Wednesday, 4th November 2026

I have the most exciting news. Tim's wormery is up and worming. The worms came in a bag in the post which was a bit bizarre. They were gently tipped on a bedding of coir, covered with newspaper and a bucket of vegetable peelings. 

We have had a Super Mario inspired 9th birthday party on Sunday. Being warm we got outside to battle with eucalyptus bark. I made a Yoshi smorgasbord. Very wonderful memories made. 

Steve, Zoe and Lizzie came for dinner last night and toast this morning. Really lovely to see them all. They are buying a house in France. I can feel a spring holiday is needed.

Day 10 of the Basque Holiday - Tuesday, 13th October

Today we went on a road trip accompanied by our constant companion George-the-fly. We left Otxandio, I would love to go back. En route to San Sebastian to drop off the car we stopped in Zestoa for beer and a pintxo selection. We did a bit of a sprint to - ok a fast walk, around to Ekain caves to look at cave paintings. Back on the road to drop off the car in San Sebastian, excellent driving by Nick and navigation from Tim. Two trains later we arrived in Saint-Jean-de-Luz. After a bag dragging seaside walk we arrived at our last apartment in Par Victoria with a swimming pool. I didn't pack my costume - damn.

What a fun evening. At Bar Basque Alli and I had Lillet blanc aperitifs. Mike and Pippa couldn't resist us being so close without meeting us and drove 2 and a half hours to enjoy our company. We all had dinner at La Cueva. Amazing small restaurant. A husband and wife team. No other staff. He cooked. She was front of house. The jambon croquettes were delicious, very good duck and I ended up with a café gourmand - there is something very charming about three tiny puddings on a plate. Great end to the day.

Wednesday, 28th October 2026 - Coppiced Hornbeams

I crossed off half my list before I left the house to meet Alli. I painted a commission for her friend's birthday. We had coffee in the garden of Arthurs in Cranbrook. Beth, Alli's sister called me an international artist as I have paintings in Austria and Canada. What a charming thought.

Day 9 of the Basque Holiday - Monday 12th October

After Si had filled our breakfast tummies we went for a walk through some beautiful countryside. The woods were full of stunning coppiced hornbeam trees. 

We had a food infusion at our apartment. We took the car out to Vitoria. After a long morning walk we stopped at bars for drinks. Back for dinner prepped in the morning by Si. The pasta bake was an excellent way to end a day of many steps.

Coppiced Hornbeams
Indian Ink and watercolour

Tuesday, 27th October 2026 - Red Socks and La Garita

I wrote eight things on my 'to-do' list for today. By the time I left at 1.15 to meet Sarah I hadn't done one! I will forward them on to tomorrow. Sarah and I met in a carpark in Hawkhurst. At the Kino I had tea, Sarah had coffee and we caught up on many weeks of news. Tuesday is 2 for 1 on film tickets. I like a bargain. We watched Sense and Sensibility. Esme Creed-Miles played Marianne. She looked beautiful ALL the time! Even when dripping with water and near to death. Loved the film. Loved the costumes, Loved the scenery. Love Sarah for booking it.

Back home I found all sorts of vegetables to roast and make into a soup. I am collecting peelings for when the wormery is up and running. I have many tubs.

Day 8 of the Basque Holiday - Sunday 11th October - Red Socks and La Garita

An exciting day. We hired a car. A very large car was needed to accommodate us and our many bags and backpacks. Nick drove while Tim navigated us to Durango, a very pretty Medieval village. We stopped for refreshments, lunch and a wander. Some streets were lined with huge leaved Indian Bean trees - they gave some welcome shade.

Onwards to Otxandio for a two night stop. Another lovely apartment. Nick and Alli got to share a bed and bedroom in this one. We went for a walk and stopped at a bar. Tim requested an aperitif. Si and I confused the barman with our request. He found a bottle of La Garita and poured generous measures over ice and the bar. If you wish to know more .... it is a red vermouth has 12 botanicals - clove, vanilla, moscatel, cinnamon, raspberry, orange, wormwood, gentian, chamomile, mint, juniper, and tea. It was surprisingly good.

Our hostess had booked a meal at Zuhaitza Jatetxea. We wandered in at about 7 thinking we could have a drink before dinner. It was empty apart from a waiter mopping the floor. Curious. We were told to come back at 8pm. We had to have another drink in another bar. Returning at 8pm the restuarant was buzzing with people. Excellent meal. Bravely I ordered prawn and eel. The eels were glass eels! Alli and I both thought they tasted like noodles. A choice of pudding was ice-cream..... on a stick. We wended a rather wobbly way back to bed. What a glorious day!

Red Socks and La Garita
Pen and Watercolour

Monday, 26th October 2026 - Arriluze Lighthouse and Tamarind Trees

Between windy showers I fed our chickens who were looking very frou frou in the wind. I dragged an amputated branch from our liquid amber tree down the garden and onto the bonfire. It was heavy causing me to huff, puff and swear just a little bit.

We did get out for a brief walk this afternoon. It is welly weather again. I had to clear out the cobwebs in mine. I had forgotten that irritating habit of socks falling off your feet and ending up in the toes of your wellies. 

Day Seven of the Basque Holiday - Saturday, 10th October - Part two

After traversing the transporter bridge, we safely arrived on the other side of Nervión River. We promenaded along the waterfront. A long, long, long walk. The cafes were very tempting but we ventured bravely on into the fishing village up lots of steps. Lunch at Goiezti was very welcome. The Metro took us back with just a short walk to finish the day.

Arriluze Lighthouse and Tamarind Trees
Pen and Watercolour

Sunday, 25th October 2026 - Transporter Bridge

The extra hour in bed was most welcome following an evening celebrating Tim's 68th birthday with Nick, Alli, Si, Lesley, Tony and Wendy. Tim made little crispy shrimp croquettes in remembrance of our Basque holiday. Buying wanted presents is always a challenge. This year I gave Tim a wormery. He liked it.

The Peacock was having a festival. Tim and the Morris were invited to dance. It was very windy. The Morris hats blew off heads but they bravely danced on. Tom's car had been fixed by an 'old boy' where he lives. I enquired as to the age of the 'old boy'. "Mid sixites", was Tom's reply. Similar age to your parents then Tom! It was lovely to have a beer with him and see Fable.

We came home, lit the woodburner and read our books. My eyes may have closed for a few minutes. 

Day Seven of the Basque Holiday - Saturday, 10th October Part one

You have only part of Day Seven. More tomorrow. 

We had an itinerary for today inspired by Miguel our guide. Following Si preparing our breakfasts for us - the bowl of cut up white peaches and oranges were a good way to start the day. A couple of interesting pastries too. I digress ..... we took the Metro  to Portugalete with our newly acquired Barik card. A very cheap way to travel once you have figured out where to buy one. 

We stopped for a coffee and people watched. Lots of people looking like their dogs and very smartly dressed older ladies. Older than mid sixties! 

We had an adventure using a transporter bridge. I have never seen one before. Nick, Alli, Si and Lesley went across the Nervion River on the gondola. We watched them go across. It looked perilous. Even more perilous was the route Tim and I chose. Up 50 metres in a cage lift to an open air pedestrian walkway across the top. The views were amazing. I was very grateful for all the netting. It was a 160 metres walk to get to the other side. A very quick painting of me watching our friends go across on the gondola. I am off to bed I will continue with my journey tomorrow.

Transporter Bridge
Pen and watercolour

Thursday, 22nd October 2026 - Sarah

Storm Austen was beginning to build on my way back from a life drawing evening. There will be no Basque diary today. It is 22.17 as I am typing. Too late for my mind to be able to concentrate on what I was doing over a week ago. Our life model was Sarah. We had three 10-minute pose, one 20-minute pose, a tea break finishing with an hour long pose. Life drawing is a great discipline and I am learning a lot by looking over the shoulders of other artists.

Here is my work. I have cropped some of the images.

Wednesday, 21st October 2026 - Piquante Gildas

Going on holiday is lovely. Coming home is lovely too. I haven't seen Lindsey for weeks. She had lit her woodburner which was perfect on a wet windy day. We caught up on stories while drinking tea and eating tangerines.

Day Six of the Basque Holiday - Friday, 9th October 

Alli and I both had a toilet roll panic in our previous apartment. There was only one very small one on display. What a relief to find a large supply in a bathroom drawer. Funny the things we worry about.

Si did his early morning breakfast shop. He wasn't very impressed at the lateness opening times. There was a protest around the square outside our apartment. The cleaners were fighting for better pay. The streets were strewn with paper. My thoughts were they were making a lot of extra work for themselves!

We had tickets for the Guggenheim. Reviews were mixed on-line and from our group. The "puppy" covered in flowers by Jeff Koons was impressive. I wonder how often they get changed. Tim and I had a thoroughly enjoyable few hours inside. There were some odd pieces. I cannot quite 'get' installation art. An example was a piece by Mona Hatoum called Home. Wood, galvanised steel, stainless steel, electric wire, crocodile clips, light bulbs, computerized dimmer switch, amplifier and speakers!!! Lesley and I were both at bit of a loss to understand the artistic quality of this.

The massive sculpture A Matter of Time by Richard Serra made of rusty steel was impressive to walk around and through. The video on how they installed it I found as interesting as the sculpture.

We met Si and Lesley outside and needed a beer. Back near the apartment I ordered 'fich'. They were squid and squid ink croquettes. Very delightful.

In the afternoon we went up another Funicular and met up with Nick and Alli. After a couple of rejections for dinner we ended up in lovely restaurant, just a short stagger from our apartment. Cepas Ajuriaguerra had all we needed. I can't remember what I ate but know it was delicious.

Piquante Gildas or Gilda Minac