Stories on our Grand Awakening and planning your Great Escape, but perhaps most exciting of all on how to play your part as a Watermill Patron – and win rewards. Check out the latest Watermill newsletter by clicking here. Then, join in the fun!
More exciting adventures at the Watermill. Read all about it!
7 Apr By
Come and share Randy’s passion for painting
31 Mar By
We are really looking forward to meeting, at last, our new watercolour painting tutor Randy Hale. We feel we know him already, since we’ve enjoyed a series of online interactive painting sessions with him, which have proved extremely popular. So it will be great to see him at the Watermill itself for his painting course later this year.
Randy is an exciting watercolourist from Colorado in United States. One of his students says: “Randy knows his stuff and he knows how to teach! The best watercolor instructor I have ever had!” Another says: “He’s an excellent artist and instructor, offering clear and positive help.”
As I say, Randy has not yet visited the Watermill, but he has already produced some wonderful watercolours, from photographs! Above is his impression of our walled garden, with the Watermill buildings behind. And here’s another impression of our village, Posara:
Randy will be with us for a week-long course in watercolours from Saturday 21 August to Saturday 28 August 2021. (You will be Cool and Green: all our rooms are air-conditioned, powered by photovoltaic panels which make us self-sufficient in electricity).
I have made one of those fun, 30-second Facebook slideshows, with some of Randy’s earlier paintings, which you can see by clicking here. And I couldn’t resist showing you these ‘quirky critters’ Randy painted on one of his recent online sessions.
Everything is included in the cost of your holiday at the watermill: tuition, accommodation, 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!
And remember, you will be Cool and Green: all our rooms are air-conditioned, powered by photovoltaic panels which make us self-sufficient in electricity.
Randy Hale
Saturday 21 August to Saturday 28 August 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Randy and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Come and join us and make 2021 a year to remember.
As things begin to open up, look to the future and book your creative week at the Watermill
29 Mar By
As, at last, we are beginning to see the vaccinated delighted the end of the long coronavirus tunnel, now is the time to beat the rush and plan your week on a creative course at the Watermill, in painting, writing, knitting or the Italian language. Not only will you enjoy inspiring tuition, a beautiful setting, warm hospitality, delicious food and wine and the convivial company of like-minded people, you will be able to enjoy a glow of anticipation in the months before your trip.
We have revamped all our 2021 courses and we going to start with a great reawakening on 3 July. We would love you to join us and cast off your coronavirus blues. Here is what we are offering for your (and our) creative reawakening:
Our inspiring painting courses:
Here is the complete list of our painting tutors for next year. You can find out more about each of them by clicking on their Profile page link in their entries below
Vicki Norman
3 – 10 July 2021
Oils and watercolours (and other mediums)
To learn more about Vicki and her course at the mill, please visit her 2021 Profile Page.
Carl March
10 – 17 July 2021
Drawing and watercolours en plein air
To learn more about Carl and his course at the mill, please visit his 2021 Profile Page.
Rebecca de Mendonça
31 July – 7 August 2021
Pastels and Mixed media
To learn more about Rebecca and her course at the mill, please visit her 2021 Profile Page.
Randy Hale
21 – 28 August 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Randy and his course at the mill, please visit his 2021 Profile Page.
Mike Willdridge
28 August – 4 September 2021 x places left
Watercolour and drawing (also gouache and acrylics)
To learn more about Mike and his course at the mill, please visit his 2021 Profile Page.
Mike Willdridge
4 – 11 September 2021
Watercolour and drawing (also gouache and acrylics)
To learn more about Mike and his course at the mill, please visit his 2021 Profile Page.
Milind Mulick
11 – 18 September 2021
Colourful watercolours
To learn more about Milind and his course at the mill, please visit his 2021 Profile Page.
Brienne M Brown
18 – 25 September 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Brienne and her course at the mill, please visit her 2021 Profile Page.
Tim Wilmot
2 – 9 October 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Tim and his course at the mill, please visit his 2021 Profile Page.
Ali Hargreaves
9 – 16 October 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Ali and her course at the mill, please visit her 2021 Profile Page.
Grahame Booth
23 – 30 October 2021 x places left
Watercolours
To learn more about Grahame and his course at the mill, please visit his 2021 Profile Page.
Our enabling writing courses:
Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran
24 – 31 July 2021
Scriptwriting
To learn more about Laurence and Maurice and their course at the mill course at the mill, please visit their 2021 Tutor Profile Page.
Jo Parfitt
14 -21 August 2021
Writing your life stories
To learn more about Jo and her course at the mill, please visit her 2021 Tutor Profile page.
Our relaxing knitting weeks:
Knitting retreat
17-24 July 2021
Knitting and la Bella Vita To learn more about our knitting retreat, please click here
Louisa Harding
7 – 14 August 2021
Knitting and la Bella Vita
To learn more about Louisa and her week at the Watermill, please visit her 2021 Profile page.
Our enhancing language week:
Francesca La Sala
16-23 October 2021
A novel approach to learning Italian
To learn more about Francesca and her course at the mill, please visit our Language Programme Page
100 castles, two natural parks, warm hospitality – waiting for you!
8 Mar By
Another discovery when tidying up my old blogs. This one is as true today as it was when I first wrote it a couple of years ago. Now all this coronavirus kerfuffle is clearing away, we are working on our ‘great reawakening’ and hoping to be able to welcome guests again in a few months’ time. Here’s the 2016 blog:
We are so proud of the ambiance of the Watermill and its surrounding countryside and love sharing it with our creative courses guests.
If you’ve been, you’ll know that The Watermill at Posara is a complex of elegant and historic, carefully restored Tuscan buildings, surrounding a sunny courtyard with an adjoining vine verandah, rose pergola and sun-filled walled garden. More gardens lead to walks along the river and the sun-dappled millstream. 
Set in a gentle valley, The Watermill stands beside the River Rosaro in the small village of Posara. Peaceful and secluded, yet part of the village, the mill is just a mile or so from the walled medieval town of Fivizzano with its cafés, restaurants and shops. This is the heart of Lunigiana, in the North-west of Tuscany, stunningly beautiful and truly unspoilt part of Italy.
The comune (administrative district) of Fivizzano which, as well as a hundred ancient castles within its boundaries, contains not one, but two environmentally protected areas: the National Park of the Tuscan-Emilian Appennines, the backbone of Italy, and the Regional Park of the Apuan Alps, home of the marble mountains of Carrara. Because of this protected status the air and the water are pure and unpolluted and the area abounds in wildlife.
And you will be Cool and Green at the Watermill: we have installed a hidden array of photovoltaic panels which make us self-sufficient in electricity, powering an air-conditioning system in all the bedrooms and public rooms.
Come and join us and savour La Bella Vita Italiana on one of our unique painting, Italian language, knitting, yoga and cooking weeks. Find our more about everything by clicking here.
We can’t wait to meet you! Below you will find details of all our 2021 creative courses, ready for that ‘great awakening’. As they say around here: Non vediamo l’ora di incontrarvi. We look forward to meeting you.
Below you will find our new programme for the 2021 season. Come and join us and celebrate freedom and creativity, and enjoy warm hospitality and convivial company.
Our inspiring painting courses:
Here is the complete list of our painting tutors for next year. You can find out more about each of them by clicking on their Profile page link in their entries below.
Mike Willdridge
12 – 19 June 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Mike and his course at the mill, please visit his 2021 Profile Page
Paul Talbot-Greaves
19 – 26 June 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Paul and his course at the mill, please visit his 2021 Profile Page.
Rebecca de Mendonça
26 June – 3 July 2021
Pastels and Mixed media
To learn more about Rebecca and her course at the mill, please visit her 2021 Profile Page.
Vicki Norman
3 – 10 July 2021
Oils and watercolours (and other mediums)
To learn more about Vicki and her course at the mill, please visit her 2021 Profile Page.
Carl March
10 – 17 July 2021
Drawing and watercolours en plein air
To learn more about Carl and his course at the mill, please visit his 2021 Profile Page.
Randy Hale
21 – 28 August 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Randy and his course at the mill, please visit his 2021 Profile Page.
Mike Willdridge
28 August – 4 September 2021 x places left
Watercolour and drawing (also gouache and acrylics)
To learn more about Mike and his course at the mill, please visit his 2021 Profile Page.
Mike Willdridge
4 – 11 September 2021
Watercolour and drawing (also gouache and acrylics)
To learn more about Mike and his course at the mill, please visit his 2021 Profile Page.
Milind Mulick
11 – 18 September 2021
Colourful watercolours
To learn more about Milind and his course at the mill, please visit his 2021 Profile Page.
Brienne M Brown
18 – 25 September 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Brienne and her course at the mill, please visit her 2021 Profile Page.
Tim Wilmot
2 – 9 October 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Tim and his course at the mill, please visit his 2021 Profile Page.
Ali Hargreaves
9 – 16 October 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Ali and her course at the mill, please visit her 2021 Profile Page.
Grahame Booth
23 – 30 October 2021 x places left
Watercolours
To learn more about Grahame and his course at the mill, please visit his 2021 Profile Page.
Our enabling writing courses:
Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran
24 – 31 July 2021
Scriptwriting
To learn more about Laurence and Maurice and their course at the mill course at the mill, please visit their 2021 Tutor Profile Page.
Jo Parfitt
14 -21 August 2021
Writing your life stories
To learn more about Jo and her course at the mill, please visit her 2021 Tutor Profile page.
Our relaxing knitting weeks:
Knitting retreat
17-24 July 2021
Knitting and la Bella Vita To learn more about our knitting retreat, please click here
Louisa Harding
7 – 14 August 2021
Knitting and la Bella Vita
To learn more about Louisa and her week at the Watermill, please visit her 2021 Profile page.
Our enhancing language week:
Francesca La Sala
16-23 October 2021
A novel approach to learning Italian
To learn more about Francesca and her course at the mill, please visit our Language Programme Page
Time to cast off your coronavirus blues: come and join us for creativity, scenery, hospitality and conviviality. You can find more about everything by clicking here.
Time to look forward to a creative New Year
3 Jan By
The guy above is Janus, the two-faced Roman god of beginnings, gateways and departures. He gave his name to January, of course, and is depicted here as an old man looking back and a young man looking forward.
Here at the Watermill, we are firmly looking forward, both to our continuing interactive online painting sessions and to a full programme of creative weeks at the Watermill itself in 2021. Why don’t you look forward, too, and release your creativity once more in the company of like-minded people?
Our interactive, online sessions every Thursday afternoon (British time) have proved a great success, with hundreds of people joining in, painting along with our inspiring Watermill tutors. And in February there will be another of our extraordinary ‘virtual’ painting weeks, where every day you ‘visit’ the stunning Tuscan locations around the Watermill, in the company of painting tutor Mike Willdridge. You can see details of all the Watermill’s online activities by clicking here.
We already have many bookings for next year’s creative courses at the Watermill, in painting, creative writing, knitting and Italian language. Some 215 places are already taken out of a potential total of some 250/260. So now is the time to direct your gaze firmly forward, like the young Janus on the right above. Cast off the old year, embrace the new.
We would love to welcome you here and we have made a little slideshow to try to capture the atmosphere the Watermill. You can view it by clicking here. And below you will find details of all our painting, creative writing, knitting and Italian language weeks. Come and join us: it will be a wonderful way of celebrating a new beginning.
Keiko Tanabe Places available
Saturday 17 April to Saturday 24 April 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Keiko and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Mary Padgett Fully booked, waiting list open
Saturday 1 May to Saturday 8 May 2021
Pastels (and other portable media) en plein air
To learn more about Mary and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Carl March One or two places available
Saturday 15 May to Saturday 22 May 2021
Drawing and watercolours en plein air
To learn more about Carl and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Grahame Booth Fully booked, waiting list open
Saturday 22 May to Saturday 29 May 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Grahame and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Sandra Strohschein (1) One or two places remaining
Saturday 5 June to Saturday 12 June 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Sandra and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Sandra Strohschein (2) Fully booked, waiting list open
Saturday 12 June to Saturday 19 June 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Sandra and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Paul Talbot-Greaves Places available
Saturday 19 June to Saturday 26 June 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Paul and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Rebecca de Mendonça Three or four places remaining
Saturday 26 June to Saturday 3 July 2021
Pastels and mixed media
To learn more about Rebecca and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Vicki Norman One or two places remaining
Saturday 3 July to Saturday 10 July 2021
Oils and watercolours (and other mediums)
To learn more about Vicki and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Sue Ford Places available
Saturday 10 July to Saturday 17 July 2021
Watercolours, pastels, collage and mixed media plus acrylic
To learn more about Sue and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Caroline Deeble Places available
Saturday 7 August to Saturday 14 August 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Caroline and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Randy Hale Places available
Saturday 21 August to Saturday 28 August 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Randy and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Mike Willdridge Recently opened, places available
Saturday 28 August to Saturday 4 September 2021
Watercolours and drawing (also gouache and acrylics.)
To learn more about Mike and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Mike Willdridge One place available
Saturday 4 September to Saturday 11 September 2021
Watercolours and drawing (also gouache and acrylics)
To learn more about Mike and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Milind Mulick Places available
Saturday 11 September to Saturday 18 September 2021
‘Colourful Watercolours’
To learn more about Milind and his week at the Watermill please click here.
Brienne Brown one or two places remaining
Saturday 18 September to Saturday 25 September 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Brienne and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Charles Sluga Places available
Saturday 25 September to Saturday 2 October 2021
Watercolour and drawing (also gouache and acrylics)
To learn more about Charles and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Tim Wilmot One or two places remaining
Saturday 2 October to Saturday 9 October 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Tim and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Ali Hargreaves Two places available
Saturday 9 October to Saturday 16 October 2021
Watercolour and mixed media
To learn more about Ali and her week at the Watermill, please please click here.
Our elevating knitting weeks
Norah Gaughan Places available
24 April – 1 May 2021
Knitting and la Bella Vita
To learn more about Norah and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Louisa Harding Fully booked, waiting list open
29 May – 5 June 2021
Knitting and la Bella Vita
To learn more about Louisa and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Knitting retreat Three or flour places remaining
17-24 July 2021
Knitting and la Bella Vita
To learn more about our knitting retreat week at the mill, please click here.
Our illuminating creative writing weeks
Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran Places available
8 -15 May 2021
Scriptwriting
To learn more about Laurence and Maurice and their course at the mill, please click here.
Jo Parfitt Two or three places remaining
14 -21 August 2021
Writing your life stories
To learn more about Jo and her course at the mill, please click here.
Our impassioned Italian week
Francesca La Sala Two or three places remaining
16-23 October 2021
A novel approach to learning Italian
To learn more about Francesca an her course at the mill, please click here.
“Who sent you to me? God?” Puccini on Caruso’s singing
26 Dec By
Sharing a Facebook post a couple of days ago on a remastered recording of Enrico Caruso singing Holy Night prompted me to revisit a blog I made some time ago of another extraordinary recording of the renowned tenor. It was Che gelida manina, from Giacomo Puccini’s La Boheme, made in 1906.
The story is that Puccini was reluctant to have Caruso audition for the lead role of Rodolfo in the opera. The singer was not prepossessing: “short and tubby, with an undistinguished moustache and an undesirable Neapolitan accent,” according to one report. But so remarkable was his voice, tha t immediately after hearing him Puccini gave him the part, saying: “Who has sent you to me? God?” You can listen to a digitally remastered version by clicking here. Hearing that voice more than a hundred years later, you can see what Puccini meant.
In the same blog last spring, I also included a link to a marvellous contemporary voice, Kiri Te Kanawa, singing Puccini’s O mio babbino caro. The link also has a built-in romantic ‘Ahh’ factor (perhaps to the point of soppiness, but indulge yourself, it’s Christmas) as it is accompanied by scenes from A Room with a View, as Lucy Honeychurch falls in love. Just click here.
The Italian festive cake battle: panettone or pandoro?
22 Dec By
I don’t know whether you are aware of the great Italian Christmas cake debate: the battle between panettone (left above) and pandoro (on the right)? Bills a panettone man, but Lois and Lara favour pandoro. Guess which one was purchased and graced the Breckon’s Christmas table? Bill is hoping that a gourmet friend will bring some panettone when they come visiting, though given the current rules, it is unlikely that many friends will be knocking on our door.
What’s the difference? The dome-shaped panettone is from Milan, a sourdough-type sponge with citrus peel and candied fruit embedded in it. Delicious! Pandoro originated in Verona and is rather taller and star-shaped. Eggs beaten into the batter give it its yellow colour. There is a hint of vanilla, but the real flavour comes from liberally dusting the whole thing in icing sugar.
These cakes are very much festive season specialities, so we doubt whether there will be any about during our Italian language course here in October, for you to join in the debate. We can, however, promise you delicious home-cooked Watermill Italian food as well as a chance to get your tongue around one of the world’s most delightful languages. (Did you see what I did there?)
Francesca La Sala
16-23 October 2021
A novel approach to learning Italian
To learn more about Francesca mill, please visit our Language Programme Page, by clicking here.
The future is rosy…
17 Dec By
Yesterday’s picture of a rose bravely blooming here on a chilly December day prompted me to reminisce about the pleasure that roses have brought to the Watermill over the years.
So, I thought I’d make a little gallery of rosy pictures to remind us in this gloomy greyness that colourful times will surely come again, both literally and metaphorically. We are looking forward to being back to our roseate normal next year.
Above is a picture of the rose pergola in the walled garden in full bloom in June. And here’s one of our tutors, Terry Jarvis, and some of our guests painting beneath it.
Tutor Vicki Norman captured the atmosphere of the rose pergola in oils:
While another tutor, Liz Seward, was inspired to produce this extraordinary watercolour.
Here are a pair of red roses by tutor Sandra Strohschein. Beneath them, she poses in front of the pergola in the sunshine.
Why not put yourself in the picture next year and join us for one of our sun-filled, fun-filled inspiring creative courses? We already have some 215 bookings for the 250/260 places available, so now is the time, as the future brightens, to make sure of your place – and give yourself a rosy glow of anticipation through the winter months.
As ever, you can find out more about everything, Watermillwise by clicking here. PS: I made a slideshow so you can see these and other images a little larger. To view it, just click here.
The olive oil team: bringing in the harvest for next year’s Watermill supplies
15 Dec By
Here is Lois, with our friends Vivienne and Nick White, with a tin of ‘liquid gold’, this year’s olive oil for the Watermill: hand-picked, cold-pressed, environmentally friendly, virtually food-mile-free, ready for your delectation during our creative courses in 2021.
Vivienne and Nick have some 600 olive trees surrounding their beautiful house in the village of Canneto, high in the hills, a few kilometres from the Watermill. Lois has been helping out with the harvest and Nick and Vivienne have been overseeing the pressing of their extra virgin olive oil in the local frantoio.
It is certainly amongst the best olive oil in the world and 12 five-litre cans are already on order for the Watermill.
Come and enjoy it with us, as well as inspiring tuition, mouth-watering home-cooked Italian food, warm hospitality and the convivial company of like-minded friends.
Here’s a list of the sun-filled, fun-filled creative courses we are running in 2021. We are pretty full already: we have more than 215 bookings for next year out of a theoretical total of some 250/260. So why not beat the coronavirus blues and book your place and enjoy pleasant anticipation during the winter months?
Keiko Tanabe Places available
Saturday 17 April to Saturday 24 April 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Keiko and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Mary Padgett Fully booked, waiting list open
Saturday 1 May to Saturday 8 May 2021
Pastels (and other portable media) en plein air
To learn more about Mary and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Carl March Fully booked, waiting list open
Saturday 15 May to Saturday 22 May 2021
Drawing and watercolours en plein air
To learn more about Carl and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Grahame Booth Fully booked, waiting list open
Saturday 22 May to Saturday 29 May 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Grahame and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Sandra Strohschein (1) One or two places remaining
Saturday 5 June to Saturday 12 June 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Sandra and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Sandra Strohschein (2) One or two places remaining
Saturday 12 June to Saturday 19 June 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Sandra and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Paul Talbot-Greaves Places available
Saturday 19 June to Saturday 26 June 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Paul and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Rebecca de Mendonça Three or four places remaining
Saturday 26 June to Saturday 3 July 2021
Pastels and mixed media
To learn more about Rebecca and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Vicki Norman One or two places remaining
Saturday 3 July to Saturday 10 July 2021
Oils and watercolours (and other mediums)
To learn more about Vicki and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Sue Ford Places available
Saturday 10 July to Saturday 17 July 2021
Watercolours, pastels, collage and mixed media plus acrylic
To learn more about Sue and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Caroline Deeble Places available
Saturday 7 August to Saturday 14 August 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Caroline and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Randy Hale Places available
Saturday 21 August to Saturday 28 August 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Randy and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Mike Willdridge Recently opened, places available
Saturday 28 August to Saturday 4 September 2021
Watercolours and drawing (also gouache and acrylics.)
To learn more about Mike and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Mike Willdridge One place available
Saturday 4 September to Saturday 11 September 2021
Watercolours and drawing (also gouache and acrylics)
To learn more about Mike and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Milind Mulick Places available
Saturday 11 September to Saturday 18 September 2021
‘Colourful Watercolours’
To learn more about Milind and his week at the Watermill please click here.
Brienne Brown one or two places remaining
Saturday 18 September to Saturday 25 September 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Brienne and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Charles Sluga Places available
Saturday 25 September to Saturday 2 October 2021
Watercolour and drawing (also gouache and acrylics)
To learn more about Charles and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Tim Wilmot One or two places remaining
Saturday 2 October to Saturday 9 October 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Tim and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Ali Hargreaves Two places available
Saturday 9 October to Saturday 16 October 2021
Watercolour and mixed media
To learn more about Ali and her week at the Watermill, please please click here.
Our elevating knitting weeks
Norah Gaughan Places available
24 April – 1 May 2021
Knitting and la Bella Vita
To learn more about Norah and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Louisa Harding Fully booked, waiting list open
29 May – 5 June 2021
Knitting and la Bella Vita
To learn more about Louisa and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Knitting retreat Three or flour places remaining
17-24 July 2021
Knitting and la Bella Vita
To learn more about our knitting retreat week at the mill, please click here.
Our illuminating creative writing weeks
Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran Places available
8 -15 May 2021
Scriptwriting
To learn more about Laurence and Maurice and their course at the mill, please click here.
Jo Parfitt Two or three places remaining
14 -21 August 2021
Writing your life stories
To learn more about Jo and her course at the mill, please click here.
Our impassioned Italian week
Francesca La Sala Two or three places remaining
16-23 October 2021
A novel approach to learning Italian
To learn more about Francesca an her course at the mill, please click here.
Another sighting of our Japanese nightingale
29 Nov By
Here’s another fine picture of that beautifully coloured visitor to the Watermill walled garden. It’s what the Italians call an Usignolo del giappone, a Japanese nightingale. A bit of a misnomer really, because these birds are native to southern China and the Himalayas, although there’s been a small population in Japan since the 1980s. The species, technically Leiothrix lutea, was also introduced into Italy and there are major populations in Tuscany and Liguria.
I am told that the bird is normally quite secretive and difficult to see, but this guy found our persimmons irresistible. The golden orbs of the fruit and the bird’s plumage made a colourful subject for our gardener Flavio Terenzoni. The picture above is a still from Flavio’s short video, which you can see by clicking here.
So, as well as our inspiring teaching, our beautiful setting, our delicious food and wine, and our warm and welcoming hospitality, you will also enjoy communing with nature during your creative course at the Watermill.
We like to keep you up-to-date every weekend with the availability of our 2021 creative courses. They are booking fast: we have more than 215 bookings for next year out of a theoretical total of some 250/260. So why not beat the coronavirus blues and book your place and enjoy pleasant anticipation during the winter months? Below is the latest availability of all our creative courses for 2021.
Keiko Tanabe Places available
Saturday 17 April to Saturday 24 April 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Keiko and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Mary Padgett Fully booked, waiting list open
Saturday 1 May to Saturday 8 May 2021
Pastels (and other portable media) en plein air
To learn more about Mary and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Carl March Fully booked, waiting list open
Saturday 15 May to Saturday 22 May 2021
Drawing and watercolours en plein air
To learn more about Carl and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Grahame Booth Fully booked, waiting list open
Saturday 22 May to Saturday 29 May 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Grahame and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Sandra Strohschein (1) One or two places remaining
Saturday 5 June to Saturday 12 June 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Sandra and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Sandra Strohschein (2) Fully booked, waiting list open
Saturday 12 June to Saturday 19 June 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Sandra and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Paul Talbot-Greaves Places available
Saturday 19 June to Saturday 26 June 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Paul and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Rebecca de Mendonça Three or four places remaining
Saturday 26 June to Saturday 3 July 2021
Pastels and mixed media
To learn more about Rebecca and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Vicki Norman One or two places remaining
Saturday 3 July to Saturday 10 July 2021
Oils and watercolours (and other mediums)
To learn more about Vicki and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Sue Ford Places available
Saturday 10 July to Saturday 17 July 2021
Watercolours, pastels, collage and mixed media plus acrylic
To learn more about Sue and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Caroline Deeble Places available
Saturday 7 August to Saturday 14 August 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Caroline and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Randy Hale Places available
Saturday 21 August to Saturday 28 August 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Randy and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Mike Willdridge Recently opened, places available
Saturday 28 August to Saturday 4 September 2021
Watercolours and drawing (also gouache and acrylics.)
To learn more about Mike and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Mike Willdridge One place available
Saturday 4 September to Saturday 11 September 2021
Watercolours and drawing (also gouache and acrylics)
To learn more about Mike and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Milind Mulick Places available
Saturday 11 September to Saturday 18 September 2021
‘Colourful Watercolours’
To learn more about Milind and his week at the Watermill please click here.
Brienne Brown one or two places remaining
Saturday 18 September to Saturday 25 September 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Brienne and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Charles Sluga Places available
Saturday 25 September to Saturday 2 October 2021
Watercolour and drawing (also gouache and acrylics)
To learn more about Charles and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Tim Wilmot One or two places remaining
Saturday 2 October to Saturday 9 October 2021
Watercolours
To learn more about Tim and his week at the Watermill, please click here.
Ali Hargreaves Two places available
Saturday 9 October to Saturday 16 October 2021
Watercolour and mixed media
To learn more about Ali and her week at the Watermill, please please click here.
Our elevating knitting weeks
Norah Gaughan Places available
24 April – 1 May 2021
Knitting and la Bella Vita
To learn more about Norah and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Louisa Harding Fully booked, waiting list open
Knitting and la Bella Vita
To learn more about Louisa and her week at the Watermill, please click here.
Knitting retreat Three or flour places remaining
17-24 July 2021
Knitting and la Bella Vita
To learn more about our knitting retreat week at the mill, please click here.
Our illuminating creative writing weeks
Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran Places available
8 -15 May 2021
Scriptwriting
To learn more about Laurence and Maurice and their course at the mill, please click here.
Jo Parfitt Two or three places remaining
14 -21 August 2021
Writing your life stories
To learn more about Jo and her course at the mill, please click here.
Our impassioned Italian week
Francesca La Sala Two or three places remaining
16-23 October 2021
A novel approach to learning Italian
To learn more about Francesca an her course at the mill, please click here.
