Touching the Light
An update from Ken Scott on Touching the Light’s 2021 Photography Holidays and Workshop Plans
I don’t suppose anyone will not be pleased to see the back of 2020 and the last year of lockdowns. But with the vaccine rollout moving ahead at pace there seems to be now good reason for hope. I sincerely hope all of you are well and coping.
Our workshop plans were decimated in 2020. As a business we are not alone of course. I’m turning my attention towards how we might practically resume our Joy of Seeing programme. Here’s what is happening:
Cortijo Romero:
The pool and surrounds, Cortijo Romero
Both of my planned weeks at Cortijo Romero in La Alpujarra, Spain were cancelled in 2020. And our week scheduled for 24th April to 1st May comes just a little too early for the UK’s relaxation of travel restrictions. Our My thoughts are very much with Alan Dale and his incredible team, who were able to operate just a couple of weeks in the 2021 summer. If all is well, Cortijo Romero plans to reopen in July, and we have a week scheduled for 23rd to 30th October 2021. As always see Cortijo Romero website for details of availability and travel requirements.
Some of you I know had booked back in April 2020 and have had to postpone three times now. Stay with us; we’ll get there, and it will be all the better for the release it brings us, I’m convinced.
La Estrellita:
Villa La Estrellita
We self-host our holidays at La Estrellita, also based in La Alpujarra, Spain. There is a huge amount of work involved in organising these weeks: arranging the venue, bringing you on board, planning catering and itineraries, and everything that goes into making your experience wonderful, just as we would like it to be for you. With so much uncertainty from week to week about the situation here and on the ground in Spain and France, let alone travel constraints and new work requirements arising out of our changed relationship with the EU, the risks are just too great for us to resume this year.
We will make a 2022 decision in the summer.
And we miss La Estrellita deeply. The lush, quiet gardens and eclectic decor of the villa are a beautiful tonic that we so need just now. We can hope …
Manzac d’en Bas
My photography group at lunch at Manzac d’en Bas, with hosts Giles and Louise Nevill.
Manzac d’en Bas workshop, France, May 2018
One sad consequence of the pandemic in France has been the decision by Giles and Louise at Manzac d’en Bas in the French Ariège to bring a close to their hospitality business. Giles and Louise write:
“After nearly 18 years at Manzac d’en Bas, we have decided to close down our business here. As with much of the hospitality and tourism business, Covid19 has certainly been a disaster and has caused a huge amount of anxiety and upset. We recovered a bit of business during the summer holidays with French and Dutch ‘staycationers’ filling last minute cancellations, but all our painting and photography holidays ended up being cancelled. This has been a hard decision to take. We can’t thank you enough for all that you have done over many years to make our life and business at Manzac d’en Bas such a success and fun whilst you stayed at Manzac.”
Our photography stays with Giles and Louise were always such fun and full of variety in their fantastic old farmhouse with views south to the Pyrenees. It has been just brilliant, and we’re sad but very grateful for everything they have done to support me and our guests. It is with sadness, therefore, that we will no longer be able to offer holidays at Manzac.
Meanwhile
I’m still actively at work building an online course portfolio, about which more news soon. And we’re researching new venues to continue our work when the world settles back to a new normality.
Best regards
… Ken
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