Reaching the fag-end of a summer which might politely be described as "interesting" we're very much looking forward to greeting friends old and new at Au Coin du Feu in the French Alps.
This has become our flagship venue, not only because of its stunning location in the Haute Savoie among the lakes and mountains in the hues of early summer green and late summer gold. Paul and Francesca our hosts at the hotel-chalet which is our comfortable base extends a warm welcome with tastefully themed rooms and extremely tasty meals. The area is rich in paintable subjects and we visit mountain and lakes throughout the week to make the most of this wonderful experience.
With just a few weeks to go we are offering the remaining painting holiday places at Au Coin du Feu at a bargain £700; £600 for a second person sharing the room. Non-paintng partners are, of course welcomed and this is a splendid opportunity for a couple or two friends to take advantage of a value-for-money holiday - there is plenty to occupy the partner who doesn't paint.
Friends who recall with fondness Madame Jane de l'Aigle, the chataleine of La Celle Guenand will be sad to learn that she is very ill. Di and I called last weekend in preparation for next week's painting holiday there and were shocked at her condition. She had recovered from her shock at finding the fire which severely damaged her bedroom early in the New Year and was admitting to feeling tired but otherwise very much her busy self when we visited at Easter. But she recently had a fall and her family is fears for her recovery.
John Riley, another of our talented and popular tutors is also unwell. John led our holidays in Vejer de la Frontera, La Celle Guendand and most recently at Au Coin du Feu. He was taken into hospital in Norwich so had to pull out of out July visit to Shorland Old Farm in Devon, when we were indebted to John and Jenny Kay to take his place.
Better news is that Jonathan Newey is our tutor in the Alps. Jonathan was popular with our painters in Tuscany and Andalusia. It seems to be that the weather in Europe is likely to be the best of the season and as we have always had sunshine to give that special light beloved of painters close to Lake Geneva we look at our October 6th-13th dates at Au Coin du Feu with confidence. As usual flights from all over the UK into Geneva are very economic and the advice again is that if you are considering joining us don't bring Swiss francs - you only land in Switzerland and we whisk you up to the hotel-chalet just above Morzine!
Why not book now and take up this once-in-a-lifetime offer?