Watermill at Posara, Italy, Newsletter

..... A chilly new year

Well, we are surviving the icy weather, but wow, was it cold. School didn’t get started again until 12 January (because of the freeze) so therehas been plenty of sledging and snowman-building. The roads in and out of the Forglen Estate are treacherous, but thanks to our trusty 4x4s we are managing to get in and out, somewhat gingerly it must be said.

We were even able to make it to the airport on Christmas Eve to fly to Birmingham for Christmas with Lois’ mum and her sister Fiona and family, but when we flew back to Aberdeen on 27 December (after all the Birmingham snow had melted) we were shocked to find that our car, left in the long-term car park at the airport, was in the middle of an ice-rink! We managed to slither home and then the snow and ice settled in – and so did we, making the cottage ‘hyggelig’ (pronounced 'hoogly'), a wonderful Danish word meaning cosy and comfortable, as the outside temperatures plunged to minus 17 degrees Celsius.

Even so we were able to get out from time to time for essential supplies like red wine and, er, food and we even got the girls to the airport again on Friday 8 January to catch a plane to London to spend girlie weekends with their respective godmothers. This was the first time they had flown on their own: we all learned a new word ‘unmins’, which is airline shorthand for 'unaccompanied minors'. Our daughters felt very grown-up, though, and by all accounts a cracking girls’ weekend (shopping and shows) was had by all.

A week ago the thaw half-heartedly set in, so it was back to school and our packed schedule of piano and cornet lessons, choir and band practice, skipping, swimming etc. etc.

We are looking forward to the Spring (we guess there are snowdrops by the burn in the rhododendron glen, but they are still hidden under the melting snow) and to the new season at the watermill.

Building the new kitchen and dining room at Posara, plus the two spanking-new Courtyard bedrooms (with en suite bathrooms) continues apace, despite the weather. Our intrepid postie managed to skate up the drive with a parcel containing two samples of floor tiles, sent by Kerstin for us to decide on which we preferred. (We’ve gone for Cedron Gold, since you ask!) So all is moving forward nicely and we should have these lovely new rooms – they’ll be our best rooms, we think – ready for the 2010 season.

To celebrate the survival of all of us through the coldest weather for many a decade and to look forward to a Tuscan Spring and Summer, we thought it would be a nice idea to offer you all a Winter Warmer Allowance – we’ll give you £50 off any of our famous watermill painting holidays or creative writing courses (more details below). So get those bookings in – and while you’re at it, how about treating yourself to a week in one of our new Courtyard bedrooms as well?

Beat the Freeze with our Winter Warmer Allowance!

To celebrate us all surviving the deep freeze in the northern Hemisphere, we’re offering you a special Winter Warmer Allowance, of £50 off any painting holiday or creative writing course, if you book before the end of February. That should help warm you up – as well as the anticipation of a week’s pampering at the sunny Watermill of Posara. Email us using our secure Contact Form or call (UK number) 01888 568 375 and we’ll reserve your place.

Trees in which nightingales sang

There was a fascinating story in the bumper Christmas edition of The Economist which has inspired us to go on a visit to the city of Cremona in Lombardy the next time we visit the mill. The reason: Cremona is the world centre of violin-making – and has been for centuries. The Amati, Guaneri and Stradivari families lived there and their work in the 16th to 18th Centuries is considered to be the pinnacle of stringed instrument-making.

Today there’s a flourishing school for luthiers in the city called, appropriately, the Scuola Internazionale di Luiteria A. Stradivari, whose 800 graduates have taken the art of making violins (and other stringed instruments) all over the world. And within the city itself today some 150 luthiers are working to continue the great tradition, not only making new instruments but repairing and restoring old and fragile ones.

In his lifetime (born in 1644, he lived to the ripe old age of 93), Antonio Stradivari made an amazing 1,100 instruments, of which some 650 survive, mainly violins.

The Economist notes: “But even though there are quite a few Strads around and not all of them have star quality, even a cheaper one now costs around $1.6 million. The highest price for a Strad at auction was $3.5 million, paid in 2006.” The few Strads that come on to the market, however, generally change hands privately, for far more money: an outstanding example is likely to cost $10 million to $12 million.

But far more important than the money is the sound. Luthiers down the centuries have been obsessive about the wood they use for their instruments (there are some 70 different parts in every violin) and about the varnish they painstakingly apply to the surface. Each instrument is covered in many layers of varnish, which not only enhances its looks, but also the sound: “Varnish is the stuff of legend. Many violin-makers make their own and guard the recipe jealously.”

Scientists have analysed old instruments rigorously, looking at the thickness and density of the wood millimetre by millimetre, and determining the chemical composition of the varnishes. An instrument made by an old master can now be copied in every detail – except the sound. As The Economist comments: “After 450 years the violin-makers of Cremona are keeping their biggest secret”.

Perhaps Nicolo Paganini, probably the greatest-ever violinist, had it right when he said that Stradivari “used only the wood of trees in which nightingales sang”.

We hope to see – and hear – more in Cremona this Spring.

Tutor of the month: Liz Seward Relfe

Our featured painting tutor this month is Liz Seward Relfe, who will be teaching watercolours and acrylics from 10-17 July. You’ll have a lovely time with Liz, who is an experienced and sympathetic tutor and loves meeting people and painting with them.

Liz has a widespread reputation for still life, floral and landscape paintings (many of which have been reproduced as greetings cards and prints by major companies). Her main inspirations are light, colour, and the heathland landscape around her home in Lightwater, Surrey.

Born into an artistic and theatrical family in 1943, Liz has been painting and drawing all her life. She spent an unconventional childhood living in St. James’s Palace, where her father was a member of the Royal Household. After studying art at school, she worked for four years at the Natural History Museum in London, where she illustrated publications and lectures of zoologists working there. This was followed by several years of part-time study at various colleges and with a number of eminent artists including Edward Wesson.

Liz qualified as an Adult Education tutor in 1979 and then had a successful career teaching weekly classes in drawing, watercolours, and mixed media for Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire County Councils from which she retired in 2003. She now concentrates on a busy schedule demonstrating to art societies throughout the country and teaching residential courses. She has also contributed to several books including The Artists’ Sketchbook and Watercolour Plus and writes regular articles for The Artist.

This lovely acrylic by Liz is called
New Forest River.

She says: “This is the sort of landscape subject I love: a lazy summer afternoon with sunlight filtering through the trees. This was painted in Acrylic on a support of tissue paper mounted on to a piece of mountboard with PVA glue. This base is wonderful to paint on being both extremely durable but sympathetic and absorbent to the paint.

“ I make a quick watercolour sketch or drawing, usually with a Biro, on the spot. On returning to the studio, I work these and the photographs I have taken into a finished painting.”

And here’s another of her paintings,
Tilford Woods:

Liz says: “A highly atmospheric subject such as this calls for a wet-in-wet approach similar to traditional watercolour, only this time I used acrylic ink which has the advantage of being brighter in colour and absolutely waterproof when dry.

The definition of the trees was painted with water-soluble wax crayons which are an invaluable sketching tool as well as useful for more finished work.”

Looking at these pictures you can see what you and Liz will be able to make of the lovely River Rosaro that runs by the mill and of the beautiful countryside of Lunigiana, which surrounds it.

To recap: Liz Seward Relfe’s week-long course in watercolours and acrylics at the mill will run from 10-17 July 2010. If you’d like to come on this, or any other painting holiday, email us using our secure Contact Form or call us on (UK number 01888 568 375 and we’ll make sure your place is reserved. We’ve only four or five places left on this popular painting holiday, so if you want to come, now is the time to book. And don’t forget, if you book before the end of February, you can take advantage of our £50 Winter Warmer Allowance, which makes a week under the Tuscan sun with Liz even more appealing.

Your 2010 painting holiday tutors:
the full list

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.

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 and see above for more details

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.

Spring or autumn? That’s the question for aspiring authors

Both Spring and Autumn provide some of the finest days of the year at the watermill. In spring, primroses bloom in profusion among the campi, the tiny fields beside the millstream, while the bamboo burgeons and the vines turn from wintry twigs to green promises of October fruitfulness.

In the Autumn the chestnuts are harvested and the trees slowly turn to yellow and gold while the fat juicy grapes are ready for the vendemmia, the harvest.

The days are generally warm to very warm, so that the morning’s talks (about plot, or character, dialogue, what publishers are looking for …) and the lively discussions around them can take place on the vine verandah, under the grapes and the twining jasmine and clematis.

So it’s a bit of a dilemma for aspiring authors planning to come on one of the famous watermill creative writing courses.

Our best selling romantic fiction tutors are returning to the mill this year: Sharon Kendrick in the Spring (Sharon’s course runs from 8-15 May 2010) and Jessica Hart in the Autumn (25 Sep - 2 Oct 2010). Each are equally experienced, enthusiastic and sympathetic tutors and they’ll both help you to bring your great ideas to publishing fruition. So when would you like to come for a week-long course which will not only inspire you and allow you to enjoy the company of like-minded people, but also give you Tuscan sunshine and pamper you with wonderful local foods and wines?

Sharon’s Spring course is filling up and we have three or four places left. There’s still plenty of room on Jessica’s Autumn course. So it’s up to you – and if you can’t make up your mind, why not come on both? You won’t be the first to do so.

To enjoy the delights of a watermill week, to learn more about the art and craft of writing and how to produce what publishers really want – as well as having that vital encouragement and support from other aspiring writers – now is the time to make that reservation. And you can save money, by taking advantage of our Winter Warmer Allowance: £50 off the cost of your creative writing course if you book before the end of February.

Go for it!

Your 2010 best-selling creative writing tutors

Here are the background details for Sharon and Jessica’s courses in 2010.

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: what's included

It is very important to realise that our painting holidays and creative writing course are truly all-inclusive. There are no hidden extras. Everything is included in the cost: 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

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 News19).

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.

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