When I was about 14...

we watched a movie in school... The Red Balloon. It  must have been quite 'avant garde' in those days for our French lessons to have included a movie and indeed it is very wonderful...
I am not sure NOW why we watched it... i suppose because it was so very French.
Maybe the message within the story of the film is that there is always HOPE within dreams...and that the unexpected can bring magic and joy into our transient lives, and how JOY and HAPPINESS can be punctured, destroyed and lost, bringing forth sadness, ruling out happiness.  Of course, in the film the death of one brings life to so many...
Of course none of THOSE THOUGHTS were ever relayed to us as young teenies....but still i wonder what was the reason for showing us as without much spoken word there was only the magic to entice us and so maybe that was it! The Unspoken Word!
Maybe on reflection I was destined to live in France.
Maybe I am happy to be here!
Now I hear fireworks in my village and I wish to be part of whoever's celebrations they are part of!

July Cake Event from my Perspective

I didn't fancy making a NOVELTY Cake or even a Party Cake when the theme became modified. So I made a pun of it!  The first tea cake I made was a disaster and me thinks I binned the photo. I made a layered sponge with Japanese Green Tea powder.  The oven wasn't on the HOT mode that it usually is and anything on the dial below that is very unreliable, so in actual fact the thin layers of sponge were not baked and when cold were nasty grey, and decidedly rubbery. Ooh and that was a six egg mixture!  Following that disaster, whilst others were in the kitchen sanding down the walls etc and whilst the contents of the room were in my Grand Salon and the only kitchen sink providing accessible cold water was in the outhouse, (laundry room inaccessible due to workmen in the kitchen as aforesaid creating dust!) I attempted to follow an Earl Grey Tea cake internet recipe.   It was OK but very dry... I didn't follow the icing part exactly as I was pressed (an understatement) and did not sandwich the cake with something moist. I noticed it didn't have any yummy factor with the tasters and I took 3/4 of it home!  (it increased its flavour after a few days and made a great scone with jam and cream!)
At the Clandestine Cake Club each cake DOES have to be presented before anyone uses a knife,  so I displayed the NOVEL about Living in France "Bon Courage" ('cos I needed it) with a PLUS symbol followed by the Chocolate and Lavender iced Earl Grey Tea Cake on the stand... and hey ho we had a "NOVEL TEA CAKE!!"  I obviously need to emphasise the pun!!!
Best to go here if you wish to see pics of all the other wonderful Novelty and Party Cakes and to read a very good and funny report of the event!
These are some of my better photos:

I loved the stories behind the makings and designs of  all the cakes: 2CV, Pina Colada Cup Cake as well as the animal cakes (hedgehog, dog, fish, butterfly, caterpillar), not to mention the French themed Honeymoon influenced Eiffel Cake complete with Champagne tops! The speakers, the bakers grow in confidence in telling a tale!

Angles sur L'Anglin Painting Competition

A few weeks ago in July there was a village 'one day' painting competition. There were few participants as painters were perhaps deterred by poor weather. However, as this is a new event organised by the village and not by any particular artist or business, I was told that there would be better advertising next year. Evidently, some promotional information was not published in the local press or elsewhere.  I could only find two painters during the afternoon. In the photo below my favourite art work is on the lower level to the left.  The painter was from the south of department 86 and of Asian extraction. She talked to me about the difficulty and pressure to produce a worthy creation within only a few hours. I loved the way she daubed colour onto the canvas with a palette knife to represent reflections in the river.  In fact I am sure she had erased quite a few by the time they were displayed for the public to view.  If you think you would like to participate next year then contact the Mairie or Tourist Office.

Canal du Garonne - Posting Five

 More lock houses...

The light and green foliage amazed me with joy.

More ancient tobacco drying sheds...

 another eclusier..

 We stopped for refreshments at Mas d'Agenais

where water flowed into the Lavoir...it was refreshingly cool in the shade compared to the heat we had cycled in...

 Who's this?

 We went inside the church called Collegiale Saint-Vincent.

 where there is a REMBRANDT!!! 1631 Christ on the Cross

on we cycled!

 This was our reward on the morning we departed...the small bakery was in the same village where we had arrived and so it was fitting to say GOODBYE...

and this a not very good photo of an amazing lunch..
chicken kebabs with sundried tomatoes, carrots braised in stock, potato souffles...7e at le Commerce in Castelmoron.

 The market hall was made of metal and iron...quite unusual...memory fading a bit here!!!

 There was beautifully restored architecture near the river...

We traveled the return journey without air con in the car on the hottest day of the year...
we stopped with this view for the last of the choc ice and camp tea.
I was bushed and went to sleep for an hour!

THANK YOU world for letting me be here when I'd heard various comments which had made me decide that I would not make the effort! I am so glad opportunity opened a door and I hope that one day I will return now that I know I could cycle alone the two canals over a period of a few weeks enjoying the views and villages on the way.