Thank you, Maggie

10 of us gathered around the fire to say "thank you" to Maggie for all the manure she gave us for the garden. Trevor was home for the holidays and we, the garden girls and other halves were also joined by Racel and Alain. The table looks pretty scimpy when this photo was taken but I can assure those of you who are wondering if our hospitality is in decline that it filled up with all sorts of goodies throughout the evening. 8 of us managed to see off 6 bottles of bubbly so all in all, it was a good wee soirée.

Gloomy Day

The weather is grey and the news from Gaza is just awful. It makes you want to weep.

Getting Back to Normal

The thaw is on and it's raining heavily so there was no question that there would be a market to go to. Coffee again at Joëlle's this time to organise who's doing what for Monday night's apéritif which is a "thank you" to Maggie for the horse manure that she's shovelled, bagged, delivered and helped spread! In the evening it was our turn to play host as we'd invited our neighbours Sylvie and Christophe for an apéritif. We never ever see them so there was plenty to catch up with and they left at about 11.30pm

Good Samaritan!

Snow, snow and more snow! An alert was put out advising people not to travel.After lunch we braved the elements to go around to Michel and Joëlle's (on foot) where we were invited for coffee and stollen. Then it was home to batten down the hatches but with all best laid plans, things didn't work out as we expected. The motorway was closed and the Mairie opened up the foyer to stranded motorists. Christian was called out and stayed to help feed about 70 people of all nationalities until about 1.30am. Then he was back there for 7am to serve breakfast. What a star!

Merry Christmas!

Up relatively early, did the round of family phone calls and then popped around to Michelle and Jean-Jacques' with their Christmas present and stayed for a coffee. Then we stopped by at Michel's Mum's who is 97 to wish her a "Merry Christmas"" and give her the last bit of last night's Christmas log. As is our tradition, we went out for lunch but rather than going down to the coast we went up into the mountains, had a really good meal and the apéritif was on the house. Once back home, Christian had a siesta and I lit the fire and had a pot of tea. In the evening we were invited around to Jean-Jacques and Michelle's for an apéritif before a quiet evening in front of the telly with a box of chocs!

Father Christmas in Town

Another lovely sunny day and we were invited over to Penny and Frank's for lunch time drinks which were served on their terrace. We couldn't linger too long however, as we had to get home and prepare 10l of mulled wine to serve around the fountain at 7pm. Father Christmas did a tour of the village and outlying estates giving sweeties to the children and ended up in centre where the adults enjoyed the wine. Poor old Father Christmas couldn't have a drink though as he didn't want to stain his beard. Still, he and his wife came around to ours later on and we spent the Révillion together. Traditional menu of oysters, smoked salmon, foie gras, turkey, cheese and Christmas log. Can't you just hear the weight attaching itself to the hips!

Nature's Splendour

This morning I dealt with the duck liver that was sitting in the fridge and in 48 hours it will be ready to eat; just imagine, my very own foie fras.

What do you think of this for a view? Is it any wonder we're happy here? And of course we have good friends like Michel and Joëlle who came round for dinner with Alain who's staying with them for the holidays. Believe it or not we had turkey and cranberry sauce.

Christmas Cheer

There was music in the air this evening as Rosie and Maurice gathered together a few French and British friends to sing carols in English, French, Spanish, Catalan, Italian and Latin. There were nibbles provided by the choir and Jean-Louis did a good trade inside the bar. Sadly for Christian he had a council meeting but did mnage to join us for a wee glass or two.

Food with Friends

This evening we were invited around to Joëlle and Michel's for dinner with their friends Christian and Christine who were there for an overnight. Juste and Joséphine stopped by and the rabbit dish was stretched to cater for 8. Joëlle is a marvel in the kitchen, no hint of panic. If only some of it would rub off!
Something completely different - a (New) Labour government allowing for interest to be charged on crisis loans - what next???

Better than Expected!

I hadn't particularly been looking forward to the meal in the Village hall for the over 70's but it ended up being good fun. Everyone (150 of them) was there to enjoy themselves and apparently they did. There was music, dancing, singing and Jany doing a few sketches. The meal was excellent. We fell out from there just in time to head over to the new Mairie where guided tours were in progress with an apéritif to follow. During the afternoon there had been a symbolic removal of things from the old to the new mairie which had attracted about 60 or so volunteers, young and old. A good idea leaving people feeling as though they were part of something and that the Marie belongs to the citizens and not the elected representatives.