglet before returning to her house. Watched a great Claude Chabrol film with Isabel Huppert on the TV in the evening. Caught the train from Biarritz at 9 but got held up at Toulouse as there was an accident at Agen. Train from Toulouse to Montpellier was 3 and a half hours late! Missed last bus to Clermont so stayed at Claire’s and took the bus back here this morning. A great weekend with my “French Family”.

Tuesday 27. 01. 09 I have been back just two weeks now and have settled back in. The weather has been mixed but we have had sunny days and we have not had snow! I have returned to my French conversation classes at the Accueil and also to my engraving classes. My freezer has gone kaput, which I have to replace and I have decided to buy a washing machine too but am still checking on the possibilities of second hand or a special promotion at the HyperU. I have been asked to be part of a manifestation at St Mathieu de Treviers in September along with 5 other artists. Not exactly sure what this entails but on verra. Today I have been to my engraving classes and have been struggling with a new technique, frustrating but I’m sure I will figure it out eventually. Next week I am going over to St Mathieu again for a week to do some studies of the Pic St Loup.

07. 11. 08 Friday I have been working on monprints of the river Hérault this week. I have been printing them in black and white  but have coloured one using coloured pencil which I think works quite well. I would be interested in any preferences on colour vs black and white.