It might surprise you to hear that I’ve been ranting quite a lot over the last day or two, although surprise may not be first among the emotions felt, by those of you who know me well, on hearing that unsurprising news. I’ve been ranting over WordPress.org’s user unfriendliness only to realise that it was this user who was being unfriendly to something that he hadn’t fully understood so I had to rant, quite vigorously, at myself. Self ranting is not half so much fun as self abuse so I must try to stop. A reduction in self ranting can result in airy calms which is something that I currently need, so I’m going to think about nice things and not about my photography website that now has no pages.
I’m going to think of summer lunches, under cloudless blue skies, in an elegant courtyard on a tiny island off the coast of the Vendée..of butter basted, herb filled roast chicken with good bread, well dressed salad and chilled wine under the kind shade of a huge parasol…of pink slices of crisp skinned, garlic and anchovy spiked gigot served with thinly sliced potatoes that cooked beneath it and slowly soaked up the juices like we soaked up the sun….of family and good company…and of sea, sun and all the other good stuff…..and
of Edward Hopper who was the influence for these pictures. I feel an airy calm coming on…..
Food, Photography & France 
I won’t ask what happened – the lunch, sky and setting look perfect 😉
The memories are good…tomorrow I set off to Lyon for “Food & Travel” magazine…bit of charcuterie shooting:)
Excellent – I hope that’s as fun as it sounds 😉
It should be…:)
I’m jealous 🙂
Hmmm I wonder if I’m not being user friendly to my page as well. I did send in a note to the support group which, as far as I can tell, hasn’t responded. I think I need a courtyard like yours to restore sanity. 🙂
No, that’s not my courtyard…it’s where we holidayed on the Ile d’Oleron last year. We have a nice courtyard but not quite that big:)
Oh! 🙂 You found yourself a lovely spot though.
It was amazing and nothing like the prices of the tres chic Ile de Re or Noirmoutier which are to Paris as the Hamptons are to New York..:)
Oh I’m sure. I amazes me what some people are willing to pay for the “right” spot.
🙂
Summer lunches under cloudless blue skies…perfect 🙂
it’s the stuff we think about all winter:)
It’s raining and chilly in Bangalore these days and it’s the “stuff” i’ve been dreaming about 🙂
I can’t imagine Bangalore ever being rainy and chilly:)
Oh, that lamb… I don’t know that Hopper had much in the way of friends, much less an appetite, but really, who cares? What a lovely table and what a lovely meal it must have been.
I think Hopper went more for looks than friends or food:)
You need to talk to one of those nice but oddly- named ‘Happiness Engineers’. They’re actually very human, patient and helpful. Don’t know what’s gone wrong, but hope it’s sorted soon.
It’s sorted Margarert. rogerstowell.com/wordpress is now up and running…still with a few glitches but OK:)
No pages? Oh fuck, that eats balls.
Feel that airy calm my brother, as airy calm is way more legit than airy trousers.
Smiley face
It’s sorted …the airy calm is here:)
Smiley face
Hopper can calm anyone, Roger. Your pictures are a worthy tribute to him.
If I can answer any questions about what’s happened, I’m happy to try. I understand the WordPress.org backend a little. 🙂
I got the techies at my server to get it sorted…I deleted some code and hadn’t made a note or backed up the site…my fault:)
I was quite contented amidst a morning of winter gloom until that courtyard with promises of that food and vino somehow appeared on my screen . . . selfishly now I cannot wait to try and replicate . . . about two months to go 🙂 ! Lyons and charcuterie . . . . when I say ‘peagreen’ it means just that!!!!
It’s 6.15 in the morning and just about to leave…I’ll keep you posted:)
3 pm Oz time, and you bfing well better 😀 !!
I am glad to hear that you got the bleus and not the blues, much better the bleu of the sky!
Absolutely…although it has come to mind that “bleu” also means a bruise….but I’m unbruised and ready to go:)
🙂 good news!
I’m green with envy at the bleu of that sky… but they say blue and green should never be seen 😉
The blue of the sky and the green of the trees looks pretty good this morning:)
All those positive thoughts and that bright blue must have perked you right up:)
No question…I was thoroughly perked:)
Happy thoughts…happy thoughts….ommmmm! Somehow though I can’t imagine you in the lotus position, bonging yours chimes and channeling positive energy….best open another bottle of wine 😉
Bonged chimes are a bad thing…more sack, waiter:)
Sitting in that courtyard with a delicious dejeuner would certainly take away my blues.
It’s a definite cure for the blues wonderful:)
Hi Roger, hopefully this will cheer you up. I followed all your tips and the parmigiana was delicious. Thank you. Emma.
That’s good news..glad it worked:)
I am salivating over that lamb…and I borderline want to make it the desktop background for my PC. It’s essentially what all my dreams look like.
That is such a compliment!…many thanks:)
A perfectly roasted leg of lamb, a beautifully set table and a view to die for…..what a lovely post.
Cheers–it’s raining today and it’s good to remember sunny days:)
I love the brightness and intensity of the blues in your photos…or is that just your amazing surroundings? I believe it’s both.
You’re right…summer on the Vendeen islands is blue skies and blue sea…but a good capture helps:)