A year in the Tarn
Family
Family lunch with some of my cousins. For me a very very rare special treat as, careless or bad luck, I have lost my immediate family. I could not have been made more welcome !
Internet on off
I’m able to use the Internet thanks to my good friend Mark, proprietor of the Hotel des Consuls here in Castelnau de Montmiral. However I’ve lots to do here, part business, part fun and games 😀 Of the latter, Castelnau de Montmiral is being prepared for a 4 night music festival starting tonight with … Read more
Castel de Brames
Thinking about life after lockdown, I strongly recommend you visit Castel de Brames.
For the rarest of fine wines, Castel de Brames.
61 x 915 cm (24″ x 36″), available, price on request.
Musée Lapérouse
The Musée Lapérouse in Albi and my painting of the famous explorer Lapérouse, his ships and their great adventure.
A story I have been meaning to relate for the past couple of years.
I am prompted by the pleasure of Philippe De Laperouse, a descendent living in the USA connecting with me via Facebook.
This painting is at the time of my writing, the only meticulously researched, accurate portrayal of the Lapérouse and First Fleet ships and the approach to Botany Bay, the only authentic representation of the scene.
Consequently the museum staff asked to see my painting of “Lapérouse Entering Botany Bay” so I left the painting with them for a few days.
I was told they would love to add this work of art to their display however the museum was in the process of moving to larger premises thus no funds were available; then along came Covid 19 …
Canoe Conodal?
The warmest day in the Tarn for a week.
Watching the weather forecasts for ‘canoe surgery’, and making very sure we had all the materials and tool we needed, I had all the preparation ready for this day.
Following a deliberately late breakfast Hervé and I ‘blitzkrieged’ his 5 m kayak.
The first task was to ‘glass in’ the hanging knees we had fitted.
Family Matters
Today, no painting, soon, I reluctantly leave the land of sunflowers and vines, Gaillacois Tarn in the heart of ancient l’Ocitainne for the Black Mountains and a rather special visit to my long lost cousin Maureen. It’s been about years since we last met so there is some catching up to do and of course, … Read more
Representing France
A major event, THE festival of Lanterns.
If you possibly can, visit this fete on show for the third and last time at Gaillac.
This is nothing less than Gaillacois Tarn representing all France to China and vice versa.
Previously the Chinese have always chosen major cities, Toronto, Hamburg, Boston and San Francisco USA and so on.
This year this festival, unique in Europe opens 1 st December for 2 months.
Le site internet officiel = https://festivaldeslanternes-gaillac.fr/ ainsi que la page Facebook officielle = https://www.facebook.com/Festival-des-Lanternes-Gaillac-313632982438151/
The mayor of Gaillac made a brilliant, inspiring speech.
The evening included lavishing wines, foods and a disco on guests
To Gaillac
Tarn Friends said “you now are Gaillacois, Tarn, don’t leave”. I’m planning to return later this month. Partly because of an invitation from the Gaillac Ville to attend a meeting about the next Franco-Chinese Festival of Lanterns which starts 4 th December. The previous festival lasted a month and attracted 350,000 visitors. You can discover more about … Read more