Christmas 2009

We have made it to Boxing Day. This day in 2007 we were preparing for our big adventure ....

I would say that Christmas this year has been a quiet affair but with Josh on his new drum kit, Kirsty with a new tv and Peter racing around the kitchen on his new bike maybe I would be wrong!! They all appear to have been totally spoilt as normal.

Christmas Eve was great. We had a live satellite link to Datchet and managed to eat dinner all together. It was lovely to see everyone having fun and even better when we managed to get Tony online as well. The only problem was that Alex ate all of my kippers .............

Yesterday was spent entertaining M Le Baron and Gabrielle. We thoroughly spoilt them and they really enjoyed themselves. M Le Baron even had a go on the drum kit!! Gabrielle ate for France and was rather impressed with the Christmas pudding that Auntie Heather kindly provided us with again this year. It was the first time that she had ever tried it and I think she liked it. Her father was a very strict man and "foreign" foods were never tried in her house as a child. I was rather surprised to find out that she was born in 1922!!! OMG!! I am glad we were careful with her!! They left at about six thirty and I dont think they will need to eat again for a week!!

The dishwasher is loaded this morning with the last of the dishes and we are ready to go again. However, I think it will be leftovers!!! I am pleased to say that we will be eating leftover turkey!! Andrew has now found the perfect way to cook turkey. None of these horrible bone things to try and carve. Bone the entire turkey and roll half around some tasty stuffing. Wrap well and put in the oven for two and a half hours. It appears to work perfectly every time!!!

Anyway, happy Boxing Day to all and see you all soon we hope. xxxx

Safe at Home!!

Well, I finally made it home last night. Thankfully our managers let us go at 3 o'clock. Lee drove Trudie and I home, our hero!!!!! LOL!!!! Andrew met me at the end of the road with the Range Rover though for the last couple of kilometres. My car is still stranded in Caen and I am not sure if I will be reunited with it on Monday or not!!! The roads here are impassable to cars now after another 4 inches of snow last night. Toms car is almost buried in snow!!! OMG!!! What if they cant go home on Tuesday???????? Scary thought!!!!!

The kids are still enjoying the snow. It is the most snow they have ever seen. Peter likes to play for a while but the cold soon overcomes him. He is very sensibly sitting on the sofa with the blankets watching television. Unfortunately for him Grandma is asking him questions constantly about the programmes. Allegedly she is learning!!!!

Oh well, at least I managed to get the supplies back yesterday so we will be ok for a few days if we do not manage to have a thaw!!

Take care all. xx

More snow today

Day 2 of the great Siberian weather front. Although the kids love it in the snow, I get the feeling the kitchen will be overwhelmed with more clothes for drying. Fortunately the novelty of playing in the snow wears off very quickly as they get cold and wet.

Jane had a good night at her xmas party and we are keeping our fingers crossed she can get back home tonight, picking up essential supplies on route. I get the feeling the Range Rover will see a bit of use later.

Has Anyone Seen Peter?

The snow has finally landed in the valley. By some miracle Jane managed to get to work, even though she was a little late after sitting in a traffic jam for an hour. I ,on the other hand, did not get the kids to school, getting as far as the top of the hill before having to turn back and then I got stuck at the bottom of the drive. 2 kilos of salt later and I've got the car back in the barn.

Luckily Jane is not venturing back tonight as she's off to enjoy herself at the works christmas party before spending the night in a warm hotel room with heating.

More picture to follow shortly.

It would have been a good photo if ....

It would have been a good photo if the sun was not in their eyes, they looked at the camera, they smiled and Peter was not being a pain in the bum as normal and hiding .........

Marche de Noel and the end of another .....

Thursday night saw the arrival of Grandma Nett and Tom. They arrived with an empty car ..... If you believe that you will believe anything!!!! They have settled back into the routine of shopping, eating and sleeping!!!!

Grandma Irene arrived as the surprise guest for the weekend. Kirsty burst into tears. I am not sure if she can cope with two grandmas at once. She doesnt know which one to con first!! Peter and Josh were equally pleased to see her. What a nice surprise for breakfast!!

Grandma Nett and Tom were honoured guests at the marche de noel. Josh, Kirsty and Peter sung beautifully to Vive Le Vent and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Peter managed to stand on the stage and not do anything dreadful. Apparently he is very good at school!!! Shame he isnt at home!!

Josh has managed to grow another present for someone. It will be on its way tomorrow to a lucky recipient.

More photos tomorrow .....

2 whole years today

Two years ago today Jane and I, equipped with over laden Luton van, came over to France to sign the final papers on our French dream. Before the visit to the notaires, we joined the previos owner Bas and his partner for a very nice lunch and a glass of wine. It was a lovely way to be able to take ownership of a house. None of the impersonal english traits of dealing solely through a 3rd party. Lunch finished, we parted company briefly before meeting up at the notaires to do the official part of proceedings. And so the dream began. All I can say, looking back, is where did all the time go? We have no regrets and feel very much part of the local community here. Not only have we worked very hard, but we have also played very hard too. I'd just like to thank my loveley wife for putting up with me and taking all the stress off my shoulders. As a team, there is no doubt she is the owner, manager and captain, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you loads Jane and hope that we can keep our dream alive forever.

What can we do with 269 Kiwi Fruit???

Today I have harvested the last of this years produce. By some miracle our Kiwi trees that last year gave us 6 kiwis, have impressively this year produced 269. They will take 3 or 4 weeks to soften up but, once they have, what can we do with them?

Answers on a postcard please.

Christmas is coming .....

Christmas is coming

The turkeys getting fat

Mummys getting grumpy and

Daddys making KFC!!!!!

There is a rhyme there somewhere!!!!

Christmas has started in France. The Christmas cards should all be done and sent by tomorrow and the Christmas tree is up. Josh and I went shopping this afternoon for lights. Wow, I love CASA!!! (For you English peeps, it is a great shop that sells all sorts of great stuff!!)

Happy Christmas everyone!!!!!