Wednesday 26. 01. 22 I moved into an apartment in this house on the corner of Amelia & Sackville in Cabbagetown when I came back from France. The backyard was a pool with a sound studio opposite so you could listen to music while you swam!
Monday 24. 01. 22 In the fall of 1989 I sold Anderson and decided to go and live in France. I spent the first 2 months at a French school in Villefranche sur Mer, came home for Christmas, went back to France, stayed with Marie-Pierre and bought a 2CV. I named my 2CV Modestine after R. L. Stevenson’s donkey! Traveled around France, met the painter Peter Spens and started painting again. Met Jean Mangenot, Peter’s friend and neighbour who lent me his cabanon to live in. It was a bit primitive, one room on ground level and one above. No water and no toilet. In the summer I bathed in the Ouveze, in the winter I used Peter’s shower. Dug a new toilet every two weeks. Painted every day.
KEY: • Cabanon, • Peter Spens
Thursday 20. 01. 22 We moved here after Maxwell and stayed until 1989. Carole and I divorced in 1984 but I stayed on with Jason and Julia.
Wednesday 19. 01. 22 This is our first house, a semi on Maxwell Avenue at Yonge & Eglington. It took 3 mortgages – the 3rd at 18% plus a tenant in the basement to buy it!
Tuesday 18. 01. 22 What a difference. Winter in Clermont courtesy of Philippe.
Winter in Toronto
Monday 17. 01. 22 This is where we lived with Jason and Julia after they were born. It was a 4 plex on the corner of Spadina and Castleview, a block north of Casa Loma. It was owned by the Weryha’s, a Polish couple who lived in Port Hope. The superintendent was Musa who was an interesting, overeducated guy who lived in the attic. When he left I took over the job and eventually rented all the apartments to friends so it was more like a co-op. We were on the second floor, with Graham & Kate below and Graham’s sister Marg in the attic. Happy days!
Saturday 15. 01. 22 This is the hi-rise where Carole and I lived when we were first married. We lived in Apt#709 which was at the end on the top floor.
The ice is in my painting water from my studio. It is -21 degrees today!
Thursday 13. 01. 22 This is where I lived after I got my job as art director at Macmillan of Canada. It was owned by Ruby and was a Rooming house. I lived there with 4 ladies and had my own bedsit at $12 a week! We all ate together in the basement. I lived there until I got married. It looks much different now.
Saturday 08. 01. 22 Finished this foggy painting of Lac du Salagou today based on a photo sent by Sandrine.
Friday 07. 01. 22 Yesterday thought I would do a small oil painting of my Amarilis. Julia gave it to me for Christmas as a bulb. I am astonished at how quickly it has grown!