Author Archives: Carolevr Tidswellvr

Really Cool Bikes

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Once Upon a Long Time Ago….. I spent many happy evenings, and sometimes nights, at the Ace cafe on the North Circular Road. My bikes were a Triumph T100 in a Norton frame – a Vincent series D Black Knight and many other strange and exotic machines.

I guess my biking days are now over, but I still get a “twinge” when I see a piece of elegent machinery.

A regular guest at our home and Guest House, Villa Roquette is Jonny, a real enthusiast who drives down in a van with a couple of his bikes in. This trip he brought his 280 bhp Nitro powered turbo.

Here are some photos of Jonny and his magic machines. Next trip he promises his Honda CBX with twin turbo chargers.

Musée de la Porte in Pezenas

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My daughter Miranda and I were walking through Pezenas yesterday, we were on the way to collect my son jack and his friend who had just come from Germany on a school visit and had half an hour to wait. We have lived no more than ten minuted from the town center for nearly 20 years, but we discovered a magical place – a museum of doors – just doors and hinges and stuff.

The were five large rooms and basements full of doors dating back centuries and centuries – woodworking tools, hinges, locks – all manner of fascinating things.

Doors in the door museum Pezenas

The museaum is at the top of the hill near the gates of the ancient chateau, this chateau was demolished in the 17th century and not much is left (except perhaps the doors)

Old doors in Pezenas

More old doors from Pezenas

Art and Artists in Pezenas

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Pezenas is described as the Key to the Golden Heart of Languedoc in the real South of France.

For centuries it has been the home and inspiration to artists and craftsmen, this beautiful renaissance town was the administrative capital of the Languedoc region, courtiers from Paris would make it their Southern home and bring with them the luxuries and trades from paris. The local shops catered for this demand for quality an fine art – and they still do.

In the center of the network of narrow streets The Garcias have their studios and workshops and sell their work to local businesses and visitors. Gerard is a master modeler and craftsman, designer, painter and artist – Karen creates delightful designs and delicate works of art.