Bold, Vivid Colours

What is life?  It is the flash of a firefly in the night.  It is the breath of a buffalo in the winter time.  It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset

Crowfoot (Blackfoot)

Chateau de La Ferte Saint-Aubin. Part 1.

My favourite castle of all time.  A magical place, a place of remembrance and a lively place!  A truly pleasurable moment.  Numerous different families lived here until the late 16th century, when the castle and surrounding gardens were inherited by the Saint Nectaires, who later changed their name to La Ferte Senectere.  Henri II de la Ferte Senectere was marshal of France.  Though he didn't finish building the castle, he had the two magnificent stables built in 1681.  In 1746, the castle was sold to Woldemar, Count of Lowendal.  The castle was owned by many different people, until the O'Gorman family brought it in 1911.  The castle was passed on and inherited until 1987, when it came to its present owner, Mr Jacques Guyot, who opened it to the public.

Chateau de La Ferte Saint-Aubin.  Part 2.

The Sitting Room.  The paneling, floor and chimney date back to Louis XVI (late 18th century).  The room includes an 18th century Persian carpet, a pair of gilded wooden consoles and furniture covered in Aubusson tapestries dating back to Louis XVI.  The large mirror on the left has a medallion portrait of Marshal de la Ferte Senectere painted in 1670, with a portrait of Duchess de la Ferte Senectere, his second wife, painted by Mignard in the 17th century, facing it on the mirror above the chimney.The Billiard Room.  This room was entirely redecorated by the O'Gormans around 1911.  It had originally been a bedroom with 18th century paneling.  The room has a beautiful set of neo-gothic furniture brought back from Britain by the O'Gormans, each piece featuring their arms and motto.  The billiard table comes from the Chevillottess in Orleans.

South Of France Festival Pomporols summer festival aren’t just about looking at the performers - the enthusiastic spectators create a wealth of photo opportunities.

Chateau de la Ferte Saint-Aubin Part 4.  The Dining Room.  In the 17th century, this was an antechamber.  The chequered floor dates back to this period, and curiously the white tiles in Burgundy stone have been worn off over 4 centuries while the black marble tiles have not been damaged at all.  The panelling dates back to Louis XVI.  There is an 18th century chandelier out of Bohemia crystal. The Kitchen.  It was entirely restored in 1995 from an archives document from the 18th century.  Everything is there, and in working order too: 18th century roasting spit, stone stove to boil vegetables and fruits using coal from the chimney, fish tank where fish was kept alive, the bracket for game animals and cutting table. On the long work surface is a collection of copperware and copper utensils.

Cite de L’Automobile, Mulhouse, France

An automobile museum located in Mulhouse, France.  It contains the largest and most comprehensive collection of Bugatti motor vehicles in the world.  I enjoyed looking around, a lot to see.

There is, perhaps, no solitary sensation so exquisite as that of slumbering on the grss or hay, shaded from the hot sun by a tree, with the consciousness of a fresh light air running through the wide atmosphere and the sky stretching far overhead upon all sides

Leigh Hunt (1784-1859)

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The Beach

Photos of the beach, I’m embracing summer memories on the beach.

The Smallest House In Great Britain, Conwy, Wales

The house was created in the 16th century.  The smallest house in             Great Britain measures 72 inches across, 122 inches high and 120 inches deep.  The house has a living area and bedroom.  It was last occupied in 1900 by a fisherman called Robert Jones.  Robert was 6ft 3″.  The rooms were too small for him to stand up in fully.  He had to leave as the house was declared unfit for human habitation.

Every year me and my family go to The South Of France.  In August every year the local villages hold their own festivals.  Two years running now Pomerols, village in South Of France, didn't have their own festival.  A pity as the festival is entertaining and enjoyable to watch.  However I was able to take images of the Festival Des Animaux Toteniques 2019!