Yesterday found me in Aix-en-Provence to meet Laurence Anholt and Jim Coplestone who had driven down from the UK: a mammoth journey of 1,200 kms. Laurence is the well known author and illustrator of children’s books.  He has a marvellous series of books about artists aimed at children between the ages of 4 to 8. Jim is also an author and illustrator of childen’s books and completed an MA in Theatre Design. Laurence is presently researching material for a new book, this time all about Cézanne and he asked if I would drive over to meet him and act as interpreter during his meeting with Michel Fraisset, the Director of The Lauves Studio, Cézanne’s studio and museum.

During previous email correspondence (in the good old days this would have been a written letter - remember those?) with Laurence I’d told him how superb our autumn weather was; naturally since he and Jim arrived its been raining . . .

Thus it was somewhat overcast as we made our way to avenue Paul Cézanne and to the studio. From the outside, it appeared like any other pretty Provençal house adorned with slated wooden shutters, but the non-stop line of visitors gave the game away - this was no ordinary home. Compared to Renoir’s, Cézanne’s studio has much more space, but also contains a number of personal items that were important to him. And like Renoir’s, as you enter you have the strange impression that Cézanne will walk in any minute, pick up his paint brush and busy himself with his latest painting.

I’m delighted to say that the meeting between Monsieur Fraisset and Laurence was a great success and though there’s a bit more research to be carried out before Laurence can finally write and illustrate his children’s book, things look really positive. I shall keep you all updated to Laurence’s progress and how his new book develops.

Interestingly, while my focus recently has been on Nice, I’d forgotten how magnificent Aix-en-Provence is, so it was marvellous to reacquaint myself with this superb city so steeped in history. In many ways it reminds me of Oxford with its noble sandstone buildings, richly decorated frontages and townhouses. It is awash with museums, art galleries and important sites that would keep any sight-seer happy for hours, if not days! As I returned home the heavens opened and I drove back in torrential rain. Only as I arrived on the outskirts of Cannes did the inclement weather change and the heavy clouds lift. It felt good to be "back home" and on familiar ground again. While I truly enjoyed my day out and meeting Laurence and Jim, it was also great to be home and mobbed by the dogs, cats, and of course Nigel!