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Another house move to a bigger apartment in the same location overlooking the slow moving river.  Adventures in France, Spain, Italy, Portugal and Greece.  An unexpected and exciting car trip through the Balkans.  It has been a busy time since last I posted.  Having escaped the pirates mentioned earlier there will be more details soon.

A picture from last year of a super house in the South of France.

It's a lovely part of the world and would be a great place to stay.

I made enquiries about this house and am very tempted.  

Who knows what the future will bring?

PIRATES!

More soon!  Well, fairly soon!

Tour of Mull Rally

Still in the UK, and having good friends on the Isle of Mull in Scotland, it made good sense to go to the Tour of Mull Rally!

Imagine my disappointment that I couldn't race the silver supercharged PurpleEvieMobile (in photo) round the island as I was just a little late in entering. Despite my protests about knowing the Monte Carlo circuit backwards and every single bar on the Port, they wouldn't relent! Personally, I think they simply knew that Purple Evie would win leaving the other contestants scattered about in ditches all over the island.
I soon got over it what with all the excitement of simply being there and enjoyed lots of good company, food and wine.

The streets of Tobermory were thronged with visitors from far and wide. Well over a hundred cars competed in the races, some in the daytime and others at night. Lovely wet leaves covered many of the one track roads just adding to the fun!

Shopping was good, someone bought me a super daisy vase from Starfish Ceramics. It was probably made by Kate, one of the proprietors. They are based on Mull and have lovely products on their website. Tobermory itself had good shops particularly for yachting and outdoor clothes. I couldn't resist!

Meals were memorable as well. A great Saturday night dinner with friends who took me to The Mediterranea Restaurant in Salen. A fabulous four cheese ravioli accompanied by lots of perfect Sicilian wine. Sensual puddings. What fun!

Also, a lovely Sunday lunch, Scottish style, at the Glengorm Coffee Shop & Gallery.

My beautiful artist friend, Faith, had a wonderful painting exhibition recently at the Glengorm Gallery and it was super to see some of her work. I took photo's of one of her Scottish scenes showing a waterly headland on the island. You just wouldn't believe the intricate detail so I've taken a close-up photo of part of it too. It was no surprise that the exhibition virtually sold out. Fabulous work!

Another adventure over I was sorry to leave.

The St Ives Festival

Cornwall in September. Yes! Purple Evie was at the St Ives Festival for a few days to catch some late UK sunshine, music, and to party late into the night!
I had all the fun of travelling in the new silver PurpleEvieMobile, (A nice 350Z from Nissan of Japan, purchased while it was still on the boat in Panama) and whizzing along new roads to remote parts of Cornwall.
I loved the little fisherman's cottage, all pale blue and white, just like the traditional slightly naive pictures which, seen anywhere else, appear to exaggerate the colours.
I stayed in the cottage with a close friend who knows how to spoil me with lovely food, oils, and other little treats. We simply had to be careful in the mornings or early afternoons when we crept out of bed, not to bang our heads on the low ceilings or ancient beams over the tiny doorways.
Sometimes we'd have lunch together at the tasteful Porthminster Café overlooking the beautiful beach. You could watch how astonishingly far the tide went out from a table on the high terrace. For a beach restaurant the food was sublime! ...and matched by the wines.
The Festival art exhibitions were colourful and fun. I can see why the Tate Gallery chose a location here.
There were so many music events I couldn't attend them all! One super performance was a band called Blue on Black who performed at the Lifeboat Inn delivering a fabulous slick rock blues style. I couldn't sit still, spilling my Rosé Champagne all over my best rhinestone jeans. At least I could wring it out later!
The very same night by contrast, as part of the 4th Annual Bob Dylan Weekend, I saw the B.T. Experience do their memorable Bob Dylan set in The Golden Lion Bar. It was rocking, my clothes were sticking to me, and I met a huge bunch of students who I just wanted to take home to have fun with. Instead, I joined their pub crawl through St Ives, before quietly slinking through the shadowy cobbled alleyways in the small hours of the morning. My light footsteps echoed in the night. In the stillness, in between when the warm moist wind blew in from the sea, you could imagine that ghosts of fishermen, smugglers and pirates were all around. I reached the welcoming cottage and slept till dawn!

An Exciting Move!

Apologies for the lack of new posts recently. After many years living behind the Blue Door I have now moved to a new home on the riverside. With an open outlook over the river, facing south, the sunshine streams in the curtain glass frontage. There is a large terrace, ideal for a glass of wine whilst watching the sunset! More from Purple Evie soon.......

A Bob Dylan Moment

Last Thursday I was in Glasgow, Scotland, to see Bob Dylan performing at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre(S.E.C.C.)

Glasgow is one of my favourite places and there is so much to do there! There are super people too, I stayed with a much travelled local person who knows what I like and who looked after my every need no matter how sensual, exotic or extreme! Bliss! However, I digress - this is not about me, it's about Dylan.

Bob Dylan's show started surprisingly early with a mix of material old and new. His voice was a little deeper than some years back, but still distinctive and powerful. He chose to play keyboard most of the time and we were denied the iconistic image of Dylan and guitar. As always, his harmonica playing was a highlight and virtually beyond compare. The band was slick and accomplished, perhaps too much so, missing any raw edge. At times there was a hint of Nashville in the twangyness of some of the guitar work and delivery. A long way from Greenwich Village!

Afterwards, there was a mix up with passes, and by the time I got backstage (a nightmare of stairs and corridors in the S.E.C.C.) everyone had gone! Apparently, they had left almost right away after the two encores, Like a Rolling Stone and All Along the Watchtower. Sometimes bands stay at a Glasgow West End Hotel called, One Devonshire Gardens, which was quite near, but I was told on this occasion they were staying at Mar Hall, out of town. I know Mar Hall having had lunch there, for its good food and excellent wine list, but I haven't stayed there yet. It would be great place for a photoshoot.

As the evening was still young, I decided the Dylan crew and the aftershow party could do without me. The Limo was waiting (a nice white one - Glasgow is good for these) so I adjourned to Ashton Lane (see photo) for food, drink and revelry! Why change the habits of a lifetime? More about Glasgow soon.

A Wild Rose

This is a photo I took of a wild rose in my garden.

My garden is down several flights of stone stairs and through a blue door.

It is a walled garden, but catches all the light due to its aspect. In summer, butterflies flit and bees buzz.

There is an old fountain which I use to keep wine chilled on hot days.

It is an oasis of calm in the midst of a busy city.

A Nice Hat

Back by popular demand another picture featuring a nice hat.
Remember, the next time you see someone in a hat like this one, it might just be me!
I've been busy recently with new ventures. Purple Evie is branching out into new art forms and it is all very exciting.
Where will it lead to - even more fame and fortune perhaps? More travel? More romance? More music, More wine? ......and the occasional party! I hope so!

At this time of year it wouldn't it be nice to be languishing in the sun perhaps on a yacht, feeling the fine cooling sea spray as it carries over the sundeck.
The cry of birds soaring above, the sound of waves on the bow, later the iridescence of the sea at night and the hint of a warm breeze from the shore. The splash of dropping anchor in Pampelonne bay. The heady scent of Provencal parasol pine, lavender and herbs! The prospect of a simple but elegant dinner at a small hostelry off Route de Tahiti before moving on to exotic nightspots in the village. Who knows what excitement the night will bring!

Another Day - Another Rosé !

I've been ever so busy doing Shows here, there, and everywhere, but I'm glad to be back!

Given my earlier postings it will come as no surprise to anyone that I love Rosé wines from the South of France.

It's super, after a frantic day, to pour a wonderful Rosé into a beautiful Riedel crystal glass. Riedel actually make a hand made glass specifically for Rosé which brings out every super nuance of my favourite delicate dry Rosé's! It is part of their Sommeliers range - I use nothing else.

As for the Rosé's, I'll choose a lovely Methode Traditionnelle from the St Tropez area near Ramatuelle or maybe lovely light Cuvée du Cep d'Or from Les Maitres Vignerons de la presqu'ile de St Tropez.

Especially nice, just lounging, alone by the pool, in the sunshine, relaxing and getting beautifully tanned!

Anyone who knows me just has to bring me a fabulous bottle of good Rosé and I am theirs forever!

My Friend (In Amsterdam)

This is a picture of my friend taken in Amsterdam some time ago. He has a variety of names so I shan't use one.

He is not from Amsterdam, but used to travel extensively, not always at the best of times.

He sometimes talks about his travels, the remote places he has been to, the people, and some of the things that he has seen. I may, in the future, share some of the stories here, as few are written down.

La Grande Bastide

The ancient fortified town, St-Paul-de-Vence, as seen from La Grande Bastide.



The hotel has, a possibly unintentional, boutique style and is wonderfully casual. The rooms open to the outside and have simple terracotta floors, cool, bright and fresh. The salon and terrace by the pool are a focal point often underused by visitors staying only one night. I seldom stay less than a few days or two on my travels to give time to relax, explore and have fun!

Sometimes, in the middle of a hot summer night, it is possible to quietly leave the room, unseen, moving like a pale nocturnal shadow, and slip into the pool. The clear water has been warmed by the sun all day and you can swim in perfect silence with only the iridescent dragonflies for company. The myriad stars brilliantly light the sky above and their reflection shimmers in the in the water all around you. It is timeless, hedonistic and I think would have been like this in Roman times.

St-Paul-de-Vence

I especially enjoy visiting St-Paul-de-Vence just north of Nice. Surprisingly, given its wonderful art collection, I don't stay at the celebrated La Colombe d'Or, but just a short distance outside of the town at La Grande Bastide. It is super, and has private parking for my sporty little Purpleeviemobile. From the hotel, St-Paul-de-Vence is a pleasant stroll away past fragrant pines and lavender.

The beautiful fortified town is filled with galleries, often with artists in residence, and is alive with creativity.

The ramparts were built in the early 1500's and remain intact, providing marvellous views across the rolling countryside. Some parts of the town go back to the 12th century. After walking round taking in the art and views there are good restaurants and cafes all serving fine food and local Rose wines.

Back at the hotel, Rose is served by the poolside terrace, and as night falls you can see the jets, in the far distance, turning over the Mediterranean and coming in to land at Nice airport. To the left, the silhouette of ancient St-Paul-de-Vence against indigo sky, makes for a facinating juxtaposition of old and new.

A Wisp of Fabric

Another self portrait, this time showing one of my own Batik fabric designs applied to fine silk.

Self Portrait

A self portrait wearing my favourite hat and an old feather boa - just a shadow on a wall....

The Blue Door

Purple Evie lives behind the Blue Door, in a small country, far, far away!

She has a large, old, and strange house. It faces South and is filled with light.

She has a beautiful garden.

She is slim and elegant, and wears flowing silk prints with exotic patterns - her own designs.

She is an artist and seldom looks back.

This post contributed by 'a friend'.

Hi Everyone

This is my new blogsite!