Apéro or two?

 

"Art has to move you, and design does not, unless it's a good design for a bus".  David Hockney 1937-2026

I was sad to hear that David Hockney passed away recently at 86. The news brought tributes from the art world and beyond as people celebrated his life, colourful work, and lasting impact. In a previous blog, I joked that he was almost our neighbour—maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but he did live in Normandy. I was excited to visit his exhibition, A Year in Normandy, in Bayeux a few years ago. It was first shown at the Musée l'Orangerie in Paris and shows the four seasons in Normandy. He painted it all on his iPad, and the format was inspired by the Bayeux tapestry, just with far fewer murders. Walking through the exhibition, I was struck by the energy and freshness in each seasonal scene. The way he captured the changing light and countryside made me think of quiet mornings and gentle rains (we normally get plenty of those) outside my own window. I left feeling inspired and grateful to see these moments through his eyes and to live in such a beautiful place. I’ve added the front cover of the book with the same name to my home page.

Last year, I also visited his exhibition at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris and was amazed by the size of the collection. There were over 400 of his works from 1955 to 2025, spread across three floors, which made the scale of his career feel even more striking.

Everyday life

Our friends were invited by their mairie to their local cemetery to celebrate the opening of the new cemetery car park. The French really can turn any occasion into a chance to share an apéro.

Speaking of apéro, I was listening to Tatty McLeod recently, a brilliant bilingual comic. She said that after years of research, she has finally found the difference between French and English people. It’s simple, she said, and can be summed up in one word: “moderation.” When the French meet for an apéro, that’s all it is. When the English meet for an apéro, they insist they are only staying for one drink but wake up in Cardiff ! (Her words, not mine!) So I really need to be more French, especially now that the supermarkets are crammed full of rosé wine.

Culture corner:

I went to see a hilarious French comic in Paris, Olivier Giraud, whose show is called “How to become a Parisian.” According to him, to be like a Parisian, you have to wear black all year, wear a scarf no matter the weather, and be rude to everyone. The show runs regularly at Théâtre des Nouveautés in Paris and is performed in English, so you don’t need to speak French to enjoy it. I recommend it. It’s very funny.

Hot news!

A new ferry service is being launched between the UK and France next month on a high-performance catamaran. It will cross from Shoreham to Fécamp, carrying twelve passengers using wind power on eight-hour trips. I doubt it will have a duty-free shop.

In sunny and very dry Normandy, Tim and I are still fighting the weeds, especially the bindweed, which is growing incredibly fast. Why doesn’t it struggle in the drought like every other plant?

This is our third official heatwave of the year, and we have watched in horror at what is happening further south. I will never complain about the rain again, even in the darkest days of January.

Off for an apéro or two!

Keep well, and keep your fluid intake up, whatever that may be!