HOW TO PAINT A SPOILT BRAT

Just get out the equipment and do it.

P.S. Let's not get confused now. This post is not titled "Another Dog" - that's the next one down.

ANOTHER DOG

Lynne's brother Matt turned 50 when we were on holiday in Hobart.

Needless to say, Lynne said (very endearingly): 'Darling, I've forgotten my brother's birthday. Can quickly rustle up a dog?'

Just what I wanted to hear when I was engrossed in my daily task of working out which beach to spend the day on.

Fortunately technology came to the rescue and Carol emailed a photo of Frankie for me to do a portrait from. (For anyone who's interested here's the genealogy: Carol is Matt's wife - Frankie is Matt's dog.)

Then Australiapost and the Royal Mail came to the rescue and got the painting of Frankie to Mat on time.

IT'S THE RUN UP TO CHRISTMAS AND SHE'S 50

She's 50!

"She" being my sister in law - not the dog. 

The dog's name is Polo. 

It's her dog. 

Her name is name is Carol Baker and she lives in England. 

I don't think she'll see this blog. 

I hope not anyway because she turns 50 on Christmas day. 

(Just to be clear, it's Carols birthday and not the dog's.) 

And this is her present. 

"POLO for CAROL on her 50th. Bisous. Ray & Lynne"

A LAST SHORT WALK IN THE PYRENEES

It was cold, clear and beautiful.

What a great idea. Lynne suggested a last walk before we take off for Vietnam and Australia.

Two and a half hours from Mezin to Loudonvielle where we spent the night in the campervan.

Then a six hour walk.

Quite strenuous for old codgers - a few of the climbs were straight up and would have made

Tenzing Norgay think twice.

Rewarded with spectacular views.

Back on terra firma.

Can't overlook the chance to sketch a romanesque church.

Then we had lunch and drove home.

My sketch of the church of Saint Felix.

MEDITERRANEAN COASTAL WALK

WALKING THE MED

Out of the blue one day, I had a sudden  rush of blood to the head.

Then all I had to do was talk Lynne into thinking what a fantastic idea I'd had. 

So I asked her what she thought about walking along the Mediterranean coast from  France into Spain. 

Fortunately she also thought it was a great idea.

So we started at Collioure on the Cote Vermeille (immortalised by the Post Impressionists and the Fauves) and finished at Cadaques (where both Picasso and Dali lived for a while in the nineteen thirties). 

Well, although Via Michelin gives the walking distance as around 60 kilometres, it took us four days which means only about 15 kilometers per day, staying at cheap hostels in Banyules sur Mer, Port Bou and Port de la Selva.

But there are lots of ups and downs as the GR 92 coastal path winds through and around dozens of bays, beaches and coves and climbs over numerous headlands and cliffs. Each one is higher than the last and all are much, much higher than Mount Everest. 

Anyway we made it and caught a bus and two trains back to our campervan in France. And we were both right - it was a wonderful walk and a fantastic experience.

A spritely start for  a couple of old codgers.

Breaching the coastal defences.

Maybe a boat would have been a better option.

It's a long way from the last bar - and even further to the next.

Still not a drinking hole in sight.

Hang on - that looks like one in the distance.

But it's still  a long way to go.

And there's always another mountain to climb.

Real hard yakka - whose stupid idea was this?.

Can't be long now.

Hope he stops grumbling now that we know where we're going.

Let's hope it's the last uphill.

Thank God!

Next stop: the first bar in Cadaques.

Then back to where it all started: Chateau Royal in Collioure.

AUCH PLUS A FEW KILOMETRES ON THE WAY OF ST JACQUES

The wonderful Renaissance stained glass windows in Auch cathedral - some say they're the most important ones in France after Chartres.

This could be something worth having to eat on the train to Paris tomorrow.

Yes! In case we get peckish, let's buy some of these French delicacies to take with us.

This is the signpost in Mezin showing the way to Compostela in far western Spain.

Only 1059 kilometers. Perhaps we should only walk a little of the way.

On our short walk - outside the west portal of the church of St Jean Baptiste in Mezin.

A little further along our route. (We're actually walking back to The Mill, but we're following

the official pilgrim's way which goes in the same direction for a few kilometers)

Almost back at The Mill in Poudenas.

Team shot on our last night in the dining room at The Mill. We're on our way to 

dinner at a restaurant in Sos.

And here's the TGV to take us to Paris. 

Bon voyage. 

Bon continuation. 

Bon fin de vacances.

Bon retour. 

A bientot. 

We hope to see you again one day.

ST EMILION, COOKING, EATING AND DRINKING - THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES

Here we are at the famous medieval wine centre of St Emilion in the heart of the Bordeaux winelands.

The reason we're here is because this is the biggest wine making area in the world. Oh, and you may have noticed that we don't mind a drink.

And this is us waiting for the first course in the square just outside the underground church.

We quite like tasting things too.

The TWO LYNNES in the kitchen at The Mill.

On the ramparts next to a watchtower in the river port of Vianne.

Seven pigeonniers taken in the salon at La Petite Galerie - just waiting for the Guggenheim or the Louvre to phone - and the best offer gets them.

This is what it's all about: Lynne (of Cooking with Lynne fame) preparing  'poussins au citron' in the kitchen at The Mill.

Many hands make light work for another lavish meal where everyone lends a hand.

The eternal attraction of millinery at Eauze market.

(If you want to get ahead get a hat).

Jean Ladeveze explaining all about Armagnac with a little help from Lynne.

In the foreground is all the stuff there is to taste.

Yes, another tasting - this time it's Floc, then Port, then a few glasses of Armaganc.

Madeleine and Jean Ladeveze, reputedly the best Armagnac maker in the area - and something rare and special to take home to some special person in Australia.

(Another day to go, so come back for more pictures soon)