Start of 2019 Season

We have been working hard on the old house this winter, repairing the crepi (render) on the front, and simplifying the entrance to give it a smarter look.  We used the traditional materials of chaux (lime) and sand with local ochre mixed in to give it the creamy yellow colour. 

I recently found this photo of the back of the house when the openings onto the terrace were newly made; then the swimming pool was just an idea! The pool actually sits in the cellar of a ruined house.  Its a long way from how it looks today.

Les Bassacs Aprons and Tea Towels

Jane Revitt, a Les Bassacs regular has produced this excellent apron which is for sale at her online shop. The apron is printed with a vintage map of the Vaucluse. It shows Apt, Roussillon, St Saturnin les Apt, Les Bassacs and many more villages. The original map was published in the Encyclopedie de France in 1904. She has matching tea towels.

I test drove this apron last summer and it held up beautifully to the hard wear in my kitchen. 

Snow on the 1st December what the heck?

More Weather

This morning we woke up to rain, the first rainy morning for months.

David took everyone to Roussillon for a sketching trip. By the afternoon

the rain had gone and we were treated to some very dramatic skies signally

the arrival of a mistral!

Works in Progress

The work to bury the electricity and telephone cables has ground to a halt.  The next stage is for the old telegraph poles to come down.  The new street lighting give a more atmospheric feel to the street at night.

At this time of year the sunsets are spectacular, especially when reflected in the pool.

Oppede le vieux

Ancient graffiti spotted at Oppede le vieux.

Night painting

A beautiful still evening with a hint of autumn.
After such a hot summer it feels good to have a cooler spell.

Rebecca Hind

We are very sad to learn that Rebecca Hind, who taught here at Les Bassacs for many years, has died.  She was a popular and talented teacher who will be missed by all who knew her.

She died in the early hours of Tuesday the 4th of July. Our thoughts are with her son and daughter and her partner Brian Catling, who will all feel her loss keenly.

Her funeral will be at 11 am on Friday the  14th of July at Dorchester Abbey , Dorchester on Thames  OX10 7HH
There will be a collection in aid of AGBI instead of flowers.
The service will be followed by refreshments in the Abbey and cloister gardens.
All those attending  are encouraged to wear colour.

Les Bassacs wildlife

We are in the middle of a drought, the summer has been lovely and hot but dry.  We have been treated to visits from a variety of fauna with some unusual sightings.   We have seen three snakes in the garden , this one David spotted making its way up the wall after bird's eggs.  We identified it as a ladder snake.

We found this tree frog clinging onto our front door!

A giant grasshopper by the pool.

And some exhausted painters too!

Burying the wires

The hameau is having its electricity and telephone wires buried which has led to a great deal of hole-digging, noise and dust.

Little by little the work has progressed during the spring.

Now we are waiting for the EDF to come and disconnect the old supply and connect us to the buried wires.  In the meantime the work has finished and they have resurfaced our little street!

For a couple of months we were having to go across country to get into the hameau as the road was closed.  Driving through the garrigue made was such a nice diversion.  The wild thyme was in full flower and I often stopped with a car full of shopping to cut some for the afternoon cooking session.  I also happened across a tiny clutch of garlic flowers blooming under the olive trees between Les Bassacs and Les Cordiers.