Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Frosty Leaves

Frosty Leaves

The frosty misty days have cleared for the moment and I have wondered at the design of nature with the hore frost that has coated everything - and loved photographing various subjects.

Still a little chilly although today has been a little warmer, meaning the temperature managed to creep above freezing. This global warming fooled me into thinking we were going to get a nice mild winter! Never mind another month and things will be looking good down this way.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Let me in

Let me in

Old doors in France - I like them, they have style and you never know what you will find behind them. Sometime they open onto a lovely garden courtyard or directly into a home. It is tantalising at times to know what lies behind the door.

This fine fellow was waiting to see when he was going to be let in.

Photographed in Lavaur, Tarn.

Monday, January 29, 2007

Number One Guy

Number One Guy

This little guy who is getting bigger everyday gets the privilage of a double hit on this daily blog.

He turned one year old on the 28th of January and I could not resist posting another photo send by his Mum & Dad. I know he had a birthday party with some other kids but this is a photo of Luca and his Dad Michael.

Thank goodness for the internet that we can get images so quickly.

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Happy Birthday

One Year Today

Happy Birthday Luca

Our Grandson Luca is one year old today (28th January). This was taken recently while visiting, with his mother, the other half of his family in Brazil.

He is back in the cold UK but I am sure he is going to enjoying growing up and visiting his family in Brazil. Maybe one day he may even choose to live there!

We will not be able to travel from France to spend time with him to celebrate his first birthday but I am sure he will have a great day.

Goodness me, is it really a year since he was born!!

Friday, January 26, 2007

Dogs and Stuff

La Dejection

On my wanderings around the town of Lavaur I came across the site of the an ancient Chateau and saw my second dog poop clean-up dispenser. I thought this is looking up, at last a positive step to cleaning up behind your dog (all puns intended).

I took the photograph feeling good that on this ancient site the Town of Lavaur were providing the means to keep the site clean. As I stepped back my foot squelched into a big lump of dog s**t. And the more I looked the more I saw. The town of Lavaur may provide the means of cleaning up after your dog, but dog owners obviously don't care.

France! I just love it.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Disappearing Mercerie

Epicerie

On a visit to the Town of Lavaur in the Tarn valley today I had the opportunity to have a wander round. Most of the snow has gone but it is still cold.

The back streets of this place had some gems. I love seeing old shop fronts and their old signs, it's just such a pity they are being left to fall into disrepair and will eventually disappear.

This was once a Mercerie a store that sold buttons, thread, cloth and all the things for sewing, and a Epicerie selling food like a grocer.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Winter Snow

Winter Snow

The first snow of winter fell last night and we woke up to a winter wonderland. The most of France did as well although there was a lot of chaos on roads and motorways in various parts of the country.

It does mean that at least there will be enough snow for the skiing season to get underway which was beginning to worry an awful lot of people. I believe that the Alps and the Pyrenees had good falls of snow as well.

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Catalan Musicians

Catalan Singers

Thank you all for your messages of support. It has been a difficult time of late but of course life goes on. I passed all your lovely messages onto my wife Ghislaine.

We traveled 2300 Kilometers for the round trip to northern France close to the Luxembourg boarder and on the way back saw some amazing sights but no time to stop and spend the time photographing. Perhaps another time when the mind will be more in tune with the creation of some good images.

Having not had the chance to photograph much lately I am posting an image of a group of Catalan musicians photographed at a festival in the village of Allauch in Provence some time ago.

In celebration of life.

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Daughter

cool chick

Due to being quite ill my posting have been way down!

I will not be able to post any photographs for another week. My wife who has my heart, and heart goes out to her today as she lost her mother.

We will away to northern France early tomorrow for the funeral over the weekend.

Monday, January 08, 2007

Winter Roquemaure

Winter Roquemaure

Winter is here although it has turned mild again and the frosty mornings are now gone - for the moment!

I liked this moody wintry photograph looking over towards the village of Roquemaure, a view that is ever changing. You may think that things remain the same especially if you see the same scene every day, but if you really look the scene is never the same.

The daily photo from Réal has major interruptions at the moment due to illness. I thought I has managed to miss out on things like colds but I've got a bad one and not getting out to take a few photographs is kind of low priority at the moment. Hope this cold goes soon.

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Time to Relax

Billy Girl

The holiday season is over. Christmas and New Year have come and gone and so have all the guests.

So sitting watching a movie and Billy-Girl sits on my lap, then eventually makes herself comfortable further up on my chest.

So you see not a lot happening in Réal right now!

Photograph by Ghislaine James

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

My Mum at 80

Mum at 80

Today is a very special day for my mother - she celebrates her eightieth birthday and we have had a lovely day in the peace and quiet of the Tarn country side. A little fresh but with lovely sunshine.

The photograph features Mum, Dad and Spike the dog - the inseparable three.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

New Year Luca

New Year Luca

Our grandson Luca who has spent the last 8 weeks with his mother and family in Brazil is now back in the UK and Mum, Dad and Luca are all together.

As you know I post a photograph of Luca from time to time and this one was taken in Brighton UK on New Years day.

Not only is Luca nearly walking he wants to learn how to play the piano.

Photograph by Izabel James

Monday, January 01, 2007

Christmas Past

Christmas Past

I had intended to post this photograph before now but time flies.

If you check-in from time to time you will know that the village of Réal, which is part of the village of Roquemaure, is not very big. There is still a consecrated church here but it is very rarely used and next to the church is an old telephone box, which is used even less!

When France Telecom decided that the phone was no longer required a couple of the locals persuaded France Telecom to leave the box. I have no idea why but then someone has made it our very own Exhibition centre, perhaps the smallest in the world. In the summer we had a summer exhibition where it was turned into an aquarium. All the work is done by the local children and they had great fun cutting out and coloring all the paper fish and other stuff.

About three weeks before Christmas the Telephone Box Exhibition Centre was turn into out local Christmas Display. There is a sign towards the bottom of the box, which is not so clear to read that says that the display was created by the local children.

Well Christmas is past and from Réal, deep in the French country side I wish you all the very best for 2007.