Autumn glows to Winter blues.

I’ve been rather negligent with posting blogs this year, whatever happened to my intention to do so once a month? One reason is that I’ve had far less trompe l’œil and decor work this year, so I’ve had fewer interesting topics to post about. I suppose I could have been tempted to write about cleaning, laundry, gardening and dog walking, however, other than applying the art of zen to these chores there’s nothing inspirational in the hum drum!

 I have been painting and sketching when I get a moment, sometimes on the ipad, sometimes on paper or canvas both in colour and charcoal, here are a few charcoal ones of our dog which I exhibited this year in the Galerie du Presbytère at St Avit Sénieur. I exhibit there every year being a permanent member of an Association of approximately 12-17 artists, (the number is fluid from year to year.)

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and on the ipad:

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Our summer was very busy with guests and visitors, then THE KNEE (Grahams op to have a prosthetic knee, ) took over both our lives in the autumn months. Its been an interesting foray into the French health system, we’ve been lucky to be healthy since we’ve been here these last 30 years, so we haven’t had much experience of it apart from visits to the dentist.

Needless to say there’s loads of paperwork involved, unlike my memories of the NHS where someone else seems to do all the organising and admin. Here you are far more involved, finding your own specialists after seeing GP, (as he doesn’t tell you who to go to. ) 

Whichever professional you choose, he/she hands you your results, which are your responsibility, heart tests, X-rays, blood tests, physiotherapist, etc if not straight away, at least within a few days. You also have to sort out buying bandages, antiseptics, crutches, splints, painkillers, icepacks etc etc, prior to surgery. Graham arrived at the hospital with a suitcase full of products! Graham’s projected full recovery stretches to the end of January, so hopefully we’ll be Scottish dancing again on Burns Night!

On a lighter note the colours this autumn have been magnificent, rich in chromes, russets and golds, morning walks through a golden forest were quite magical. A few photos :

and our mulberry tree, we planted this 11 year old in 1995, so he’s now the grand age of 35!

I enclose our Christmas card to wish you seasons greetings or to print on to A4 paper if you feel like doing a bit of DIY, and fold along the dotted lines to make the card. 

Wishing you “joyeuses fêtes” and good health and happiness in 2020.

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