"Thank God for Normandy"

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What have I missed!

I could kick myself, as I recently discovered that there is an exhibition by David Hockney at the Bayeux museum. It opened in September 2022 and finishes at the end of April 2023 but it is closed for the whole of January-  not sure why, as it would be great thing to do when the weather is bad.

www.bayeuxmuseum.com

I visited the Bayeux tapestry a few years ago with Tim and Irene - Tim completed the whole thing quicker than doing the 100m dash (it's actually 68 metres long) as he did not realise that you are supposed to pause the audio at each of the scenes (there are 58) or perhaps he did it purposely?. When we arrived at the gift shop (don't you just love a gift shop) I saw a needlework kit that recreated a part of the tapestry.
 "oooh I could do that " I said
" no you couldn't" said Tim and Irene simultaneously 
I bought a key ring instead which I still use to this day (unlikely to be the case with the needlework).

A year in Normandy 

The exhibition is called A Year In Normandy and it was originally exhibited at the Musee l'Orangerie in Paris. It depicts the four seasons In Normandy and he has created it by painting it all on his Ipad, It's similar in format to the Bayeux tapestry (though I hope with far less murders) and he was inspired by the blossoms that we get here in the orchards in the spring. 

Now, I am not one to name drop but he is actually my neighbour- well he lives in the Pays d'Auge which is near Caen and is about 80 kms from here - I wonder if he has to walk to the end of his road once a week to put his rubbish out as well?.

Shortly after he moved here an article written by Roger Lewis (who also lives here) appeared in the Daily Mail (so it must be true!) that explained why Hockney ditched LA to come to Normandy. Apparently Hockney visited once for a holiday and fell in love with it. Hockney felt that the French know how to live and know about pleasure! - I’ll say nothing!. 

The article explains that it is not only the food, but also property prices, the pristine and empty hospitals and the French love of life (Calvados for breakfast!) that makes Normandy so attractive. I kept the article and framed it, as David Hockney said "thank God for Normandy" I am sure it is not just me that agrees with that. I have used one of the paintings in my background image- hope you like it and he doesn't mind!. 

January blues 

“Thirty-one days of January are all about testing your stamina, patience, strength, and determination for the whole year.” – Anonymous. 

January is such a rubbish month, the weather has been so grim and wet (see Hockney's interpretation above), which is why I don't understand Dry January- surely you need to drink just to get through it!. 

One of the highlights here in January are the sales (Les Soldes). Sales here are strictly controlled and they only occur in January and around June. They run normally for four weeks and prices drop further throughout the four weeks. A sale is where a store is selling something for less than they bought it for (though we do also get Arrivages throughout the year which are special offers -normally in the DIY stores). 

One of my favourite sales is at Bouchara, there's a lovely one in Caen - I might bump into David Hockney whilst I am there!. They sell lots of lovely household items and their sales are excellent (up to 70%!!). I have picked up some gorgeous fabric two years running with huge discounts (if you can, hold your nerve till the end of January to get the really good deals).

www.bouchara.com 

Well, I'm off to buy a few tie backs and have a coffee with my lovely neighbour David. 

Salut!





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