A beautiful painting by Pamela Slater Sue and John are having an Open House at their home in La Verdrie, France. I am so cross I can't be here to help - I am off home tonight. I would have loved to have stayed to help with the teas and Sue's fabulous cakes - you know how good I am with cake!!!! Everything is looking fabulous . . .  There will be -  Paintings Greetings cards Textiles Hand-woven Kilims Wood-turning Photography  and Furniture Plus teas, coffee and cakes of all shapes and sizes.   There will also be wood-turning, painting and knitting and crochet demonstrations. 16 rue de la Verderie, 17770 Brizambourg 10 - 4 Sundays 18th and 25th August. if any of you have friends in the Charente Maritime region of France, do share this  with them.  If anyone needs directions - just ring  Sue on  0546 9408 53              Do go along if you can - you will be made very welcome. Have a great weekend -

Gorgeous shapes in the market. I am staying with my friends Sue and John who live in a very quiet and rural area of the Charente Maritime in France.  Sue and I were at art college together - THIRTY EIGHT years ago! How can it be that long? I try to get over here at least once a year. They are very good friends and know me VERY well.  It has been gloriously warm with clear blue skies - just fabulous. It has been wonderful to have the time just to  - be. Does that make sense? We have been quite social with a barbecue yesterday and a big gathering tonight. I will flying back home tomorrow.  One of the local fields of sunflowers. Taking the dog for walks is a great opportunity to take loads of photos. The sunflowers are nearly over now, just the smaller, secondary flowers are blooming - but they are still very colourful - beautiful against the blue sky.  I love looking at the entrances to buildings and gardens - it is fun to imagine what might be beyond the gates and doo

  A mountain of brightly coloured macaroons. Well, I am now back home, had the parents and my gorgeous sister over for tea and it's time to start revving myself up for a busy week. I wanted to show you some more of my time in France with my good friends Sue and John Culligan. Sue and John live i n an old stone farmhouse in the heart of the Charente-Maritime in t he tiny hamlet of Le Verderie, close to Brizambourg. It's all very rural and lovely. A great place to rest and also to have a great time. Sue and I went to college together many moons ago, so we know each other VERY well. Sue and John run a chambre d'hotes and Sue is the owner of Knitting Holidays in France www.knittingholidaysinfrance.com and is the pattern editor of Knitting Magazine. She is also the author of several books. I have such clever friends. After several days of dog walks and fantastic food (and much lounging about) we all spent the last day in Bordeaux, about two hours South from Le Verd