Resting after Entertaining

The photos were taken with my camera by an unknown person but I forgot to show her how to use  zoom.  Digital cropping reveals a flavour of the Vagabond.  It was dusk on a clear night. The first stop after the Chevalier where there was no music was at Le Lecteur.  A prostrate figurine reading a book. I must try to read like that again!  Thomas with his Stroh-violin.

 ...here they come towards me...

...where I play "Coeur Vagabond" to the Green Man.  In France called le Bon Homme...this one with his head in the clouds or wind...

The group moved to the wall of faces.. look closely for, I think, 127 in total.

At 'le facteur', a wire bicycle is mounted on a circular roofed postbox. Thomas read and posted a postcard.

 He played again at 'L'Abri' -

I'd moved on to 'Les Arches' to play "Gypsy Mood" - a concerto type piece with slow, fast, majestic and light sections.

Being in the back street with little light, surrounded by dark stones of the church wall, opposite the Tree with White Leaves Reflected in a Mirror (my title),  I wasn't happy with my rendition of "Autumn Leaves".  I was  cold and tired. Thomas was supportive, encouraging with his accompaniment, or maybe I was accompanying him.  It was strange to play with the Bass Stroh.  He is an excellent professional musician and theatrical artiste.  I am hoping he will give me another opportunity to play but in warmer conditions where I can sit down!  Earlier, I had chosen to stand where I could have sat down...I had not realised how arduous it is doing street theatre!

 Moving on... 'A la Derive'... being adrift...the scarf was nice but a nuisance!

At the last artistic creation, returning to the place where we'd started, we did an unscheduled replaying of  'La Derive'.
Normally, I do not like to publish photos of me but at the age of 66,  recognising that I have played the accordion on and off since I was aged 7, I realise that this accordion has been 56 years in my ownership and is definitely a few years older than that!
I am publishing because this is the second time this year I have been invited to perform in public. The accordion is heavy. It takes a toll on my back and since the bicycle accident and biceps tendonitis my wrists. These wrists were beginning to give out last night but I managed to pull the beast of bellows in and out, pushing buttons, fingering keys.
I am publishing because I am celebrating my talent which has given immense enjoyment to me and to others.  Poor things who do not like to hear it, including the cat who needs to escape the room!
I am grateful to my mother for sacrificing her time and earnings to give me lessons with the renowned accordionist Martin Lukins in the late 1950s / early 1960s.... that was before I stopped to learn the piano with Mary Ash, my school music teacher.
Last night, someone asked if I had french 'prix' for my playing.  No, I have no qualifications!

WITH THANKS TO THOMAS and the Folies Bastringue Festival....Many people work hard to bring artistic experiences to the villages of France.  It has been a pleasure for me!

This is one of the places...

...within Coussay les Bois on Saturday 17 October between 19h and 20h where I shall be playing my piano accordion as a Vagabond with Thomàs and his Stroh instruments.

 

On Saturday music will draw people along the route... 

pointers for people to observe 'les petit choses ephémèrales' as dusk moves to darkness.

I shall be assisting a guided tour - a Promenade to view sculptural forms created by three artists and inspired by peoples and their surroundings, history and geography, language and poetry, music and art.
On Wednesday evening I went as a guest to the first of the eight guided walks.  It helped to know the route!  Afterwards there was mulled wine and an opportunity to purchase the CATALOGUE  for 5 euros which shows wonderful photos, poems and explanations of the sculptures. Also acquire a free programme for the events in the village between 9 and 14 November 2015.
I'll show my photos of the works after I have played on Saturday but the Catalogue is excellent. WELL... here are three tasters.  One piece I shall play is called 'Gypsy Mood' and another 'Coeur Vagabond'.  With Thomas we shall play 'Autumn Leaves' and 'À La Dérive'. I hope for DRY weather and not too cold on the keys for my little fingers...but my accordion prefers warm and sunny weather! And so do I!   It will be different to NOT play Musette style music but to perform a more dramatic, theatrical style... I hope!!!!

Playtime Bordeaux

I was fascinated by the sunshine yellow dress and the red ball or lollipop in the distance having fun!

Beetle in the drive!

 Beer

 A view from La Place

 Moules sans frites as a nod to Midsummer Night in France.

Un Vignoble

I'm not sure how many people were in attendance on the final night of a three day wine and music festival called 'Le Son du Vignoble',  but it was beyond my expectations, as was the parking.  It was smart that I did not go in my chic dress and heeled sandals  - 'les talons',  as we had to trek across a field that looked as if in wet weather it would be water logged.

It was the 4th year.  I didn't realise that and hadn't understood that one could spend the day there and take a picnic.  I don't remember information telling me how much it would be, so thankfully I took monetary notes! Like many experiences in France I discover BEAUTY.  This was an interesting evening!
A 14e entrance fee provided me with a tampon (= an inky rubber stamp! The difference in language is always amusing!) stamped on my arm, a ticket and an inscribed glass.  This is civilised France and I didn't see any broken glass! Long may it last!  It wouldn't happen in UK!  Far too dangerous!  In the glass was a paper token for the first glass of wine. Thereafter one exchanged euros for jetons (plastic disks) which could be exchanged for wine, juice or food.  Pretty neat idea!  I haven't been to Music Festivals so had no idea how it all works.

I am not sufficiently knowledgeable to comment on the musicians. The Healthy Boy played for the first concert in the garden. It was nice as the sun was shining, children were playing far away under the orchard trees, people sat and listened nicely.  I found the echo system of repeating and overlaying phrases played by a single guitar a bit much for me. I was really impressed when the SOUND man for The Healthy Boy was doing it all on an ipad!
The second concert was by Thomas Fersen who is well known in France and I think hails from Bretagne. That was under a huge hangar. I could not understand the poetic nature of his music.
HOWEVER
I love Ampelidae wines especially Pinot Noir, which is why I went all that distance.  It took me an hour plus to do the journey so didn't get home until the early hours but did buy a case of 6 Pinot Noir to indulge the Summer.
These organic wines are sold in our village shop. It's been a long while since I set forth into that terroir.  I had forgotten how rich it is on many levels. I went to Marigny Brizay for a dégustation in about 2008 when the company were just getting better developed.  The enthusiasm of Kate the proprietor of the Chateau and Frédèric were palpable... such enthusiasm poured from their hearts... we were shown the vignes, the cuves,the cellars and part of the chateau and generally the group we were in were keenly welcomed and indulged.  That was then.

Last night, as I sat by the bar,  I found again that warmth and trust in their mission to create quality organic wines. Then along comes Kate who seemed to remember me and I enjoyed speaking to friends of hers from London, who worked in the technological domain.
I could not avoid listening to a discussion that a french lady had with an expert behind the bar, about the effects of citric and tartaric acids used in white wines causing muscle cramp.  She could not drink white wine because of this.  He suggested Pinot Noir and a massage.. at which point I was included in the conversation by laughter.  Not many moments later she brought her female friend who had not believed her to listen to the expert explain, at which point I was very much more included in the exchange.
An attractive man discussed with the same sommelier the connection between passion, oenology, trust, horses and the natural world. I was astounded at the intellectual discussion which I only in part understood,, but then the chevalier and I discussed in English.  Only in France does this level of Passion seem so tangible, yet it makes me feel so ignorant, humble and questioning as to why on earth I stayed within the four walls of an educational establishment much of my life, seemingly trying to educate, failing to educate myself, and generally wasting precious life!  Mind you, the pace of technology has brought about so much magic to the world that who can keep up with it!?
I sat where I did at the end of the bar, perched on the end of a table feeling comfortable and safe as a single woman, occasionally having interesting conversations, maintaining French as much as possible. I discovered the sommelier was part English/French/German. As I have said his passion and knowledge for oenology was fascinating as I concentrated on listening to improve my language skills.   I had two tokens left but he offered me a glass of the new Rosé which was the BEST rose wine I have tasted..... SO I wish to buy a case for Summer and friends!  THEN, he gave me a glass of PN 1328 -- which is named after 'une parcelle' of land.  This was such a fantastic wine and I did just sip and sip.  I'd like a case of hat too! The palate can taste the difference between wines even if one has tasted others before. And with that, when the music ended,  I came home to hot chocolate and bed, sensing that I had possibly missed a marvellous opportunity because friends from Toulouse called the chevalier to travel on. Probably just as well!

Best laid plans

It was an unusual event for me to sally forth to the community bar/shop.  I haven't been since October.  It was Friday night.  I needed to post a letter, so at 6pm, I went along for a hot chocolate drink.  I sat writing - planning for impending volunteers to subject themselves to Midwinter Life in a French village.  Then.. my little space of peace and privacy was shattered as English arrivals sat opposite.  Eventually I plucked courage to check if he was who I thinkhe was, because a while ago I made a horrible mistake speaking to someone else and asking him if he was a particular name and he was not!!!!!!  Very embarrassing!  This man, whom I have only ever met once or twice hadn't recognised me or signalled that he knew me!  Lo, another two arrived, and with, excuse me, loud voices, which some Brits have, (I do too sometimes!), particularly those not from the South.  This is without prejudice, as I have several friends from the North of England and wonderful people they are!  I couldn't concentrate as I had hoped for French tranquility, or at the very least French company.  I left them to their beer. They had cut into their hot, home-made corned beef pie, no chips, for their Friday night suppet.   There were also 'what looked like English crisp-type-snacks' but maybe, just maybe, they were French products!  It is a good idea to go out to a bar and have a social night out...I am not knocking that... It was just that I didn't expect to be so disturbed! 
In France if the bar does not sell food one can eat other food.  For example, go the Boulangerie and buy a croissant and then to the bar for the coffee. Increasingly there are some Boulangeries that serve coffee/tea. Increasingly there are bars that serve croissants. So always best to politely check with the proprietor and if you've scanned what other clients are doing and are uncertain!

Suddenly, I have more things to do in order to tick off winter garden tasks.  Helpers are arriving! I have no energy as it is so cold and wet... I don't cope with this level and type of humidity!

A Place I Love: Pity about the door furniture

Beau Jolie Jour

These are some posters I acquired at a fine lunch at Chez Fred in Chatellerault.  C'était trés franchouillard!
I bought six bottles of  Pierre Chevaut Beaujolais (3.50e each) at Auchan...well, how can one resist?  In the evening, at The English Tea Shop, there was imbibement with an interesting social mix of French and English.  I was amused to think that it appeared that the only establishment/commerce in this village celebrating the nouveau vin rouge,  (not at all vinaigré), was English-owned, ever enterprising, never wishing to miss business opportunity), with French counterparts who were glad to
be in international chaleur.   Only in France! ... and a what a wonderful evening it was!
At first I sat alone. Then François arrived with a friend, so we chatted.  English people arrived so we chatted, hence my glass was refilled twice or thrice, when I had thought one would do!
Evidently, Swansea has a local feast day for Beaujolais Nouveau and I read that the wine is on the up in London etc...  Nice to be at the cutting edge! sipping edge! 
I have always enjoyed a nice Beaujolais, a gamay wine. Fleurie is a favourite!

Aujoux is, I believe, a family name of cellars!

and maybe this is worth studying   ...
http://www.lepoint.fr/vin/le-nouveau-beaujolais-est-arrive-19-11-2014-1882525_581.php

Tranquillity spoiled

The grange next door held a party for 18 year olds to celebrate three birthdays! I was kept awake on and off until after three this morning. I love the French. The parents informed me a few days ago of impending night noise and invited me for aperos... it always works as a placebo, doesn't it!   It's 'a first to have a party at the empty grange next door ... but I hope there is not a repeat, at least for a year.  Even though, I know European Law on noise levels in neighbourhoods, I was extremely  tolerant!  It isn't every day that there is an initiation ceremony into adulthood!year.  It would be interesting to know what my other immediate neighbours thought.   I wonder if it would have been allowed in Paris!
The worst problem was being kept awake until after 3h30 in the morning by Wii who would not come home until after I had put the lights out, at that hour indeed. We had been invited for aperos but somehow he managed to stay... and drink!

St Savin - Une nuit romane

The weather became crazy when at about 21h huge gusts of wind, thunder and rain sent spectators running to their vehicles.  We also returned after we had sat it out on a blanket under umbrellas, until they turned inside out and our anatomy became somewhat wet!  However, the evening was not cancelled as we'd imagined. Once we'd ditched one wet blanket for a dry one, we returned to the riverbank, ever hopeful. The organisers told us that the pianist would be cancelled but the firework illuminations would happen! When glimpses of blue sky returned, the pianist did play and the company GroupeF specializing in pyrotechnics created an incredibly beautiful and stunning spectacle after technical delays. A speech by Ségolène Royale to open 'Les Nuits Romanes' for this region was cancelled so she disappointed protesters concerned about unemployment.  Several people wearing fire suits that illuminated in the dark were like gorillas! They set sail on a boat that roared and created fire! The abbaye was illuminated with images of slavery, monkeys and coloured patterns. At one time fireworks ricocheted like a machine gun along the row of trees on the other side of the river, whilst rainbow coloured flares shot up on the diagonal this way and that!  The silver-lighted-dotted people came off the boat, climbed in the trees, crossed the bridge and operated fire puppets as well as the Catherine wheels on their backs. 
It was almost a two hour performance, or felt like it, and when it was time to depart,  our feet were like blocks of ice, our necks were cricked and it was hard to walk across the grass then along the road to return to our car! Most of the people and traffic had gone; a charming policeman pointed us in the right direction as blocked roadways prevented access to the bridge and other routes!

No, not us and No not Glastonbury! Between the squally storms.
These people gave me permission to take the pic... then I did so with their camera!