Good start for a Happy 2017

The new year bodes well. John and Judith and Gillie and Alan invited the tribe for a traditional gathering and despite the traditionally late hour it was much enjoyed :) Though several mates are down with the rhume- it seems December was a fab month for viruses -

Steve being Scottish did the first-footing.

and here our friends are singing auld lang syne.

There was an attempt to claim the words are Catalan but no takers, really...

winter is hitting

Zero degrees this morning, hotting up eventually with the sunshine. We had a creperie lunch with lovely Lizzie Jackson - forgot camera - and dinner with Steve and Antonia, see below.
Should Steve and Antonia ever invite you round for a curry, jump at it:) Fabulous, best in France.

Now the fog is thick and freezing. On with the thermal pyjamas. Stay warm out there. Eat curry.

Norwegian night

 Wish I'd taken more photos!! Olle-Bendik and Aileen have a visually delicious house, under a star-studded sky, where they fed us royally and plied us with amusing and erudite conversation. And wine. Smashing, so grateful :) And will always burn the fennel from now on xxx

remember...register

Taken some lovely photos of the river being very very low - more of a stream - and can't find out where they are on the machine. My photos are insane at the moment, dunno why. In the course of the search found one image from New Kellys' party -and here it is.

Only to act as a hook by which to remind local friends that there only three more days to register to vote! Passport, household bill, off to Maire. Easy.

Boxing day chez nous

 Open house, afternoon and evening - friends came and went so some got snapped and some didn't when I couldn't find the camera. Here are Claudine (Jean arrived later and evaded the camera) Micheal, Pete (Nel was tied in with Aunties), Mary and the back of New Kellys' head -

Olle-Bendick and Micheal

 St Angus and below, Gillie, James, Micheal, a bit of Aileen and the back of O-B...

Hazy Mary is recovering from the knee thang - below, a bit of Diana plus Bob, Angus, Micheal-

Mike and Hilary made it. Mike is recovering from his carpel tunnel op.; others have the lurgy and cried off; one friend was bitten by a dog en route and had to get to the doctors and another couldn't get out of bed. Apropos, my hangover cure  - bloody Marys - seemed to help some of the Christmas casualties function just that bit better.

Jutta and Bernt made it and so they and Micheal could speak German - which is how we found out that they (J and B) come from the village in Germany where Joseph Beuys was born. WOW.

Memorable ending to a lovely Christmas. Many thanks to all who helped make it such fun and now, back to work tomorrow!!

Esperaza christmas

Christmas being on a Sunday did not stop the market springing up overnight, albeit a lesser one than is normal -  what was a surprise was that the church was closed.

The Captain and I passed a quiet morning en famille then repaired to Chateau Rushton in St Julia le bec for the traditional overdose of everything divine, with Clare and Jo and Donald; my ideal Christmas, good conversation, good food, good wine, good humour... what blessings

xmas eve lunch

Wonderful Andree came to lunch at l'Espinet today to commence the real  Christmas :) She is in fine form and as ever was entertaining company. Came home and slept through the beautiful afternoon after over-indulging in fine fodder. Really must go for a walk tomorrow, Christmas or no Christmas.