Dol de Bretagne

Well I have been pretty naughty and got really fed up painting in the rain.  Although we arrived at Dol in reasonable weather, it rained all Saturday night right through until Sunday afternoon.  You can see my attempt, a bit wishywashy, but at least it is something.  Decided not to go to next venue because of the unsettled weather.

 

.We moved to Hirel for the night, which was OK,and then Monday went to St Jacut de la Mer.  Again unsettled, but at least we got to mess about on the shore line.  Couple of nights here, then I decided the weather was still so unsettled that I was not going to do the next weekends painting.  Went back to Hirel and messed about again.  Decided to explore a little of the Normandie coast went up to St Jean le Thomas.  Absolutely fabulous.  Enormous sweeping bay , the bottom of which houses Mont St Michel.  When the tide went out I am sure you could walk to Jersey.  However,  in the evening a young man from the council came to warn all of us in our motorhomes that storms were forecast (including us) for 31 departments of France and we had better prepare accordingly. 

It turns out it was the storm that never came, although I understand it was pretty dramatic  in the UK.  It was incredibly hot, but no thunder and lightening and only a moderate amount of rain.  Unfortunately it did mean that Saturday morning was again grey and very sultry, so we decided to go home.  Stopped at St Hilaire du Harcouet for some shopping and the heavens opened up - I can't remember ever seeing that much rain in such a short time! 

I left for England on Tuesday, and arrived to what appears to be a heatwave, and so far it just hasn't let up.  It is so hot! I'll be leaving here tomorrow (Friday) and we will be off to a painting venue in Finistere on Saturday.

We are back at La Pelouiniere, weather a bit unsettled, more rain than the UK!

After staying at campsite we moved on to visit Cap Sizun in general.  Managed to get in some  "wild camping" as well.  Fantastic views, just like Cornwall.

Yes, it really did look like this!

Right way up would have been a bit better

Steep walk  to this harbour, and boats are launched via a lift!

Stand up straight girl!

Pointe du Raz

Super

After this wonderful weather we went to Loctudy.  Arrived on the Friday - lovely weather, good subjects.  However, Saturday it started to rain.    Unfortunately it continued all day!

This is me painting in the rain....how I hate painting in the rain!

Managed to produce something (under a polythene bag!), and was a runner up.  Decided to not do Sunday's painting, because it was still raining.

 

Went back home but started to get ready for next weekend.  Left on the Friday and stayed in one of our favourite places

Me

St Jacut de la Mer - lovely

Again - how lovely

However, I did manage to paint something.  The villas on the sea defences.  Very windy, damp and difficult to paint! What's new! I won first prize - amazing!

Saturday, left for Pleneuf val Andre.  Unfortunately, guess what, it rained, and rained, and rained.  Sunday didn't look too good, so I thought I might abandon.

Well it's Tuesday 24th June and a fair chunk has happened in the last couple of weeks.  Painting at Erquy.  The day started off fresh, but then got very hot.  As it was a bit grey to start with it was a bit difficult to imagine lots of colour - the brightness didn't happen until about 2.00, which is only an hour before submission time!

A bit wishy-washy, but as my arm ached quite a lot, I wasn't totally displeased.  Foreground should  have been left out completely!

 

The following weekend we decided to stay at home in preparation for my trip back to the Isle of Wight.  It turns out that this was a good idea, because the painting competition down in the Morbihan turned out to have had some problems!

Went back to East Cowes on the Tuesday, caught early morning ferry.  Weather was absolutely fabulous.  Had a lovely time.  Dr's appointment on the Friday confirmed what I thought. The tendonitis has now changed and become Frozen shoulder.  Not only is this a pain (!), but could last anywhere between 1 and 3 years - not a happy bunny at all, looks as though I have to keep up the exercises!  At least I was given some strong pain killers so I can at least sleep at night! After Dr's appointment straight back on IoW ferry then over to Portsmouth to pick up Brittany  Ferries afternoon sailing.  Perry met me with the van and we drove down to Ducey where we parked for  the night. Saturday left about 9.00 onwards to Pont Croix, Finistere.

Loads of the chums were there, had lots of laughs.  Although very hot, Bertie sat on my feet most of the time I was painting. Again should have left out the foreground.  However, I did get a runner up, so didn't feel too grumpy.

Pont Croix

 Sunday night we moved on to Plogoff (just up the road) and then on Monday moved on to have lunch at the nature reserve at Cap Sizun. In the afternoon moved on to a campsite to take advantage of their Wifi and internet connection.  The campsite is Pors Peron, Beuzec-Cap-Sizun. It is absolutely fabulous here.  I don't think we have ever stayed in such a clean campsite! They even have "glamping" here!  Exclusive beach and great walks.

Bertie and I wandering on the cliff edge  Tuesday afternoon.

Bertie and I want for an early morning walk on Wednesday as it is  a bit too hot for walking in the main part of the day.  Fabulous views.  Perry went for a long bike ride and got too hot!  Will be moving on to another part of the coastline tomorrow.

Well, another weekend and two more paintings.  Again, weather was awful - painting in the mist!

Chateaugiron - started off drizzle, not the best to paint in!  Sunny in afternoon.

When we got back, Perry worked on getting the barn/workshop finished to that we can put the van in for the winter. 

Becherel - again started off drizzle/ This time I decided to make it more colourful, because the whole time we were there it was grey!

 

Well, weather finally turned hot for a few days.....at least for the weekend! Tendonitis is still a problem, but carried on painting.

Saturday was Pleslin le  Petit - not the most inspiring place in the world, so I ended up painting the salle!

not the best - still never mind.  Next day was Plougras.  Lots of interesting things there, managed to park almost at the church.

Best one I've done so far  - even managed to get runner up! In the mean time, have a look at what my boys got up to....

Can't leave them alone for a minute!  Thanks Mike and Fay for letting me use your wifi to type this up.

 OK so  we are now in France and thanks to Mike  and Fay we are attached to their wifi. Thanks guys, much appreciated.
Tendonitis still bad and have made an appointment in UK to have a repeat injection!
Well I have now done three competitions with Colours of Brittany - boy should I have practiced in-  the winter! First one was Plouer sur Rance, weather was absolutely awful, easel blew down a couple of times (obviously butter side down),   wind blew and it was cold.  I had forgotten how much of a challenge it is to paint outside!

Plouer sur Rance

it

Vertou - rained virtually ALL day.  I was totally soaked.  However, we all received a bottle of wine for  participating.  Also sampled Perles de Murmure absolutely lovely, must try that again.

St Fiacre - rain, wind, hail and sun!  Naff picture, but at least marginally better than the other two. Good to meet up with chums again.

   

Well, this is it.  Almost finished up here on the Island, and we're off back to France on Tuesday.  Although we've been busy for the last couple of months following our trip back from Spain and Portugal, nothing really exciting has happened.  Bertie managed to get a cut on the side of his eye - cost £200! I have been suffering for the last 10 weeks with tendonitis, and finally got the injection yesterday - hopefully all will now improve.  I've only been out on the boat a couple of times, but no real sailing.  However, Perry has been out a few times.  I also exhibited some paintings at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club.  Nice exhibition, but didn't manage to sell anything. Went to a talk last night on Robert Hooke.  Weather is absolutely superb today, let's hope it stays that way.

I will hopefully update the blog every fortnight, but as we no longer have internet in France, I will have to ask Mike very kindly if I can send via his place. 

Painting starts next Thursday................... I wish I had done some practice!