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Waiting in line at the fish stall in the market

3 Aug By

Our friend Jamie Martin, who stayed with us for a few days last week, captured these amusing moments at the fresh fish stall in the weekly market in our nearby town of Fivizzano.

A charming cat (above) waited patiently in line, gazing up at the fishy heaven. No prizes for guessing what was going on in her feline brain. Then it was her turn to order!

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.

Come and enjoy the weekly market yourself on one of our world-famous creative courses at the Watermill. Our 2019 courses are now fully booked up (though there may be cancellations) and we are now taking bookings for 2020. Our total capacity on our creative courses is some 260 guests, and we have already taken more than 70 bookings for next year. So now is the time to reserve your place for a sun-filled, fun filled inspiring week of painting, creative writing, knitting or learning Italian, especially as we have a special offer: if you book a 2020 course before the end of this month you will only pay 2019 prices.

You can find out more by clicking here. We would love you to join us. And we will serve you some delicious fish among all the tasty Italian meals will savour during your week.

Filed Under: General, Knitting Holidays, Language courses, Painting Holidays, Writing courses · Leave a Comment

A flattering portrait from a Watermill painting course guest

19 Jul By

One of our Watermill painting guests, Tamara Zakon, has just shared this rather flattering portrait of me as I told the group our plans for their painting week with Sandra Strohschein. It’s weird seeing yourself, as Rabbie Burns would have it ‘as others see us’, but I’m honoured that Tamara should take the time and trouble to try to get my looks down on paper.

Tamara says, in an email to the group who were on Sandra’s course: “Surely you remember the evening of June 1st at the Watermill. Only Bill could keep us riveted to our seats as he divulged next day’s programme and menu with the same intensity and suspense as he would tell about murder and intrigue in Renaissance Florence.”

I’m glad you enjoyed my little speeches, Tamara. Words were always my business and I love communicating with others. Tamara says: “Not a perfect likeness, but a first attempt.” Another guest on Sandra’s course, Donna Davies, commented: “Wow Tamara! I think it’s a good likeness! Nicely done!”

There are far more interesting things to look at here at the Watermill: the beautiful gardens and the stunning surrounding scenery, and, come to that far more interesting things to listen to, like the birds’ dawn chorus, the chatter of the cicadas and the river Rosaro rumbling over the rocks.

We’d love you to join us and hear, and see, more.

Watermill creative courses: availability at 19 July 2019

Some 250 people have now booked up for one of our 2019 courses: painting, creative writing, knitting and Italian language. But we still have a few spaces remaining: why not grab one of them for yourself and see what all the fuss is about?

Here’s the latest list of what’s available. It’s followed by details and links of the other courses that are currently fully booked. But there are invariably cancellations, so if there’s a tutor or a date in whom/which you are particularly interested, please don’t hesitate to let us know and we’ll put you on the waiting list. We are enjoying an especially inspiring season this year and we love you to be part of it!

And why not bring your non-participating partners well? Not only is there a generous £250 reduction for them (sharing a room with you), but we have plenty of activities for them. Find out more about that by clicking here.

We are also now taking bookings for 2020 (and already some 50 people have signed up!) There is a preview of our 2020 courses, which you can see by clicking here and if you reserve your place now, you can take advantage of our ‘2020 courses at 2019 prices’ offer.

Meanwhile, in 2019:

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.

What’s still available in 2019: Painting courses

We’ve listed the painting courses where we still have availability first, the others that are full, but for which there is a waiting list, follow these.

Jude Scott
17 – 24 August 2019 One place left
Watercolours (plus acrylics and oils)
To learn more about Jude and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page

 

Claire Warner
14 – 21 September 2019 Due to cancellations, two places left
Watercolours, oils and acrylics
To learn more about Claire and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

 

Tim Wilmot
5 – 12 October 2019 Due to cancellation, one place left
Watercolours
To learn more about Tim and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

 

David Taylor
12 – 19 October 2019 Due to cancellation, one place left
Watercolours
To learn more about David and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

 

The painting courses below are currently fully booked fully booked, BUT there are always cancellations. If you’d like to come on one of them, please don’t hesitate to get in touch: we will put you on a waiting list and let you know as soon as there is a space.

 

Jude Scott
24 – 31 August 2019 Course full, waiting list open
Watercolours (plus acrylics and oils)
To learn more about Jude and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page

 

Varvara Neiman
31 August – 7 September 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Water-based oils, acrylics and watercolours
To learn more about Varvara and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

Maggie Renner Hellmann
21 – 28 September 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Courageous Color Workshop’ in oils, acrylics, pastels and watercolors
To learn more about Maggie and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

Charles Sluga
28 September – 5 October 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Watercolours, acrylics and oils
To learn more about Charles and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

What’s available: Writing courses

Laurence Marks 
7 – 14 September 2019 One place left
To learn more about Laurence and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

We’d be delighted if you could join us. Please click here for more details about all our 2019 creative courses.

Meanwhile, here’s a warm and welcoming Maggie Renner Hellmann painting, of a corner of the sunny Watermill courtyard. Come and enjoy it for yourself!

Filed Under: Language courses, Painting Holidays, Writing courses · Leave a Comment

 A memory-provoking pastel of the river that runs by the Watermill

14 Jul By

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.This vibrant pastel, of the River Rosaro that runs beside the Watermill, is by Anne-Marie Furze, a guest on Sue Ford’s painting course here this week. She painted the river last year, when attending Rebecca de Mendonca and Nel Whatmore’s pastel week. She tells me: “It hangs on the wall of my sitting room and every time I look at it, I’m reminded of the great time we had at the Watermill.”

Anne-Marie obviously enjoyed herself so much that she has just returned (with two of her friends) for another painting week here.

A photograph of the mill and the riverside gardens.

Why don’t you join us too and enjoy the unique attractions of the Watermill and the unspoiled scenery of the Tuscan National Park that surrounds us? We’d love to welcome you here. We are pretty full for this year, although we have a few places left on our remaining painting courses (details below) and a place or two on our scriptwriting course in September.

And we are already taking bookings for our 2020 courses: more than 50 people have already reserved their place. If you book now you can enjoy one of our 2020 sun-filled, fun filled, inspiring creative courses at 2019 prices. Please click here for more.

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.

Watermill creative courses: availability at 14 July 2019

More than 250 people have now booked up for one of our 2019 courses: painting, creative writing, knitting and Italian language. But we still have a few spaces remaining: why not grab one of them for yourself and see what all the fuss is about?

Here’s the latest list of what’s available. It’s followed by details and links of the other courses that are currently fully booked. But there are invariably cancellations, so if there’s a tutor or a date in whom/which you are particularly interested, please don’t hesitate to let us know and we’ll put you on the waiting list. We are looking forward to an especially inspiring season this year and we love you to be part of it!

And why not bring your non-participating partners well? Not only is there a generous £250 reduction for them (sharing a room with you), but we have plenty of activities for them. Find out more about that by clicking here.

We are also now taking bookings for 2020 (and already some 40 people have signed up!) There is a preview of our 2020 courses, which you can see by clicking here and if you reserve your place now, you can take advantage of our ‘2020 courses at 2019 prices’ offer.

Meanwhile, in 2019:

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.

 

What’s available: Painting courses

We’ve listed the painting courses where we still have availability first, the others that are full, but for which there is a waiting list, follow these.

 

Jude Scott
17 – 24 August 2019 One place left
Watercolours (plus acrylics and oils)
To learn more about Jude and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page

 

Claire Warner
14 – 21 September 2019 Due to cancellations, two places left
Watercolours, oils and acrylics
To learn more about Claire and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

Tim Wilmot
5 – 12 October 2019 Due to cancellation, one place left
Watercolours
To learn more about Tim and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

 

David Taylor
12 – 19 October 2019 Due to cancellation, one place left
Watercolours
To learn more about David and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

 

The painting courses below are currently fully booked fully booked, BUT there are always cancellations. If you’d like to come on one of them, please don’t hesitate to get in touch: we will put you on a waiting list and let you know as soon as there is a space.

 

Jude Scott
24 – 31 August 2019 Course full, waiting list open
Watercolours (plus acrylics and oils)
To learn more about Jude and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page

 

 

Varvara Neiman
31 August – 7 September 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Water-based oils, acrylics and watercolours
To learn more about Varvara and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

Maggie Renner Hellmann
21 – 28 September 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Courageous Color Workshop’ in oils, acrylics, pastels and watercolors
To learn more about Maggie and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

Charles Sluga
28 September – 5 October 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Watercolours, acrylics and oils
To learn more about Charles and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

What’s available: Writing courses

Laurence Marks 
Scriptwriting
7 – 14 September 2019 One or two places left
To learn more about Laurence and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

We’d be delighted if you could join us. Please click here for more details about all our 2019 creative courses.

Meanwhile, here’s a warm and welcoming Maggie Renner Hellmann painting, of a corner of the sunny Watermill courtyard. Come and enjoy it for yourself!

 

Filed Under: General, Painting Holidays, Writing courses · Leave a Comment

Latest availability on this year’s Watermill painting and writing courses

11 Jul By

Watermill creative courses: availability at 11 July 2019

Some 250 people have now booked up for one of our 2019 courses: painting, creative writing, knitting and Italian language. But we still have a few spaces remaining: why not grab one of them for yourself and see what all the fuss is about?

Here’s the latest list of what’s available. It’s followed by details and links of the other courses that are currently fully booked. But there are invariably cancellations, so if there’s a tutor or a date in whom/which you are particularly interested, please don’t hesitate to let us know and we’ll put you on the waiting list. We are looking forward to an especially inspiring season this year and we love you to be part of it!

And why not bring your non-participating partners well? Not only is there a generous £250 reduction for them (sharing a room with you), but we have plenty of activities for them. Find out more about that by clicking here.

We are also now taking bookings for 2020 (and already some 40 people have signed up!) There is a preview of our 2020 courses, which you can see by clicking here and if you reserve your place now, you can take advantage of our ‘2020 courses at 2019 prices’ offer.

Meanwhile, in 2019:

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.

 

What’s available: Painting courses

We’ve listed the painting courses where we still have availability first, the others that are full, but for which there is a waiting list, follow these.

 

Jude Scott
17 – 24 August 2019 One place left
Watercolours (plus acrylics and oils)
To learn more about Jude and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page

 

Claire Warner
14 – 21 September 2019 Due to cancellations, two places left
Watercolours, oils and acrylics
To learn more about Claire and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

 

Tim Wilmot
5 – 12 October 2019 Due to cancellation, one place left
Watercolours
To learn more about Tim and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

 

David Taylor
12 – 19 October 2019 Due to cancellation, one place left
Watercolours
To learn more about David and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

 

The painting courses below are currently fully booked fully booked, BUT there are always cancellations. If you’d like to come on one of them, please don’t hesitate to get in touch: we will put you on a waiting list and let you know as soon as there is a space.

 

Jude Scott
24 – 31 August 2019 Course full, waiting list open
Watercolours (plus acrylics and oils)
To learn more about Jude and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page

 

Varvara Neiman
31 August – 7 September 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Water-based oils, acrylics and watercolours
To learn more about Varvara and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

Maggie Renner Hellmann
21 – 28 September 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Courageous Color Workshop’ in oils, acrylics, pastels and watercolors
To learn more about Maggie and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

Charles Sluga
28 September – 5 October 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Watercolours, acrylics and oils
To learn more about Charles and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

What’s available: Writing courses

Laurence Marks 
7 – 14 September 2019 One or two places left
To learn more about Laurence and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

 

We’d be delighted if you could join us. Please click here for more details about all our 2019 creative courses. 

Meanwhile, here’s a warm and welcoming Maggie Renner Hellmann painting, of a corner of the sunny Watermill courtyard. Come and enjoy it for yourself! 

Filed Under: General, Knitting Holidays, Language courses, Painting Holidays, Writing courses · Leave a Comment

Marvellous pictures from a walk through the bamboo forest and the millstream

11 Jul By

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.Trevor Sanderson, who joined his wife Maggie as a ‘non-participating partner’ on Jo Parfitt’s recent Writing Your Life Stories week at the Watermill has just sent me a terrific photographic record of a walk he took through the bamboo forest next to the mill, and along the millstream.

We are working on ways of better showing this to you, perhaps as a slideshow (watch this space) but as we do so, we thought you might like to have a sneak preview of a couple of the photographs of some of the wildlife that abounds in the National Park that surrounds the mill.

At the very top of the millstream, where the water is diverted from the river Rosaro, Trevor disturbed a duck and her offspring. He says: “At this point the stream narrows and the flow is so strong that the ducklings can only just paddle their way upstream away from you.”

Rather more prosaic, but fascinating, are the water boatman insects that gather just below the arch that controls the height of the millstream water. Using the effects of surface tension, they can skim across the top of the water, feeding on algae and dead plant material as they drift past. Clever stuff, but a rather boring existence.

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.

Trevor has also made some marvellous photographs of the other wildlife along the Millstream, including damselflies and lizards and we will show you more when we’ve created the slideshow.

Taking pictures of the beautiful surroundings and the abounding wildlife is just one of the activities in which non-participating partners can indulge. You can find out more by clicking here.

Why not come with your partner on one of our renowned painting, creative writing, knitting or Italian language courses and, while they are busy creating, have an inspiring time yourself?

We are pretty full up for 2019, but we are now taking bookings for our 2020 courses. In fact, more than 50 people have already signed up for next year. You can learn more by clicking here.

We’d be delighted to welcome you to our envirinmental paradise.

The dappled sunlight on the Millstream is magical, too. Picture Lois Breckon

Filed Under: General, Knitting Holidays, Language courses, Painting Holidays, Watermill, Writing courses · 2 Comments

Stimulate your imagination with this month’s Watermill newsletter

6 Jul By

 

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.

The Watermill June 2019’s letter is just out with stories on how we are becoming even greener, a glimpse of Gentileschi, enjoying music under the vine Verandah and why you should stop writing when you’re doing well. Intrigued? Click here for more.

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.

Picture: Francesco Lastrucci

 

Filed Under: General, Knitting Holidays, Language courses, Painting Holidays, Writing courses · Leave a Comment

Still half a dozen or so places left on our 2019 creative courses

6 Jul By

Watermill creative courses: availability at 6 July 2019

Some 250 people have now booked up for one of our 2019 courses: painting, creative writing, knitting and Italian language. But we still have a few spaces remaining: why not grab one of them for yourself and see what all the fuss is about?

Here’s the latest list of what’s available. It’s followed by details and links of the other courses that are currently fully booked. But there are invariably cancellations, so if there’s a tutor or a date in whom/which you are particularly interested, please don’t hesitate to let us know and we’ll put you on the waiting list. We are looking forward to an especially inspiring season this year and we love you to be part of it!

And why not bring your non-participating partners well? Not only is there a generous £250 reduction for them (sharing a room with you), but we have plenty of activities for them. Find out more about that by clicking here.

We are also now taking bookings for 2020 (and already some 40 people have signed up!) There is a preview of our 2020 courses, which you can see by clicking here and if you reserve your place now, you can take advantage of our ‘2020 courses at 2019 prices’ offer.

Meanwhile, in 2019:

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.

 

What’s available: Painting courses

We’ve listed the painting courses where we still have availability first, the others that are full, but for which there is a waiting list, follow these.

Sue Ford
13 – 20 July 2019 One or two places left
Watercolours, pastels, collage and mixed media plus acrylics
To learn more about Sue and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

Jude Scott
17 – 24 August 2019 One place left
Watercolours (plus acrylics and oils)
To learn more about Jude and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page

 

Claire Warner
14 – 21 September 2019 Due to cancellations, two places left
Watercolours, oils and acrylics
To learn more about Claire and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

 

Tim Wilmot
5 – 12 October 2019 Due to cancellation, one place left
Watercolours
To learn more about Tim and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

 

David Taylor
12 – 19 October 2019 Due to cancellation, one place left
Watercolours
To learn more about David and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

 

The painting courses below are currently fully booked fully booked, BUT there are always cancellations. If you’d like to come on one of them, please don’t hesitate to get in touch: we will put you on a waiting list and let you know as soon as there is a space.

 

Jude Scott
24 – 31 August 2019 Course full, watng list open
Watercolours (plus acrylics and oils)
To learn more about Jude and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page

 

Varvara Neiman
31 August – 7 September 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Water-based oils, acrylics and watercolours
To learn more about Varvara and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

Maggie Renner Hellmann
21 – 28 September 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Courageous Color Workshop’ in oils, acrylics, pastels and watercolors
To learn more about Maggie and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

Charles Sluga
28 September – 5 October 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Watercolours, acrylics and oils
To learn more about Charles and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

What’s available: Writing courses

Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran
7 – 14 September 2019 Two or three places left
To learn more about Laurence and Maurice and their course at the mill, please visit their 2019 Profile Page.

We’d be delighted if you could join us. Please click here for more details about all our 2019 creative courses. 

Meanwhile, here’s a warm and welcoming Maggie Renner Hellmann painting, of a corner of the sunny Watermill courtyard. Come and enjoy it for yourself! 

Filed Under: General, Language courses, Painting Holidays, Writing courses · Leave a Comment

Are you a painter or a writer? Grab one of the last few places on our Watermill 2019 creative courses.

25 Jun By

Watermill creative courses: availability at 25 June 2019

Some 250 people have now booked up for one of our 2019 courses: painting, creative writing, knitting and Italian language. But we still have a few spaces remaining: why not grab one of them for yourself and see what all the fuss is about?

Here’s the latest list of what’s available. It’s followed by details and links of the other courses that are currently fully booked. But there are invariably cancellations, so if there’s a tutor or a date in whom/which you are particularly interested, please don’t hesitate to let us know and we’ll put you on the waiting list. We are looking forward to an especially inspiring season this year and we love you to be part of it!

And why not bring your non-participating partners well? Not only is there a generous £250 reduction for them (sharing a room with you), but we have plenty of activities for them. Find out more about that by clicking here.

We are also now taking bookings for 2020 (and already some 40 people have signed up!) There is a preview of our 2020 courses, which you can see by clicking here and if you reserve your place now, you can take advantage of our ‘2020 courses at 2019 prices’ offer.

Meanwhile, in 2019:

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.

What’s available: Painting courses

We’ve listed the painting courses where we still have availability first, the others that are full, but for which there is a waiting list, follow these.

Sue Ford
13 – 20 July 2019 One or two places left
Watercolours, pastels, collage and mixed media plus acrylics
To learn more about Sue and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

Jude Scott
17 – 24 August 2019 Two or three places left
Watercolours (plus acrylics and oils)
To learn more about Jude and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page

 

Claire Warner
14 – 21 September 2019 Due to cancellations, two places left
Watercolours, oils and acrylics
To learn more about Claire and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

The painting courses below are currently fully booked fully booked, BUT there are always cancellations. If you’d like to come on one of them, please don’t hesitate to get in touch: we will put you on a waiting list and let you know as soon as there is a space.

Painting by Mike Willdridge, a tutor at The Watermill at Posara painting holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.

Mike Willdridge
29 June – 6 July 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
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 visit his 2019 Profile Page.

 

Jude Scott
24 – 31 August 2019 Course full, watng list open
Watercolours (plus acrylics and oils)
To learn more about Jude and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page

 

Varvara Neiman
31 August – 7 September 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Water-based oils, acrylics and watercolours
To learn more about Varvara and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

Maggie Renner Hellmann
21 – 28 September 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Courageous Color Workshop’ in oils, acrylics, pastels and watercolors
To learn more about Maggie and her course at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page.

 

Charles Sluga
28 September – 5 October 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Watercolours, acrylics and oils
To learn more about Charles and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

 

Tim Wilmot
5 – 12 October 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Watercolours
To learn more about Tim and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

 

David Taylor
12 – 19 October 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Watercolours
To learn more about David and his course at the mill, please visit his 2019 Profile Page.

 

What’s available: Knitting courses

The Watermill at Posara for painting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language, personal development and yoga holidays/vacations/retreats, Tuscany, Italy.

We’ve listed first the knitting course where we still have availability:

The knitting week below is currently fully booked fully booked, BUT there are always cancellations. If you’d like to come , please don’t hesitate to get in touch: we will put you on a waiting list and let you know as soon as there is a space.

 

The Watermill at Posara for painting, knitting, yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.Marie Wallin
6 – 13 July 2019 Fully booked, waiting list open
Knitting and La Dolce Vita
To learn more about Marie and her knitting week at the mill, please visit her 2019 Profile Page

 

What’s available: Writing courses

 

Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran
7 – 14 September 2019 Four or five places left
To learn more about Laurence and Maurice and their course at the mill, please visit their 2019 Profile Page.

We’d be delighted if you could join us. Please click here for more details about all our 2019 creative courses. 

Meanwhile, here’s a warm and welcoming Maggie Renner Hellmann painting, of a corner of the sunny Watermill courtyard. Come and enjoy it for yourself! 

Filed Under: General, Knitting Holidays, Language courses, Painting Holidays, Writing courses · Leave a Comment

All this and a lovely linen dress too. An added bonus on Jo’s creative writing course

24 Jun By

 

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.Here is the farewell group photograph for Jo Parfitt’s Writing Your Life Stories course which finished on Saturday. Our thanks to Trevor Sanderson, who took the pictures. The bottom one shows several of our guests, and Jo, showing off the linen dresses that they had bought, at bargain prices, earlier in the week at the market in the nearby mediaeval walled town of Fivizzano. We go there on a Tuesday morning to people watch and to enjoy a panino and some home-made ice cream in the local gelateria.

Of course, the focus of the course is learning the secrets of successful writing, skilfully directed and encouraged by Jo, but the ambience of the Watermill, the beauty of its surroundings, the delicious Italian food and the camaraderie and conversation, are all also extra bonuses. To say nothing of a smart new dress!

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.You, too, could be sampling the delights of the Watermill and learning the secrets of writing the stories of your life, when Jo returns next year. She will be with us from 9-16 May 2020. And if you book now, you can enjoy Jo’s inspiring 2020 course at 2019 prices. Four people have already booked up. You can see a preview of Joe’s 2020 course and, if you like, reserve your place, by clicking here.

The Watermill at Posara for painting, sculpting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language and yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.Jo Parfitt is an author, journalist, teacher, blogger, conference speaker and poet. She has published 32 books herself, has helped more than 100 authors into print and more than 1,000 people to begin writing. Jo’s a compassionate, inspiring, and encouraging teacher: her motto is ‘sharing what I know to help others to grow’.

The Write Your Life Stories creative writing course is designed to help you produce your best work, to find your true writer’s ‘voice’ and to write authentically. Among other things, you’ll discover the secret of SPICE, the seven steps to writing life stories. Jo says: “The course at the watermill will provide a safe haven in which to unlock your creativity, write from your heart and hone your writing craft. You will be empowered to write in a compelling way, bringing your experiences to life.”

Here are some more comments from guests on Jo’s previous courses at the Watermill: “The most magical trip to Tuscany, which will stay with me forever!” “It is a very special and beautiful place and everything was organised so perfectly. Jo is a great tutor and we all had an amazing time.”

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.

Sharing your experiences on the vine verandah

The workshop will include several methods and genres and is perfect for anyone wanting to write about their own lives for an effective journal, memoir or blog. If you would enjoy an injection of inspiration in a safe and supportive environment this course is for you. It is appropriate for students of any level.

Everything is included in the cost of your holiday at the watermill: tuition, accommodation (including all linen and towels), pre-dinner aperitifs, all meals and wines (including outings to charming local restaurants) and all local transportation (including transfers to Pisa airport and an excursion by train to Lucca or the Cinque Terre). You get to Pisa, Italy, we do the rest!

Preliminary details of our 2020 sun-filled, inspiring painting holidays are on our website at https://watermill.net/.  (Or just type ‘watermill.net’ into your search engine, then click on 2020 Courses Preview.) And don’t forget that if you book now you can enjoy this inspiring 2020 writing course at 2019 prices.

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.

Finding a quiet corner to start writing your life’s stories

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Jo Parfitt’s writing course: the last chapter this year. Come and write your own opening chapters with us next year

22 Jun By

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.We have just said goodbye to the members of Jo Parfitt’s wonderful group on this year’s Writing your Life Stories course. Last evening they shared some of their stories on the Watermill vine verandah, later accompanied by a glass or two of cool prosecco. Thank you for your support, ladies and gentlemen, we thoroughly enjoyed your company. One of the group, Sue Reed, tells us: “The vine verandah at The Watermill has been the perfect place to gather to write and share our stories. Last night we all shared a funny story, and the laughter rang out. I will say goodbye to these lovely people today, and return home, but my life feels so much richer for having met and shared stories with them.”

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.

Thank you again to Sue Reed (www.suereedwrites.co.uk) for posting these lovely photographs on Facebook.

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.

Time to relax: enjoying the cool mountain stream flows past that flows past the Watermill

You, too, could be sampling the delights of the Watermill and learning the secrets of writing the stories of your life, when Jo returns next year. She will be with us from 9-16 May 2020. And if you book now, you can enjoy Jo’s inspiring 2020 course at 2019 prices. Three people have already booked up. You can see a preview of Joe’s 2020 course and, if you like, reserve your place, by clicking here.

The Watermill at Posara for painting, sculpting, knitting, creative writing, Italian language and yoga, holidays/vacations, Tuscany, Italy.Jo Parfitt is an author, journalist, teacher, blogger, conference speaker and poet. She has published 32 books herself, has helped more than 100 authors into print and more than 1,000 people to begin writing. Jo’s a compassionate, inspiring, and encouraging teacher: her motto is ‘sharing what I know to help others to grow’.

The Write Your Life Stories creative writing course is designed to help you produce your best work, to find your true writer’s ‘voice’ and to write authentically. Among other things, you’ll discover the secret of SPICE, the seven steps to writing life stories. Jo says: “The course at the watermill will provide a safe haven in which to unlock your creativity, write from your heart and hone your writing craft. You will be empowered to write in a compelling way, bringing your experiences to life.”

Here are some more comments from guests on Jo’s previous courses at the Watermill: “The most magical trip to Tuscany, which will stay with me forever!” “It is a very special and beautiful place and everything was organised so perfectly. Jo is a great tutor and we all had an amazing time.”

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.

Sharing your experiences on the vine verandah

The workshop will include several methods and genres and is perfect for anyone wanting to write about their own lives for an effective journal, memoir or blog. If you would enjoy an injection of inspiration in a safe and supportive environment this course is for you. It is appropriate for students of any level.

Everything is included in the cost of your holiday at the watermill: tuition, accommodation (including all linen and towels), pre-dinner aperitifs, all meals and wines (including outings to charming local restaurants) and all local transportation (including transfers to Pisa airport and an excursion by train to Lucca or the Cinque Terre). You get to Pisa, Italy, we do the rest!

Preliminary details of our 2020 sun-filled, inspiring painting holidays are on our website at https://watermill.net/.  (Or just type ‘watermill.net’ into your search engine, then click on 2020 Courses Preview.) And don’t forget that if you book now you can enjoy this inspiring 2020 writing course at 2019 prices.

The Watermill at Posara for painting, creative writing, knitting, and Italian language holidays/vacations/workshops, Tuscany, Italy.

Finding a quiet corner to start writing your life’s stories

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