The kind of day we look forward to

Martyn and Chota

We went along to Mèze yesterday to see our friends Patricia and Martin.  Why the village festival centres round a paedophagic ox is perhaps a subject for another time, but the whole parade was huge fun, with kids spraying shaving foam and fluorescent spaghetti all over the town.  There were a few dancing troupes.  Of the gin's tonic and the boys in bottle-green corduroy britches: enfin, bon.  The Portuguese dancers, on the other hand, were impressive, as was the club of the troisième âge.  It goes without saying that we had luscious apéritifs at P&M's, and went on to a fine lunch at the Saveurs de Thau.  Would you have thought of sauerkraut with mussels, salmon and swordfish?  I wouldn't.  It was excellent.  But having started with a croustillant of fresh and smoked salmon served with a nice little salad, the cheese platter defeated me.  Though only just.

Port de Mèze, Acrylic on canvas, collection of Patricia and Martin Cooper

Part of the reason for the visit (apart from an opportunity to see our lifetime favourite small dog, Chota) was to deliver my first commission.  I can see dozens of mistakes in it, but had struggled with it for weeks, and eventually recited Miss's mantra to myself: 'stop fiddling!', and slapped on a coat of varnish.  I just hope they find it easy to live with, particularly in view of the very generous case of wine we clanked home with!  I'm toying mentally with my next piece, using a dark sky to accentuate a subtle subject.  And there's a show on down at Gruissan where I might find some inspiration.

Back here among the wreckage, we had a visit from the carpenter who's making our new skylight window.  Seems a thoroughly nice fellow.  There's a slight chance he'll be able to finish it before we leave next Saturday: es sei denn, he won't get paid until July.

Meanwhile, in Another Place, work at Forges l'Evêque has revealed a need for a layer of concrete to underpin the to-be-relaid terrace.  The bill ascends.  Well, it needs to be done, and we'll be dead a long time.