le carnozet

Since I make my precarious living painting
food and writing captions on the pictures, it was
disturbing to find that last nights lettuce carried
its own message. This tiny slip of paper was in
the salad.
What can it mean? When the food starts addressing you it is only polite to pay attention.

My sleepless night was spend pondering this, though in honesty the sleeplessness may have been caused by over indulging in everything, especially the fantastic cheese fondu.

Le Carnozet is much raised in my estimation.
First time I went there was with Margo; so long
ago that our evening was ruined by cigarette
smoke and I was a vegetarian. Haven't been
back since but went last night with Marcus and his
mate Tim and found it flawless.

words finally fail me

news and plans

Rowena is on the radio on Sunday at 9.30 -
a programme called Rue des Arts, on
www.rcf.fr103

Victoria and others are holding
La Petite Expo de Noel at La Maison des Couleurs,
St Jean de Paracol on Friday 5th -15h - 18.30 h
which gives you time to get to Garths show at
Pecadille, 80 Rue Felix Armand in Quillan, 18h - 20h.
see www.pecadille.com

And a letter from Iain, edited highlights
from which are below;

We had a lovely night on saturday at Molly's
50th birthday party. Lots of people there including
Leo, Toby and Scottish Dave. Toby was up trying
her fancy footwork at Scottish country dancing.
Molly was looking radiant and rather glad to be 50
as indeed would I were I 50 again. It was about
minus six on the night of the party but the city was
awash with rich taxi drivers so all was well. Actually
the weather has been wonderful since I returned,
hardly any rain and lots of cloudless skies, perfect
for walking. I am about to go out and it is another
cloudless day although minus four.

Katrina arrives on Monday and is going to stay with
me in Burntisland.
Steve is taking the day off so it should be fun.

I can't believe that it's nearly Christmas.
I finally gave in and started to organise a family
Christmas here in Burntisland. I had asked Francis
what he was doing for Christmas and he informed me
that it was not him but us which actually meant me.
That means a group of about a dozen people with
whom I never sit down to eat at any other time,
eating food that I normally never prepare and
normally avoid eating. Ah well I suppose as I get
older the idea of a white bearded Caucasian clambering
down my chimney begins to seem better than no one
at all so perhaps it's not all bad.

I think Steve is trying to get out to Esperaza in
January. I think I am more likely to go skiing
but we shall see.

Give my love to all.

Les Toilettes du Pape

Monday night, I was at the Cinéclub in Quillan, with Annie
and Pete and Gus and Micheal and Simona to see Les
Toilettes du Pape; much taken with it all though what
was described as tragécomic turned out to be mostly
tragic. And in Spainish with French subtitles.

-Bare bones; piss poor community in Uruguay gets by
on a bit of smuggling, cycling like mad over the mountains
to Brasil. Vile customs officer makes life miserable.
But help is at hand - the Pope is visiting! There will be
pilgrims to feed and cater for. Our hero builds a toilet.
It ain't that simple of course and it has its moments,
visually rich, but we guessed that the pilgrims
wouldn't buy and that the father of the poor would float
off, indifferent. Everyone looses everything.
But hope springs eternal...

Got home late and switched on to make my report and
wow!! -See entry below.

I was baffled for a moment.
How did Leo and Toby get here??
It took me a while to realise that dear Mr Hall
was FINALLY reporting from elsewhere!

More, Steve, please. I think that there are more
Tillingites in Edinburgh than there are here.

-eh, and lovely to see Scottish Daves sporran...

Esperazanais(e) abroad

It was a great pleasure to welcome Scottish Dave, Elle, Leo and Toby to my place of work in Edinburgh for a rather splendid little lunch. It was very strange seeing Esperazanais in Edinburgh but much fun. Toby has much better photos than me which might follow.

For those who met Molly in Esperaza, you will be amazed to hear that it was her 50th birthday party this weekend and Esperaza was well represented. Here is Scottish Dave at the shindig at Heriot's Rugby Club. I did have one of Molly but its very blurred. Can't imagine why.......

It's very cold here now. If you turn your head you can see my niece, Emily with this year's first snowthing.

Lots of love to all in Esperaza

Steve xx

no drawing in December

Artists who weren't at drawing this Saturday,
please note - too damn cold, so we've agreed
to not draw during December.
Inform yourself with this site- seems very
lively.

http://hopperfiguredrawing.blogspot.com/

autumn...

Autumn is very cold but also pretty...






The market on Sunday carries on regardless





And lo!! The Christmas lights are up!
(Though not actually on yet -)


All of which is by way of saying there
isn't a lot going on.