Watermill at Posara, Italy, Newsletter

..... From fireworks night to Christmas…

Well, there’s fireworks night out of the way and now we’re all thinking about Christmas. The Breckons are off to see Granny (Lois’ mum) and various sisters, brothers, cousins, aunties and uncles, in Solihull in the Midlands of England. Then I guess we’ll come back to Scotland for Hogmanay (where better!) for a ceilidh or two over the New Year period.

We had a great fireworks party on our rural plot on the side of Knock Hill near here (where we are going to build our new house) with the most marvellous display laid on by our good friend Alec Curtis. Alec and his wife Jenny are leaving Cornhill, moving to England to be nearer their children and grandchildren. We are going to miss them – but thanks to Alec’s enthusiasm and expertise in the fireworks department we had a display second-to-none and Alec and Jenny certainly went out with a bang, or more like a hundred big bangs, which echoed on the hill and could have been heard in three counties!

Lara, who at 11 years old seems to be taking on the role of our official photographer, captured these shots of the multicoloured display.

Incidentally, Bill doesn’t like 5 November to be described as Guy Fawkes’ Night or Bonfire Night, because Guy, like Bill, went to St Peter’s School in York. (No, they were not contemporaries, Bill hastens to add: their schooldays were 400 years apart!) St Peter’s, of course, never burns Guy in effigy (not the done thing at all for an Old Boy) and we’re not too happy about the idea either.

Actually, it was all a bit academic this year. In late October Aberdeenshire had a real soaking, with flooded roads and bridges washed away, so all the firewood was sodden. We didn’t even try to make a big bonfire, relying on our friends Rod and Janet Philip for their half-oil-drum barbeque to cook our sausages and burgers and keep us warm. Lara, whose feet were freezing, warmed her wellies under the drum – and promptly melted holes in her rubber toes!!

One sad piece of news is that Blaze the guineapig passed away in her sleep in late October. We miss her cute little eyes and her excited squeaking, but we buried her solemnly in the garden, with a stone to mark the spot and with some condolence in the thought that she has at last gone to join her erstwhile friend Fluffy in the great guineapig heaven above.

At the watermill building work is apace to convert the old mule stalls area (opposite the Tuscan house in the courtyard) into a new up-to-the-minute catering kitchen and posh new dining room, with two new bedrooms above, each with an en suite bathroom, entered from a new roof terrace overlooking the gardens and courtyard. We already have smart new roof and copper drainpipes. Now we are busy sorting out all the fittings and the look and feel of the decoration. Watch this space!

The new bedrooms are designated Courtyard 1 and Courtyard 2 and if you would like to be among the first to sample their delights, now is the time to reserve one for yourself - or to book a place on one of our famous painting holidays, creative writing courses or self-catering holiday lets. So if you would like to savour the unique charms of the watermill and the true Italian flavour of unspoilt Lunigiana, now is the time to book.

Email us using our secure Contact Form or call our UK number 01888 568 375. And don’t forget: You’ll get a great Early Bird Bonus if you book before the end of the year. See below.

Museo dell’Opera del duomo: a hidden gem in Florence

The next time you are in Florence, can we recommend that you visit the Museo dell’Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, the truly wonderful (i.e. full of wonders) museum of the works of Florence cathedral? It’s in the street just outside the apse of the cathedral (no. 9 Piazza del Duomo, to be precise) in an ancient palazzo that once housed the headquarters and the workshops of the Opera, or Cathedral Works.

Both the magnificent early Renaissance sculptor Donatello and Brunelleschi, the architectural genius who designed and built the incomparable dome of the cathedral, worked here in the 15th Century and in the 16th, Michelangelo carved the famous statue of David that was placed outside the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence’s main square.

Unlike many other Florentine museums, the Museo dell’Opera is often surprisingly uncrowded and the artistic and architectural delights are easy to see and appreciate. Here you can view, for instance, the entire original sculptural works from Giotto’s bell tower, removed to preserve them many years ago. Particularly charming are the hexagonal and lozenge-shaped panels by Andrea Pisano, Luca della Robbia and others. They illustrate the concept of universal order and the story of redemption, beginning with the creation of man and continuing with representations of his activities. Here’s a lovely little della Robbia panel called Geometry and Arithmetic, with Euclid talking to Pythagorus:

… and then there’s Donatello’s statue of Habakkuk, a masterpiece of early Renaissance realism … and his haunting wooden statue of a hollow-eyed, emaciated Mary Magdalene …

… and there’s Michelangelo’s unfinished Florence Pieta, intended for his own tomb … and the bronze panels from the ‘Gates of Paradise’, the East doors of the Baptistry by Lorenzo Ghiberti. When you see people standing five-deep outside the Baptistry craning to see those door panels, and too far away to see much detail, remember that they are just looking at copies. So, give them a quick glance to get the idea of what they looked like in situ, then pop along the road to the Museo dell’Opera to see the real things. Ghiberti's bronze panel Joshua The originals in the museum are protected by glass, but you can study them really closely - and appreciate them for the marvels they are. Here’s a detail from ‘Joshua’:

Add to all that wooden models of Brunelleschi’s incomparable dome and some of the five-centuries-old tools used to build it, all displayed in a cool sympathetic modern space and you’ll see why we call the Museo dell’Opera truly wonder-ful. (See also www.operaduomo.firenze.it and hit the Union Flag for the English version.)

Two specials for early bookers

Bookings are steadily coming in now for all our painting holidays, creative writing courses and self-catering apartments. November is the most popular month for people to make their reservations, so if you have a favourite tutor, time of year, or a favourite apartment, now really is the time to book to ensure you get your first choice.

And as an incentive to our ‘Early Birds’ we’ve two very special offers this year.

For Early Bird painters and writers there is £75 off your holiday if you book before 31 December 2009.

For Early Bird bookers of a self-catering apartment there is 10% off the rental if you book before 31 December 2009. That means a saving of between £29.50 and £68.50 per week, according to which apartment you choose and when you want to go.

Tutor of the month: John Christian

We are delighted to welcome back our friend John Christian to the watermill next year. He’ll be running a week-long course in watercolours from 5-12 June, 2010. John is such an enthusiastic and sympathetic tutor and his courses are full of fun. He really loves Posara and the surrounding countryside and tells us he can’t wait to be back.

John works in ‘pure’ watercolour in a fast spontaneous manner, to capture emotion, with a large brush and a limited palette– and he is an avid exponent of painting (and sketching) on the spot. His ‘wet into wet’ technique is acclaimed and widely admired.

John relies on very little detailed drawing. His favoured method is spontaneous and loose, merging his washes, working quickly with few brush strokes from a limited palette with a big brush. He believes that a picture should express mood and emotion more than fact and detail. “The subject is not so much the place but light and the emotion itself. The emotion, whilst still one of recognition, is more of experience”.

Here’s a very typical John watercolour of the River Rosaro that runs past the mill:

John says: “This picture was painted on the spot as a demonstration during one of my painting holidays at the watermill. My only drawing was the dominant tree to left centre (then only a few marks!) The tree was left blank until the end. The picture was painted all in one go on a grey wash of French Ultramarine and Burnt Umber. The bright areas were New Gamboge and the greens were New Gamboge and Paynes Grey. The demonstration was pure 'wet-into-wet', the effect achieved by dropping in suggested detail at the appropriate moments in the drying process. It was very fast (the initial wash was still wet when the picture was finished!).

And here’s another paintings of a view from the watermill garden, with the peaks of the Apennines in the background:

“This was also painted on the spot as a demonstration during one of my painting holidays at the mill. The technique is again 'wet-into-wet'. Sky, mountains, foreground were washed in, mostly with French Ultramarine, leaving the building and the posts in the vineyard (foreground) blank. The details on the mountains, the house and posts were put in when the rest was dry. The buildings were simplified and the red washing placed strategically to draw the eye.”

There is a richness and strength of depth in John’s work and the results are exciting, pure, clean and spontaneous. His students love his painting – and the man, whose charm, care and sympathy make him an ideal tutor.

If you would like to come on John’s painting holiday at the watermill, or any other courses, now’s the time to book. To recap: his week-long course in watercolours runs from 5-12 June 2010.

Don’t forget: If you book your place under the Tuscan sun at the watermill for a 2010 course before the end of the year, there’s a £75 ‘Early Bird’ bonus. Just call us on (UK number) 01888 568 375 or email us using the secure Contact Form and we’ll make sure your place is reserved.

Your 2010 painting holiday tutors:
an international team

We’re introducing our painting tutors individually in more depth in our regular newsletters and blogs, but here’s the full list:

Fergal Flanagan
Saturday 15 May to
Saturday 22 May 2010
Gouache, watercolours and pastels
Fergal is a leading Irish painter and an accomplished and sympathetic teacher. He has painted in many locations around the world, producing warm, vibrant landscapes. Fergal works at the Burren Painting Centre in County Clare
For more about Fergal and his paintings, visit his Tutor's page.

Paul Priestley
Saturday 22 May to
Saturday 29 May 2010
Acrylics, oils, gouache
For more than 10 years Paul Priestley ran a college Art Department before setting up his own business teaching art. His painting holidays are much in demand because of the emphasis he places on confidence-building and his students’ individual development: For more about Paul and his paintings, visit his Tutor's page.

John Christian
Saturday 5 June to
Saturday 12 June 2010
Watercolours
We are delighted to welcome John back to the mill this year. He’s been several times before and loves the place. John is such an enthusiastic and sympathetic tutor and his courses are always full - and full of fun! He works in a fast spontaneous manner with a large brush and a limited palette. For more about John and his paintings, visit his Tutor's page and see above for more details.

Guy Gruwier
Saturday 19 June to
Saturday 26 June 2010
Watercolours
Guy is considered to be one of Belgium’s leading watercolour artists. He paints in a ‘realistic-romantic’ style and he passes on his insights and skills with love and patience. Previous students on Guy’s courses remember him as a gifted, patient and very helpful teacher. For more about Guy and his paintings, visit his Tutor's page

Trudi Doyle
Saturday 26 June to
Saturday 3 July 2010
Watercolours, pastels, acrylics
Trudi enjoys acclaim throughout her Irish homeland and beyond for her vibrant unique paintings. After many years' teaching experience, she has a reputation as a calm, friendly and inspirational tutor. For more about Trudi and her paintings, visit her Tutor's page.

Liz Seward Relfe
Saturday 10 July to
Saturday 17 July 2010
Watercolours
Liz has a widespread reputation for still life floral, and landscape paintings . Her main inspirations are light, colour, and the heathland landscape around her home in Surrey. Liz demonstrates to Art Societies throughout the country and teaches at residential courses. For more about Liz and her paintings, visit her Tutor's page

Jane Anderson Wood
Saturday 17 July to
Saturday 24 July 2010
Watercolours
Jane is a highly regarded painter and teacher working in watercolours. She is enthusiastic and supportive, with many years' experience in art schools, Adult Education and in private classes. For more about Jane and her paintings, visit her Tutor's page

Freda Alschuler
Saturday 24 July to
Saturday 31 July 2010
Watercolours
Freda is a full-time artist and teacher, born in England and now living in Switzerland. Freda has taught in art schools and run painting holidays in America and Europe. While her course will concentrate on watercolours, Freda is also happy to teach acrylics and mixed media. For more about Freda and her paintings, visit her Tutor's page

Annelise Pio Hansen
Saturday 28 August to
Saturday 4 September 2010
Watercolours
Annelise is a regular and very popular tutor at the watermill. Her colours are soft but bright, just like the light reaching the sandy beaches and the soft hills not far from where she lives just outside Copenhagen. For more about Annelise and her paintings, visit her Tutor's page

Laraine Simpson
Saturday 4 September to
Saturday 11 September 2010
Watercolours, oils, acrylics, pastels
Laraine, who's taught at the mill for several years now, is a Fine Arts-Painting graduate of Central School of Art & Design (now Central St. Martins), London. She is highly regarded as a perceptive, patient and encouraging tutor working with beginners and advanced students alike. For more about Laraine and her paintings, visit her Tutor's page

Barry Watkin
Saturday 11 September to
Saturday 18 September 2010
Pastels mainly, but also oils and watercolours
Barry returns to the mill this year for another great course.. His inspiration is the play of light on the landscape and the changing atmospheric effects throughout the seasons. Much of his work is started on site and finished off in the studio. For more about Barry and his paintings, visit his Tutor's page.

Charles Sluga
Saturday 2 October to
Saturday 9 October 2010
Watercolours
Charles is a highly respected and sought after artist and watercolour teacher in Australia. His friendly and enthusiastic approach, and eagerness to impart his wide knowledge, is reflected in his popularity as a tutor, and the waiting lists for his regular classes. For more about Charles and his paintings, visit his Tutor's page.

... from Cheltenham to Posara

Posara’s very own creative writing tutor and best-selling romantic fiction author Sharon Kendrick starred at this year’s Cheltenham Literary Festival in October. She says: “I was on a panel with the wonderful actress and campaigner Virginia McKenna, chick-lit Queen Katie Fforde and broadcaster and novelist Stella Duffy (who came on one of my courses at the watermill as part of a BBC documentary). We were discussing Romance On the Page, about the survey which had asked who is the ultimate romantic hero? (Bizarrely, it was the barking Mr. Rochester).

”A packed hall contained a lively audience who afterwards came through for a book-signing, where they were served pink champagne by Butlers In The Buff. You don't believe me? Here’s a picture to prove it!”

We can’t promise you Butlers in the Buff on your creating writing course at Posara, but we can promise first-rate tuition, good company, great fun, creativity and scrumptious food and wine at the watermill and at traditional local restaurants. As one of Sharon’s 2009 students put it: “What a great time I had with Sharon at the Mill last week. The Mill, Sharon, Kirsten’s organisation, Kirsten and Mirella’s cooking, the local restaurants and Paulo’s driving were superb. We laughed our way through a fantastic, excellent value for money, week.”

Here’s a picture of ‘Les Girls’ on this year’s course.

You, too, could enjoy the delights (and the creativity) of a watermill creative writing course: Sharon’s Writing Romance course runs from 8-15 May 2010.

Half-a-dozen places are already booked, so get your reservation in NOW to avoid disappointment and to take advantage of our £75-off ‘Early bird’ offer.

And don’t forget that our other best-selling, award-winning creative writing tutor, Jessica Hart, is also returning to the mill, next Autumn. Her week-long course on Writing Romance runs from 25 Sep - 2 Oct 2010.

Here’s what one of her 2009 students had to say: “I had a wonderful time at the Watermill - it exceeded my expectations. Kirsten and Mirella and Paulo were all wonderful. Kirsten managed to organise us all seamlessly! The food was wonderful - particularly the meals in the Watermill. The peaceful and beautiful location meant that it was one of the most relaxing weeks I've ever had - if not the most relaxing. And the experience of being in a group with 10 like-minded and interesting women was great. We've even started a Yahoo group to keep in touch! And Jessica's course was fab and delivered exactly what I expected. She was generous in her advice and sharing her vast knowledge in the field. And best of all it was great fun! I've already starting recommending her course next year.”

Your 2010 best-selling creative writing tutors

Our best-selling Harlequin Mills & Boon authors are back for two more inspiring creative writing courses next year.

Sharon Kendrick
Saturday 8 May to
Saturday 15 May 2010
‘Writing romance’

This will be Sharon’s third visit to the watermill: “One of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. The mountains nearby are tall and green, streaked with a pure white, which looks like snow, but which is really the Carrara marble from which Michelangelo chiselled his David. How neat is that?”

Sharon has written 75 books for Harlequin Mills & Boon and regularly tops the Waldenbooks list in North America as well as selling well all over Europe, Asia and South America. Sharon will pass on the benefits of her vast experience in writing romantic fiction and her intimate knowledge of what publishers like Harlequin Mills & Boon are looking for in a romantic novel. You can find out more about Sharon and her books on her Tutors Page.

Jessica Hart
Saturday 25 September to
Saturday 2 October 2010
‘Writing romance’

RITA* award-winner Jessica Hart has written more than 50 books for Harlequin Romance and has been published around the world in more than 20 different languages. (*The RITA is the US romance-publishing industry's highest award of distinction.) She is also a winner of the coveted Romance Prize, awarded by the Romantic Novelists’ Association in the UK.

Jessica’s second course at The Watermill at Posara will focus on the emotional tension that is key to all romantic fiction and it will provide a practical approach to constructing a satisfying – and sellable – love story. There will be plenty of opportunity, too, to talk about writing romance with like-minded people: “The social side of writing is so often underestimated, especially when it comes to structuring a story,” says Jessica. You can read more about Jessica and her books on our Tutors Page.

Painting holidays and creative writing courses: stop worrying about the strong Euro

We would like to reiterate that everything is included in the cost of your painting holiday or creative writing course: tuition, accommodation (including all linen and towels), pre-dinner aperitifs, all meals (including dinner with wine at charming local restaurants) and local transportation (including transfers to Pisa airport; an excursion by train to Lucca). All you have to do is to get to Pisa and we do the rest.

And you don’t have to worry about the strength of the Euro versus the pound. The only Euros you’ll have to spend on your painting holiday or creative writing course are on that extra cup of coffee or a postcard for Mum. Let us worry about the pesky exchange rate

Prices depend on which room you choose (see www.watermill.net for details). They start at £930+IVA (Italian VAT) per person per week (based on two people sharing), with a discount of £25 for a non-painting on non-writing partner. Single rooms start at £995+IVA (Italian VAT). Italian IVA is currently 20%.

What's available

As you know, when the mill is not full of painters or writers, we divide it into five elegant self-contained apartments available for self-catering lets.

Two of these bright, sunny apartments (Apts 1 & 2) are in the three-storey Tuscan house in the mill courtyard, with views over the gardens and the mountains beyond; two others (Apts 3 & 4) are set above the older watermill, with river and valley views; the fifth (Apt 5) is set beside the olive press and the artists’ studio and looks out over gardens and the river. All have comfortable living rooms, well furnished bedrooms, a well equipped kitchen and modern bathroom. There’s more information and plenty of pictures on our website.

If you choose a self-catering holiday you’ll find a thousand fascinating things to do, in the mountains and at the seaside. And the mill is in easy reach of Florence, Pisa, Lucca and the other tourist attractions of Tuscany. But you are actually more likely to spend a lot of your time relaxing at the mill itself, enjoying the beautiful setting and sunning yourself in the gardens …

.If you would like to book a self-catering apartment next year, please call us on (UK number) 01888 568 375 or use our secure Contact Form

And don’t forget if you book before the end of the year you can take advantage of our generous Early Bird bonus, with 10% off all self-catering bookings. (Just quote News18).

Anything more you’d like to know?

If there is anything more we can tell you about our activities, and the true Italian lifestyle, please call us on +44 1888 568375 or use our secure Contact Form. And keep up with our website and blog at www.watermill.net.

In the meantime, with very best wishes,

Lois and Bill, Lydia and Lara, and Bella and Rosa (the Labradogs)

Thank you for reading our Watermill Newsletter! if you have any Newsletter questions, comments or complaints, please write to us using our Contact form.

Copyright(c) 2004 – 2009 All rights reserved. The Watermill at Posara and any other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. Information provided in this newsletter is provided without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied.