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NEWSLETTER ISSUE 98 / AUGUST 2018

Dear Friend,

Terry Demonstrates and Marie's hats

We’re taking a little rest after the hugely enjoyable first part of our season, which we rounded off with a fun-filled painting course with our old Australian friend TerryJarvis and another of Marie Wallin’s inspirational knitting weeks. Everyone seemed to have an enjoyable time, judging by the feedback we’ve received. Two examples: “My stay at the Watermill was everything & more that I had hoped for. Thank you for your warm & friendly hospitality.” “Thank you both for making a brilliant week of knitting even better. As usual, the Watermill was amazing with wonderful food, great room and wall-to-wall sunshine.”

We begin again in the middle of August with the first of Jo Parfitt’s Writing your Life stories, followed by six painting weeks, another writing week and one knitting week. And at this moment, they’re all fully booked! There will probably be one or two cancellations, however (there usually are a few), so if you’d like to come on any course, we’ll put you on a waiting list and let you know immediately a place becomes available.

As for NEXT year, bookings are already flowing in. We’ve already taken nearly 100 bookings for 2019, out of a potential total of 240 or so. If you want to be sure of a particular tutor or a particular bedroom next year, NOW is the time to secure your place, especially with our tempting offer: if you book a 2019 course before 1 September 2018 (less than a month to go), you can have a place in 2019 at 2018 prices. See below for more details and links

In this month’s newsletter there are also stories on:

  • Is the Watermill wildlife becoming bolder?
  • A reminder of the Watermill photographic competition
  • The Watermill war on plastic
  • Looking at life from another angle
  • A well worked knitting week
  • A preview and a tempting offer on our 2019 creative courses

Intrigued? Read on...

The picture top left shows Terry Jarvis demonstrating; The picture top right shows two of Marie’s students holding up some of the week’s work. At bottom left is Lois showing how we are waging war on plastic, and at bottom right, a bold lizard enjoys our company.

waterwise left and a lazy lizzard

Come to the watermill in Tuscany with your partner or friend
Let’s go to the Watermill.
We won’t need our furs!

Bring a partner: there’s plenty for them to do

Why not bring your friend or partner? They don’t have to participate in the course, but they will be able to enjoy the wonderful hospitality of the mill and, whenever they want, to come out with you to our beautiful locations. We also offer a range of Alternative activities for partners on all our 2018 courses, as well as a generous £GBP 250 discount if they share a room with you.


Is the Watermill wildlife becoming bolder?

lazy lizard at the watermill in Tuscany

Here’s the Watermill Manager, Karsten Müller, trying to lay out the cushions for an evening aperitivo on the Vine Verandah. And there’s a lizard on one of the cushions unperturbed by our presence. He even posed for a close-up before scuttling into the undergrowth!

I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but the wildlife around the Watermill seems to be getting more and used to our presence, with all the animals, birds and insects just getting on with their lives as if we were hardly here.

It’s not just the lizards and geckos sunning themselves in the courtyard and on roof terraces, nor the birds and their noisy dawn chorus (especially in the Spring) nor the cicadas fiddling away in the background, or the evening swifts screeching as they swoop for low-flying insects. Even the butterflies and moths seem to continue their activities unfazed by the humans around them.

Dining at the mill in Italy
Pictures by: Ron Ploeg, Flavio Terenzoni, Chris Symonds


We love living in this environmentally protected area and sharing our land with all this wildlife.


Don’t forget the Watermill photography competition

Those pictures above reminded us that we are still taking entries for our photography competition. And it’s human life that interests us most!

First prize in the competition goes to the photograph we judge to be the one that most reflects the ambiance of the mill and we are particularly interested in shots that show our ‘students’ in action, both at ‘work’ and play.

Jumping for joy and a group demo

Like picture above left by our guest Robert Christopher of fellow student Emily Muhlberger jumping for joy during Andrew Geeson’s painting holiday. And we like the dynamics of the shot on the right of Terry Jarvis demonstrating, taken by his partner Michelle Kent.

But we’d also like to see great photos of the Watermill, its grounds and the surrounding countryside. Like After the rain by Cliff Anderson below left.

The winner of our photography competition will be offered a free week-long creative holiday at the Watermill in 2019, of his or her choice, subject to availability. There will be five runner-up prizes, of £GBP 200 off a creative holiday at The Watermill in 2019, subject to availability.

You can find out more by clicking here. Please join in the fun and submitthe best photos taken during your visit this year. We look forward to seeing them all.

We love this picture below right of painting guest Polly Moseley with Keith Strohschein, Sandra’s husband.

After the rain and a kiss in the mill garden

The Watermill’s war on plastic

We’ve become increasingly embarrassed at the Watermill by the amount of plastic waste we’ve been generating. We have a big green Eurobin in our carpark dedicated solely to plastic waste for recycling and every week it has been stuffed to the gunnels.

Greening the watermill

Every time we see a picture like the one here above left, we feel an accusatory finger pointing our way!

Our chief culprits are plastic water bottles. We’ve been providing bottled water free to our guests, conscious that in the warm weather everyone needs to be properly hydrated. In particular, our painting guests take water bottles out on location and they’ve been getting though a least a bottle a day. Creative writing, knitting and Italian language guests swig a fair number too – and so they should.

Cost is not an issue: we get special ‘loss leader’ offers from our local supermarket, so six litres of water costs us a mere one Euro. No, it’s that overflowing plastics bin that made us feel we were contributing to global environmental pollution.

So, we’ve come up with a solution to look after our guests and keep them happy waterwise. That’s Lois above right demonstrating the solution in action.

Watermill bottles

We have purchased a couple of dozen robust stainless steel vacuum flasks and we’ve marked each one with a number. We loan a flask to each of our guests for their creative week. They fill them with water at the tap from our mains supply and can even cool their water with ice from our new ice-making machine. Each week the flasks are sterilised in our dishwasher, for re-use by the incoming guests.

It’s just a bit more of a faff than plucking a plastic bottle from the fridge. But we reckon it’s worth it – and our guests on last week’s knitting course, the first to try the new experiment, all thought it a great idea and worth the (slight) effort. We hope you agree!

We are becoming ever more environmentally friendly here. We have undertaken sensitive restoration, seeking where possible to incorporate modern energy-saving construction methods in the upgrading process, from insulated roofs to double-glazed windows.

Dining at the mill in Italy
Left: part of the restoration of the 17th Century mill: insulated roofs and double-glazed windows.
Right: tomatoes from the Watermill garden


We source all our food locally wherever possible, growing some of our own and using local suppliers and producers.

Bathroom duck

In our next phase of development, we plan not only to restore the roofs and walls of the water-powered turbine mill (Mill 2), but also to incorporate photovoltaic panels in the restored roof structures, to generate ‘green’ electricity.

And there are (sorry!) no plastic ducks in our bathrooms...


Watermill in Tuscany's Painting NewsPAINTING NEWS

Looking at life from another angle

Painting by Robert Christopher

This fascinating picture is by Watermill painting guest Robert Christopher, who was with us a few weeks ago. It’s of one of our rustic picnic tables, on a terrace in the Riverside Gardens seen from above.

This point of view leads to an intriguing and interesting composition. Thank you for sharing it with us, Robert. (PS We liked it so much it will soon be hanging on the Watermill sitting room wall.) Robert is joining us in 2019 on Charles Sluga’s course, which runs from Saturday 28 September to Saturday 5 October 2019.

You can find out more about this and all our other 2019 creative courses below. And don’t forget there’s an enticing ‘2019 courses at 2018 prices offer’ which expires at the end of August 2018.


Onion Cartoon
Our Summer painter in residence,
Sandra Strohschein

Come and join us and enjoy the magic at the mill!

*** Why not bring your non-painting partner as well?

There’s a generous £250 discount for him/her if they share a room with you - and there’s plenty for them to do. Have a look at our Partner’s Activities Page for suggestions.

Use the 2018 programme link below to view the full list of our inspiring 2018 painting tutors


Watermill in Italy's Knitting NewsKNITTING NEWS

Tam, tam, tam, tam!

Marie's knitting course participants with their Tam Tams

Our last course of the first part of the season was a lovely knitting week with Marie Wallin and above are two of the participants, Andrea Gostick and Janet Woods, holding up some examples of the finished work on one of Marie’s projects, a fairisle Tam. We always have tremendous interest in Marie’s knitting courses, so much so that her 2019 course is already fully booked! But there’s a waiting list if you’d like to join it.

And we still have spaces with our other inspiring knitting courses with Sarah Hazell and Debbie Abrahams (just one place left). Please click here to see a preview of these and all our inspiring. 2019 creative courses. And remember, there’s an enticing ‘2019 courses at 2018 prices offer' which expires at the end of August 2018.


Knitting group at the watermill in Italy

Don't forget your partner!

And don’t forget that your friend or partner doesn’t need to participate in the creative course, whether it’s painting, language, knitting or yoga.

We offer them a range of Alternative activities for partners on all our 2018 courses, as well as a generous £GBP 250 discount if they share a room with you.


Creative writing News at the watermill in ItalyCREATIVE WRITING NEWS
Creative writing courses at the watermill in Tuscany, Italy

Your life stories are very full

Both of Jo Parfitt’s Write Your Life Stories courses this year, from 18 - 25 August and 22 - 29 September, ae now full, but there may be cancellations so, if you would like to be on a waiting list, please let us know.

At present we are planning only one creative writing week next year, on Scriptwriting, with Lawrence Marks and Maurice Gran, but that’s not yet finalised and we’ll also be talking to Jo about running another Write Your Life Stories week with her in 2019.

Watch this space!


 

ITALIAN LANGUAGE NEWS

Some of this year's language group at the watermill
Some of this year’s language group
get to grips with Italian

Learning Italian under the shade of the vine verandah

We had 12 students and one non-participating partner on this year’s Italian course and what fun it is learning the language under the shade of the vine verandah.

This year’s Italian language course was fully booked, and seven people have already booked in for our Italian Language Course with Francesca la Sala next year, so it is filling fast.

Some comments from our guests on this year’s course: “I now feel much more confident in speaking Italian and can understand a lot better. I had another wonderful week at the Watermill and enjoyed the same friendly hospitality and delicious food again.”

“Our teacher was brilliant and the lessons were always engaging, and all the other staff were remarkable in their efforts to make the week so perfect. I enjoyed every second. I loved the tranquillity and the natural beauty of the river as well as the wonderful food and convivial company...”

Come and join us in 2019 and enjoy La bella vita italiana and learn more of this beautiful language.


Preview of our 2019 courses at the watermill in Tuscany, Italy2019 CREATIVE COURSES PREVIEW

A preview of our 2019 creative courses

Some of this year's language group at the watermill
Sandra Strohschein
demonstrating in the walled garden

Because of the unprecedented demand for our courses this year, we’ve decided to open up most of our 2019 courses for bookings.

There’s a preview section on the Watermill website, which you can see by clicking here.

And you've less than a month to take advantage of our Special Offer: If you book for a 2019 creative course before 1 September 2018, you can reserve your place at 2018 prices. (After 1 September, the costs for 2019 courses will change.)

Please have a look at the exciting courses for NEXT year and if you find a tutor and a course that you like, please be in touch as soon as you can, using the 2019 Preview Enquiry Form which you’ll find on the 2019 Watermill website 2019 Preview Section.


Preview of our 2019 courses at the watermill in Tuscany, Italy

Painting holidays: the 2019 line-up


Paul Talbot-Greaves

Paul Talbot-Greaves
27 April to 4 May 2019
Watercolours
To learn more about Paul and his course at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


Keiko Tanabe

Keiko Tanabe
18 - 25 May 2019
Watercolours
To learn more about Keiko and her course at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


Sandra Strohschein

Sandra Strohschein
1 - 8 June 2019 / and / 8 - 15 June 2019
Watercolours
To learn more about Sandra and her course at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


Frank Walters

Frank Walters
15 - 22 June 2019
Watercolours
To learn more about Frank and his course at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


Vicki Norman

Vicki Norman
22 - 29 June 2019
Oils en plein air
To learn more about Vicki and her course at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


Mike Willdridge

Mike Willdridge
29 June - 6 July 2019
Watercolours and drawing (also gouache and acrylics with an emphasis on sketching and drawing on location)
To learn more about Mike and his course at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


Sue Ford

Sue Ford
13 - 20 July 2019
Watercolours, pastels, collage and mixed media plus acrylics
To learn more about Sue and her course at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


Jude Scott

Jude Scott
17 - 24 August 2019 / and / 24 - 31 August 2019
Watercolours (plus acrylics and oils)
To learn more about Jude and her course at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


Varvara Neiman

Varvara Neiman
31 August - 7 September 2019
Water-based oils, acrylics and watercolours
To learn more about Varvara and her course at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


Claire Warner

Claire Warner
14 - 21 September 2019
Watercolours, oils and acrylics
To learn more about Claire and her course at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


Maggie Renner Hellmann

Maggie Renner Hellmann
21 - 28 September 2019
Courageous Color Workshop' in oils, acrylics, pastels and watercolors
To learn more about Maggie and her course at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


Charles Sluga

Charles Sluga
28 September - 5 October 2019
Watercolours, acrylics and oils
To learn more about Charles and his course at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


Tim Wilmot

Tim Wilmot
5 - 12 October 2019
Watercolours
To learn more about Tim and his course at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


David Taylor

David Taylor
12 - 19 October 2019
Watercolours
To learn more about David and his course at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


Preview of our 2019 courses at the watermill in Tuscany, Italy

Special 2019 scriptwriting course:
to be confirmed


Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran

Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran
7 - 14 September 2019 (to be confirmed)
Scriptwriting
To register an interest in this unique course, please visit our Enquiry Form.


Preview of our 2019 courses at the watermill in Tuscany, Italy

Our celebrated knitting holidays: the 2019 line-up


Sarah Hazell

Sarah Hazell
4 - 11 May 2019
Knitting and La Dolce Vita
To learn more about Sarah and her knitting week at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


Debbie Abrahams

Debbie Abrahams
25 May - 1 June 2019
Knitting and La Dolce Vita
To learn more about Debbie and her knitting week at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


Marie Wallin

Marie Wallin
6 - 13 July 2019
Knitting and La Dolce Vita
To learn more about Marie and her knitting week at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


Preview of our 2019 courses at the watermill in Tuscany, Italy

Our fun-filled language course


Francesca la Sala

Langues services and Francesca la Sala
11 - 18 May 2019
Italian language
To learn more about our language course at the mill, please see our 2019 Courses Preview page.


The watermill in Italy's newsletter specialsNEWSLETTER SPECIALS

Everything's included in your watermill painting holiday, yoga retreat, creative writing holiday, knitting week or Italian Language course

Don’t forget that everything is included in the cost of a painting holiday, yoga retreat, knitting, personal development or language holiday: tuition, accommodation (including all linen and towels), pre-dinner aperitifs, all meals and local transportation (including transfers to Pisa airport; an excursion by train to visit the ancient walled city of Lucca or the stunning seaside villages of the Cinque Terre). All you have to do is to get to Pisa airport and we do the rest.

Whether you're travelling alone or with a partner you can be sure of a warm welcome, and that you'll be well looked after. We have built our reputation on the comfort of the mill and the care we provide.


Become a Friend of The Watermill at Posara

Visit our Friends Website (Link below). Just follow the instructions to Register as a Friend and then Log In to enjoy special privileges. If you become a ‘Friend’ (it will cost you nothing) you’ll enjoy many exclusive benefits, including dozens of practical and inspiring tips from our international painting and creative writing tutors and recipes from the watermill’s mouth-watering menus. And there will be exclusive offers for Friends to make our courses and holidays even more attractive.


Thank you for reading the watermill in Italy's newsletterTHANK YOU

We very much look forward to welcoming you to the mill this year, and for those of you who have already tasted the many delights at The Watermill at Posara, we look forward to welcoming you back.

Your hosts at the watermill, Italy

With very best wishes a tutti

Your hosts at the watermill in Tuscany

Lois and Bill Breckon