Well we've been back on the Island now for just over a week, and it's taken that long to get round to updating the blog.  Can't believe how much everything had grown in the garden - took ages to sort that out.  And then the general sorting out...... Well let's catch up then

When I got back to France at the end of July, it was still very hot.  Annie and Martin came out to celebrate Perry's 70th birthday.  Picked them up from Laval station and then just loafed about with them for a few days.  It was good.  Then off they went via Paris, back to the UK.

Following that we set of for a 10 day sortie.  First painting venue was in the Vendee in a place called Aiguilon sur Vie.  What an experience!  Very hot - as expected.  Signed on but there was some paperwork which I didn't really read properly - first mistake!  It appeared that a number of people had stands to sell their work.  During the competition Perry reported back that the standard was very mixed and there were some very poor paintings.  When it came to the prize giving - all became clear!  Winners 6th to 10th place were invited onto the stage and received a white envelope and then appeared to give their paintings to someone.  Then the next group.  I came 5th, got a white envelope which contained a cheque for 40 euros - very nice, then my painting was taken away from me and given to someone who appeared to have won it for 2 euros!  Running at the same time as all the events, was a tombola and the prizes were the paintings we had spent all day doing!  No wonder the standard was mixed!  All the other 50 painters who did not win anything had to parade onto the stage with their paintings in their hands and just give them away to the tombola winners.  I renamed that walk onto the stage as the walk of shame - I will not be painting there again!

Here's the picture that was given away for 2 euros!  I was actually quite pleased with it, but a little disappointed that it was given away........

Following that we went for quite a tour round the Loire area and visited a few places that we are definitely going to go to again.  The next painting venue was Briollay, on the Sarthe which feeds the Loire.  Weather was a bit dodgy, however, parted with my signing on fee (15 euros this time) and got on with the painting.  Had to deposit the painting in the afternoon for safe storage and pick up again on the Sunday.  In the afternoon there was prize giving, I didn't win anything.  After that was an auction.  Yes I did manage to sell mine, but out of 30 painters, only 6 were sold.  Another place I am not too sure about going to next year.

As you can see, I experimed with this.  Some bits worked fine, but other bit - not too sure about.

We went home after that to get ready for the following weekend which was going to be in the Mayenne - much closer to home.  Saturday we left for Saulges near Laval.  Again arrived and it was hot, and Sunday morning it rained - story of my life!  Signed on, and set up.  Weather looked as though it was going to clear so I felt ok about it all - famous last words.  Even had the parasol up - to protect from sun and drizzle - then an enormous gust of wind took the lot!  I was pretty cheesed off!  Anyway, afternoon cheered up and we had a feast of mussels and chips.  Quite a few entrants but I got the Municipality prize - which was a couple of bottles of wine, books and loads of vouchers (which I gave to Paulette).

happy bunny

Last bit paintedin the sun

Well that was the end of the painting in France.  We spent the weekend before travelling home, getting the last bits sorted.  Had a meal with Mike and Fay, which was lovely.  On the morning of our travel home had a text from Brittany Ferries informing us of problems on our route because of protesting farmers!  Great.....So we set off earlier than planned, took a different route and saw bits of Calvados that we hadn't seen before.  Crossing was as tedious as normal, and it was really good to be back on the Island.  Weather for the next few days was perfect.  Painted with the IoW group at Bembridge Windmill

Small painting of Bembridge Windmill - not the most exciting of subjects

And last Friday managed to finish a painting I started the week before at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club. It was really good to meet everyone again and to chat and paint at the same time!

France and the summer now seem so far away.  I am already using different blues for the sky and the brightness of the landscape has now become more muted.  Looking forward to the colours of autumn.  Let's hope the rain stays away to allow some more outdoor painting.