Cool Hand Luca

A Luca photo to last you a couple of weeks. After my flying visit to the UK where the sun shone and it looked like summer had eventually arrived and I managed to get a few photos of our grandson Luca, I am now back in France.

I just loved this image with his sunglasses on - he looked so cool. Luca is now beginning to say a few words, although he understands a lot, but as he is learning his mother's native language, Brazilian Portuguese and English, he has a lot to take in. One of his new words is 'Tractor' so granddad had to buy him a tractor, a toy one of course and we had great fun.

Today we are off on holiday / vacation so my next post will probably not be for a couple of weeks.

Brocante puppets

On Sunday we had the Rabastens local Brocante, an open air sale of all things old, and it is a great opportunity to get some nice images of things from the past. Wandering around in the warm September sunshine and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere and making sure there was limited cash in my pocket. I still ended up buying and old camera!

This will be the last post for a few days, or maybe to the end of the month. I leave later today for a few days in the UK to see my son and family then after that a couple of weeks vacation / holiday somewhere in France - haven't yet decided where.

Lady Table

This lady at the market on a Saturday morning in the town of Rabastens sells table cloths.

We have already bought two.

Coffee Maker

At the morning market in the town Rabastens today I discovered a Artisan Torréfacteur. He has all sorts of coffee and Tea's that he cured himself. I'm not quite sure what that means but we bought some Brazilian coffee beans which this gentleman ground for our filter coffee machine.

I will be looking forwards to my coffee tomorrow morning.

Rugby World Cup

Ready for the first game in the Rugby World Cup being held in France.

France V Argentina - Wonder who will win?

Cool Luca

My favourite subject our grandson Luca enjoying some British sunshine. I will be able to spend a whole day with Luca next week as I will be in the UK for a few days.

That's going to be shear joy.

Image by Izabel James

Wind Power

Windmills from the air taken by Christain Hot in his Micro Light aircraft. These electricity generating windmills are next to the Toulouse Narbonne motorway near Avignonet.

Les éoliennes à Avignonet, à coté de l'autoroute Toulouse-Narbonne.

Image by/par Christian Hot

The Little Needle

Another view of the Tarn countryside from the sky taken from a micro light aircraft.

The first person to tell me what how the design is made might just receive a postcard from this beautiful area. I await your comments!

Image by/par Christian Hot

Lavaur

Le golf de Viterbe - Lavaur

The golf course of Viterbe near the town of Lavaur in the Tarn.

Image by/par Christian Hot

High Flier

Le plaisir de voler

Depart pour un vol en ULM au dessus de la region par le Maire de Roquemaure Christian Hot.

The Pleasure of flying.

We depart for a ariel view in a Micro Light Aircraft by the Mayor of Roquemaure Christian Hot.

Christain has sent me a few photographs taken as he flies around the region which I will publish over the next few days.

Image by/par Christian Hot.

Gaillac Rooftops

The town of Gaillac that sits on the banks of the river Tarn, France.

Diana, Princess of Wales

Today is the 10th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana.

Just two weeks after the deaths of Diana Princess of Wales, Dodi Al Fayed and others, I visited what has become the place that people now come to pay homage to the deaths that occurred in the underpass by the Pont de L’alma in Paris. A new tourist attraction had been tragically and instantly added to Paris. The Liberty Flame, a full sized replica of the flame that sits atop the Statue of Liberty in New York’s harbour was given to the city of Paris by America in celebration of the bi-centennial of the French Revolution. The Liberty Flame by the Pont de L’alma was now added to the list of places to visit when in Paris.

Although the monument is constantly cleaned and flowers and mementoes removed this is the place that for ten years people have stood and wondered...............

In those weeks after her death I went on to photograph Paris through the eyes of a tourist because no matter what tragedy had taken place here there were still all the other well known places to visit. This story can be seen here.

Albi Summer

It seems like summer is over with the bad weather we are having. It is so changeable so this summer snap of a street in Albi is to brighten my day.

Sunny Pool

I am posting this lovely peaceful image of the sun rising over the pool and it looks so inviting. The weather has been like this for a few days although a little too hot.

This morning after some very noisy thunderstorms, and lots of rain we have woken up to a scene more reminiscent of my Scottish heritage - lots of Scotch Mist!

Changeable weather to say the least.

Cruise the Tarn

Cruise the River Tarn at Albi.

Right at the end of the vacation / holiday season we are now getting a heat wave!! From the weather forecast is is not set to last too long, but today is it pushing towards 40°C and that is just a little too hot.

I now need to go take a rest.

Old Wood

Strong beams of wood still holding up after hundreds of years.

On the corner of the lovely market square in the town of L'Isle sur Tarn is the Maison de la Presse. The beautiful vaulted walkway that surrounds the square has a variety of shops to explore.

Olive Bar

Bar L'olivier in the town of L'Isle sur Tarn. I know the weather this year has affected tourism in many areas and it has not been a good season for many businesses.

This image was taken mid afternoon, a quite period and I'm sure the Bar L'olivier is doing OK.

Fast Cars

Red! What other colour is there?

The area of the Tarn, although not exactly a sleepy backwater, is very much a farming and wine country. I have noticed elderly farmers driving around in 30 years old cars and I am fascinated that these almost classical cars still doing good service.

As you enter the town of Gaillac there is a used car lot with top of the range models for sale including a few which would definitely have difficulty negotiating the rolling twisting roads of the Tarn.

Red Ferrari! Who needs one?

Church Thinking

I seem to remember there are two subjects that should be avoided at dinner, religion and politics, as neither interest me much it is unlikely I would get involved anyway.

I am however drawn to church interiors and photographing them and often wander around old churches and watch for how the light entering through the various stained glass windows can make for interesting photo taking opportunities.

I am not alone, as I see many people do the same do the same!

The interior of the church at the abbey of St Michel in Gaillac, Tarn, France.

Candle Light

Light a candle for me!

Taken in Albi Cathederal