December and what a year!

Autumn arrives

We are well into December, which here means we are well into Autumn.  The cherry tree has dropped its vibrant yellow leaves and most of the leaves on the trees in the wood opposite have fallen. It is the time of year to sit in front of a warm fire, drink tea and reflect on the events of the year.

Castres river Agout

What a year, we teamed up with Brametourte Chateau and had a lot of wedding guests.  Good to hear that many thought La Bastide was the best accommodation!  We had Grandad and family to stay, who enjoyed a hot September and all the kids enjoyed playing by the pool, reading, swimming and having fun.

We emptied our house in the Alps and sold it with help from our friends who live nearby.  A few tears were shed, as we have skied with friends and family and used the house for 13 years. 

We will all miss it for different reasons, but the kids are already happy, that we will ski in Spain - February 2020.

Castres

Pat, Lorna and Finley came on their annual visit.  I managed to go over the handlebars of my new electric bike, but still enjoyed exploring the area.  We had great evenings after the kids were in bed and laughed a lot.  All too soon it was time for them to head back home.

It has been a big travel year.  I visited Malaga twice to see a friend who during this year died of cancer.  It was good to celebrate his life and support his wife on my last visit.  I also spent a few weeks in Bridlington with a close friend Neil, who has visited La Bastide most years and helped us in the business, whether digging a hole for the trampoline, organising my tool shed or walking the dog.  Great to have someone who is always keen to help no matter the work.

Evie and I then had the opportunity to stay in a boat house owned by the National Trust that sits on the shore of a lake in Frensham pond in the UK.  We had a great time with friends Jo, Jason and Meg.  Evie and the girls swam in the lake, went fishing, visited Bird-World and Evie even went on a stomp around the Frensham woods.  We visited a few really great out of the way pubs and finished the visit with loads of friends and a curry.  We also had enough time to visit Grandad and Sandra in Fleet before heading home.   Everyone looked after us incredibly well.

My friends Richard and Christine came for a long weekend in September and we visited Lautrec to try out a few new restaurants, we walked around the medieval village and drank some good local Duras and Braucol wine.

I attended a friend's 70th in Puycalvel and watched a fantastic performer play piano.  This ended with a traditional French Apéro with wine and food brought by everyone.

For our October holiday we went for two weeks to Tenerife and Lanzarote. The kids enjoyed the pool, beach and Halloween in Tenerife, then visited friends in Lanzarote who are sailing around the world on a catamaran.  We had a fun holiday.

With all the gtes upgraded, we had our great team of builders worked on converting the under-barn (a storage area full of junk) into a two bedroom apartment with fabulous views towards the south.  The Play-barn benefitted with a new floor, clear rainproof barrier and fence (ideal to watch the younger children play).

We had two bathrooms installed, underfloor heating and tiled floor throughout.  Just the deck, cladding and kitchen to fit.  Jean-Phillipe our carpenter and I have already planned the kitchen layout and will complete the installation by the end January.  The wood for the cladding and deck has been ordered and we will take delivery in January.

Castres

Xmas tree Toulouse

The Christmas tree has been decorated by our children, as has the kitchen.  Lists have  been written and advent calendars started.  Charlie and Evie are in a Xmas play at the Marche de Noel in Castres. Charlie reprises the roll of Father Christmas, Evie a white rabbit and even Janine was roped in when someone went sick so she had to learn lines and play a reindeer, then polar bear.  Evie was thrilled to be on stage with her mum.

During the last week before Christmas my oldest friend Paul will visit for a few days we will talk, eat good food and drink plenty of good wine.

Well that was 2019, I probably missed out loads of things, but all in all, the year was incredibly packed.

All I can do now is wish everyone who visited, guests and readers of the blog a fabulous Christmas and fun New year from all at La Bastide.

Postscript:

Brighton Pier

Xmas walk near Holt

The blog is late, as it's well after Christmas, we had a great time with lots of presents for the kids wherever we went.  We stayed in Fleet with Grandad and had a traditional Christmas with Turkey and all the trimmings, the kids especially enjoyed seeing their extended family.

Boxing day was a treat, seeing my sister's family and my mum (more presents).

I visited friends in Weybridge and drank wine and ate homemade pizza, well done les enfants! (some friends travelled for 6 hours from the Gower and Selsey).  Had lunch with a friend Andy and his family (he now lives in Germany).  Our family was collected by my friend Pat and we had a great two days in Holt, a hot Chilli and warm, five mile walk along the canal.  Pub visit obligatory!  Back for New Year in Frensham, Evie danced the night away and another walk to a pub (bit of a theme here)!  Finishing up in Brighton with friends John and Jeanette, more presents and a trip to the beach, pier and for the boys a half hour trying Virtual Reality games.  Yes, I'm exhausted, glad to be back with the dog, cats and chickens, however, I have just realised I did not have a curry........................

New Year's day Frencham Little Pond

Thanks to all our friends and family who made Christmas very special.