December 2018

Christmas wishes and a Happy New Year to our friends, family and all who have holidayed at La Bastide.

Decorated by our kids

Thanks to everyone who stayed at La Bastide in 2018.  We had loads of fun, met some new friends and continued to find our Apéro evenings well attended. Janine made great food, I poured local wines, including an outstanding sparkling rosé from Les Vignes des Garbasses.  It was our busiest season so far, so we must be doing something right.

At the beginning of December I celebrated my sixtieth birthday.  My business partners and friends of over thirty years came over and stayed in the Grange.  We fired up the log burner and enjoyed chatting, and the odd beer or three.  My birthday spanned the very start of 1st December, followed by a short sleep, then all day until a drink in the evening at Café Plum and a great meal at the Le Clos d'Adèle in Lautrec.

In the New Year we are planning an upgrade to the cottage with a wooden floor and a Martin Moore island kitchen.  To enjoy a meal or glass of wine outside we are installing a set of French doors to a new deck which will have views of the meadow and valley.  Fabulous when the meadow is in flower or horses are in residence.

Oxford Street London

Mossy post

River Shermansbury

I have spent a few weeks in England visiting friends and family sending Christmas cards and doing some Christmas shopping!  I saw my sister and her husband (a skiing mate), my mother and brother before visiting friends for a great traditional Sunday lunch.  I visited Maidenhead, London, Weybridge, Selsey, Haslemere and Hove nr Brighton.  I walked in Shermanbury, a lost village (in the Doomsday book) on the South Downs with my friend John and his dog Stella an old Cairn terrier-who ran like a pup over the frozen ground. Visited some pubs and ate good food with great company.

Walk at Shermanbury

Back in France to decorate the Christmas tree with the family and get into the Xmas spirit.  The kids are already opening advent calendars and enjoying the chocolates hidden inside.  Granny arrives on the 20th.

Marché de Noël in Castres

Marché de Noël in Castres or Christmas Market starts at the beginning of December and the kids love it, they sit on the Xmas train and enjoy the short ride.  We eat crepes, drink mulled wine and soak up the Christmas atmosphere. 

A fun day in festive Toulouse concluded Xmas, as we watched Mary Poppins Returns, which is a whimsical musical which pays homage to the original, yet works well as a sequel following the original Michael Banks and his family.  Emily Blunt is perfect in the role of Mary Poppins.  Watch out for a few surprise guests.

Well that's it for 2018.  Janine and I have started the process to obtain our Carte de séjour. We will have to see how Brexit affects our business and our lives.....

Janine is in the UK with Tom and Evie visiting friends and family.  Charlie and I are enjoying some time together over the New Year.

Xmas tree ride in Toulouse

Have a great New Year from all at La Bastide.  Janine, Steve, Tom, Charlie and Evie.