Memo from J-P
For this page of oldquimper.com, we give the floor to Jean-Pierre, who serves as the CFO (Chief Feline Officer) of The Meadows Collection. Appointed to that position in 2007, he has gamely agreed to attempt the daunting task of taking over the duties previously fulfilled by the late, but ever-present-in-our-hearts, Porquier-Beau...whose image continues to grace the upper left corner of this link.
Jean-Pierre is now twelve-years-old, which translates to sixty-four in human years. He is still very young-at-heart and so full of enthusiasm that he has bravely stepped up to the plate.
It is with great pleasure that we pass along the latest Memo from J-P:
Greetings to all.
First a little bit about me:
Jean-Pierre is now twelve-years-old, which translates to sixty-four in human years. He is still very young-at-heart and so full of enthusiasm that he has bravely stepped up to the plate.
It is with great pleasure that we pass along the latest Memo from J-P:
Greetings to all.
First a little bit about me:
I was born in Paris and am thoroughly français despite paperwork that lists me as being a chat de la fôret norvégienne (Norwegian Forest Cat). My full name is Châtelain Jean-Pierre. Châtelain because being born in 2007... December 21, 2007 to be precise...means that in accordance with French regulations, my name must begin with the letter 'c'. Those born in 2008 have names that begin with a 'd', those born in 2009 have names beginning with the letter 'e' and so on.
Châtelain is a French term from the Middle Ages used to distinguish the seigneur or lord of the manor. We live in Quimper now, so it's more like lord of the apartment...but the important part is that I rule the roost, so to speak. Jean is in reference to Jean-Baptiste Bousquet who settled in Quimper in 1699 and Pierre is in honor of his son, Pierre Bousquet, who in 1708 founded Quimper's first modern -day pottery factory.
Châtelain is a French term from the Middle Ages used to distinguish the seigneur or lord of the manor. We live in Quimper now, so it's more like lord of the apartment...but the important part is that I rule the roost, so to speak. Jean is in reference to Jean-Baptiste Bousquet who settled in Quimper in 1699 and Pierre is in honor of his son, Pierre Bousquet, who in 1708 founded Quimper's first modern -day pottery factory.
Every once in a while I like to put the spotlight on a specific topic…it might be an unusual example of Quimper pottery or perhaps a further look at a place or structure…something that I feel will further your enjoyment of French faïence.
And then sometimes I take this opportunity to share with you some of our adventures in Quimper...because one of the results of being so gab-smacked enamored of Quimper pottery has led to the inevitable and now we live in Quimper...right in the middle of Old Town !
I'm an indoor cat, but I do see a lot from our windows and the folks are always up for an adventure. Here's a quick rundown of what we were up to last month...it will give you a bit of a taste of the sights and sounds of living in Quimper.
Not much going on around here...hikes out in the countryside were just about the only thing that brought the folks outside and that stopped abruptly with mom's injury mid-month while out on the trail. But here's some of the sights that were observed prior to her mishap...
You almost expect to see an alligator slink by...but this is Brittany...on a trail in the vicinity of Combrit.
No mistaking Combrit's city hall...the faïence tiles on the exterior make it obvious !
Not so obvious...at first glance this looks like it could be Fred Flintstone's Breton hide away.
It's actually part of a vacation village...this area of Brittany is popular with seekers of fun in the summer sun.
Brittany boasts of several areas set aside to protect migratory birds...this isn't one of them.
The hikes give the folks a chance to enjoy the region's wide variety of native plants...
...from those that thrive in the shade...
...to those that bloom in the sun.
Another hike brought the group to Île-Tudy...a coast side village of some 700 people located twenty kilometers from Quimper. Situated across the Pont-l'Abbé river from the town of Loctudy, Île-tudy is also named after one of the founding saints of Brittany...Saint Tugdual...and was a true island prior to the construction of a seawall in the mid-1800s.
The Lute Player...created from a single massive trunk of an iroko tree. Native to west Africa, iroko is a hardwood that is difficult to carve, but it was no match for Quimper's Le Copeau Doré, a group of artisans specializing in woodworking. Created in 1995, the sculpture stands two meters high as it greets visitors to Île-Tudy.
Written records dating from the 15th and 16th centuries describe Île-Tudy as a fishing village...
...and though today the small cottages along the narrow streets of Île-Tudy shelter far more vacationers than people intent on catching fish...
...the sea continues to be a part of everyday life...even coming close to making it an island again during times of exceptionally high tides.
The checkerboard painted lighthouse on the left was inaugurated in 1918, but since 2000 is no longer operational. It remains, however, a local "landmark".
Another hike brought them to Lesconil...in the same general area of Combrit and Île-Tudy and thus also part of the Pays Bigoudèn...the southwest portion of Finistère.
Still active as a fishing village, the unloading of the local catch is an eagerly-awaited event ...locals and those "in-the-know" have langoustines on their minds at 4:30 in the afternoon. when the boats return.
While waiting to buy their langoustines, the beach in Lesconil is large enough to allow for social distancing...
...and the craggy rock formations provide for a challenging hike.
That's my memo for this month; I hope you enjoy my sharing of our adventures in Quimper!