walkie - talkie

A relatively mac-free few days with friends walking eating ...and 'talking' (what's that?) does wonders for the soul, and indeed the thighs. Yesterday we walked up to the bergerie on the Ventoux where the thyme and pine perfumes were so intense they were almost rude. Today, having been nourished by one of Julian's curry fests which left our chef guests George and Johanne from Al Forno speechless, we walked along the two ridges of the Dentelles de Montimirail. We consumed our piquenique of salami and gherkin sandwiches leaning up against one of the chilly teeth in a razor cold mistral and, crossing over to the second ridge with a good tail wind, we indulged in many more food breaks as suddenly we were in the pre-balmy heat of early spring. We leaned up against the warm white rock munching chocolate whilst sun reddened our winter noses and we could just hear the miniature mountain orchids and irises murmuring about their imminent entry into the light of day. They were accompanied by the roar of the wind chasing us from the opposite ridge. The latter was so loud at times that, closing our eyes, we could have been sitting on the banks of the M25 or on a stormy Cornish sea-cliff.

Sales on Julian's blog of small paintings are - relative to the season - reaching fever pitch and we have experienced a small moment of exhalation as space appears in his head, he stops panicking, destresses, lightens up and starts to relax into the moment. However, it isn't long before something else creeps into the available quiet area of his brain and The New Idea is born.

Oh well, it was nice while it lasted!

The New Idea is to put up a website of walks in Provence; to be the Wainrights of the Vaucluse. Given this would mean going for long walks together to time, map, photograph and paint the itineraries, in spring, summer, autumn and winter, I'm all for it, especially if it gets us out and away from computer madness. After all, it was the walking boots that I wore along with the posh frock at the wedding at which we met that really did it for Julian and we have a tradition to keep up.

Back at home Oscar is in love with our guest Ronald. Despite the fact that he is allergic to cats, Ronald has been seduced and spent the evening with an adoring Oscar on his lap. Julian wants to know what perfume Ronald wears.