Springtime in the vines

Not quite the vines, but the gorse instead, smelling so sweet as to fill the nostrils with honeyed air an elixir of heaven and earth, filling me with long gone memories and bringing to life cool breezes from the past.

London and heartbreak, cycling down the deisel filled roads, bracing against the cold of a march morning. Seeing him and his new wife where ever I used to go, bludgeoning home the tortuous agony of the past few months. Relentless pain, flaying my soul.

'Go away' said a friend, 'go to the south a France, get work on a boat, at least there you won't see Adam"

So I went or I came, either way. After a disasterous two months on a Motor yacht I acquired a job working as chef in a beach restaurant in St Tropez. I bought a racing bike, found ahome through a friend in Gassin and was soon cycling to work in May. Cold cold mornings the mistral blowing, down by the sea the salt wind irreverant of my skin lashed at me with  mightly force. I loved it, there was something healing and cleansing in the Mistral, blowing away my past, giving me a new future, what I didn't know.

Now here I am in Lorgues, it is May the nights are cold and the Mistral has taken hold this last week, claiming the south of France for herself. And as I walk down the path in the vineyards I am reminded of London. I am reminded of my time in the beach restaurant. The sun and the cold morning air, waiting for the mid morning warmth to venture in and hoping that the wind will settle. Today there is no Mistral, the morning is cold, but I know the day will be warm and in the afternoon I will be wrapped in the arms of the hot sun.

My beloved poppies, translucent, quiver, dancing to the tune of the wind. I sit in rapture and watch. My paint brush is wet and I delight in a moment of pure hedonistic pleasure.

Wishing you all a peaceful and happy day

Comments

[Antonia]

Tess these poppies are gorgeous and if you would sell me one or even 2 I'd love that. A special little gift for the new house and a lovely reminder of my beloved S of F and my darling Tess.

[Antonia]

I am so happy to see that you have painted these pictures with joy. You know why. And that the painting prompted you to take a peek into a painful past and move forward into your present moment and the deep satisfaction of artistic expression - getting in touch with the real you xoxo