The Prestonpans Community Centre in Scotland was host this week to an exhibition entitled “Barga”. The ongoing twinning between the city of Barga and East Lothian in Scotland which has so far involved mainly politicians and schoolchildren (article here) took another step forward this time with a group of Scottish artists.
They were recently here in Barga visiting and the exhibition now showing to the Scottish public in Prestonpans is the result of their visit – paintings, drawings, photographs and poetry.
The Barga artist in residence 2008 – Hamish Moore returned to his native Scotland to participate in the exhibition playing traditional Scottish music at the opening
My Lover
I was welcomed by my lover’s wall arms, love at first sight
He pulled me into his heart, gave me strength to be me
To express feelings that had once been lost
The passion for art, to draw and paint, to sing and to dance
He gave me the hunger to live, enjoy and love
To be confident and yet vulnerable, to laugh and cry
But all too soon it was over
As with all love affairs the end had to come.The day I left, the rain fell like the tears on my cheek
The love will always be there and one day I shall return
But it will never be the same, for that is not what I need
I have learned, loved and grown.
It will be different, a new adventure and I look forward to that day
When I can thank my lover Barga, for the passion rekindled in me.Gillian Hart – Barga 2008
Word on the street is that Hamish Moore, Gillian Hart and Martine Robertson who all took part in the exhibition and represented Scotland in the recent 6th International Petanque competition held in Barga last month (article here) have been looking for a Petanque pitch in the Prestonpans area to get in some secret practice. The other teams here in Barga are looking forward to their next encounter. Watch this space.
Never realised there were so many Petanquers in Barga!
Ciao
Carlo
You’d be surprised Carlo. I feel September may be a good time for the 7th International competition. Any offers?
Gliz if you can pull that forward to any time in the middle 2 weeks in August I can provide competition in the shape of the Aberdeenshire Mixed Wandering Petanquers. Known localy as the oil tanquers. My team are truly the biggest collection of Petanquers in the north of Scotland. We are an eclectic collection of sheep worriers and coffin dodgers but game for a drubbing none the less.
Best,
Carlo
Carlo
That sounds fabulous, almost worth postponing my wedding, though fear this may be a step too far! Unfortunately, therefore, I will have to decline your challenge. Maybe another time? I shall be joined, in September, by a number of wonderful Scottish Traditional Singers and Musicians but very few Petanquers, so if anyone else might like to challenge a very inexperienced player, September is the month! Ciao Gilz
Hi Gilz
Love the excuse! My reputation (and that of my team) obviously proceeds me-uz.If you are looking for an easy in to this sport of Kings and for that matter the odd queen try Barga’s resident American Petanquer Frankie “the Fingers” Viviano. To my knowledge “Fingers” has taken part in every international match ever hosted in the Centro Storico. Sadly “Lucky Frank” has never been on the receiving end of a good result and might therefore be the sort of compitition you are looking for in these your formative years as an international petanqueing super power. Your wedding sounds wonderfull, good luck to both of you on the day. Stick a post on BN to let the Zeds know how you get on. I would love to know as I am father of the bride in Barga next June.
Best,
Carlo
hello carlo, as the third member of erstwhile scots petanque team I am convinced that with a travelling troup of some 20 odd traditional singing souls, we should stage a re match in September. Should we fail to take home the trophy, we can of course, in the time honoured tradition of ‘The tartan Army’, simply sing our way through the pain and out of the situation
Carlo, as Martine knows all too well, the resident Sicilian-American led a recent trouncing of Scotland in Barga. Bring on those Aberdeeners: We’ll make rowies of them!
Strong words from the scribbler Martine. Even though this is the close season the Oil Tanquers have kept match fit by wandering up and down Union Street body swerving charity box rattlers, beggers and scrounging Nuns. I personaly have kept in shape with a very strict regime consisting of a brisk walk to the pub 5 nights a week and the Alex Salmond Deep fried mars bar and Tennents Lager diet (well it worked for him). Izzy says I am going up a dress size a month, is that good? Anyhoo can I recommend that you learn the 12 inch single version of that most traditional of weegie laments “Frankie’s Burstin Heid on the return of the Grail to gods country”. The AMWP will arrive in the Fosso car park August 9 and commence altitude training immediately in Aristo’s bar. Marino insists the team train on a high protien diet of hard boild eggs and coffe corretto. A winning combination.
I do look forward to the BN coverage of your visit.
Ciao,
Carlo