Peace & Tranquillity Returns

Let's hope that the start to the year is not a sign as to how the year will progress. Not only have we been robbed of a proper winter, so far, but you could be mistaken for believing that we have started the year with monsoon season. The last 5 days, we've been battered by the wind, drenched by the rain and the drive has evolved into a quagmire.

Christmas and the new year have however been an exceptional time at Chateau Larcombe. "Name Plate going up as soon as the rain stops." We were joined for Christmas by the Fromage-Droit family and, during their stay, our neighbour kindly gave them a history lesson of cheese making in Normandy and the origins of their surname. Although the weather was against us, nothing has really put a dampener on the party atmosphere here as straight after Christmas, we celebrated Maddisons birthday and then Steve and Lauras wedding anniversary.

On the run up to our annual new years bash more friends started arrive to see the new year in with us. First up was Nigel and Rebecca, a couple of virgins to the new years bash. They were followed by Russell and Lucy and soon afterwards Gordy, Dave and Kirsty.

I'm sure it would be no surprise to anyone that the alcohol consumption here went through the roof, culminating in the New Years party where we had 25 for dinner and made good use of the banqueting hall.

You may be wondering what the coming year has in store for us. I've been wondering the same thing but as I'm sat here writing this I can hear the tiles being blown off the roof and I can see the damp patches soaking through the back wall of the house where we have no guttering. With this in mind, I'm seriously contemplating building a swimming pool but I'm not sure Jane will be too receptive to the idea. Perhaps a bit more work on the roof is called for.