November lockdown 2

Well France and the UK are in a second lockdown.  The USA has a new President elect, the old one: Trump denies that he is a loser and seems determined to undermine the new president-to-be Joe Biden and fail democracy.  Also because Joe Biden has Irish heritage, there is a renewed emphasis to get a UK/EU Trade deal, however it seems that the UK government left it too late and we seem no closer and will likely exit without a deal or at best a compromise.

Well that's the dismal stuff.  What have we been up to this month?

Virginia creeper

It's BBQ weather with 20 degrees, sun and little wind.  Autumn is well and truly here, with mushrooms popping up everywhere.  It would be a pity not to eat outside and drink the odd glass of Saint Romanes - a Languedoc red wine, in the sunshine.  I am using a product from the USA called "The Wave" which is supposed to remove histamine and sulphites leaving the great taste of the wine without the side effects.  So far, so good.

Due to my ataxia, I bought a running machine, and after six weeks I can truly recommend an elliptical trainer, I run virtually around the globe.  Tempo runs are my favourite, normally along a deserted beach.  I am attempting to get fit, to allow me to ski again.  This is the top holiday for the kids and they are very keen.  However it's impossible to plan anything at present.  The snow promises to be excellent this year too.  Hopefully in the New Year we will be able to visit Baqueira Beret in Spain or a French resort in the Pyrenees.

Christmas will be virtual with all our relatives and friends.  The festive holiday will be at La Bastide this year.  Not with Grandad in the UK or skiing in St Martin de Bellevue.  I have just finished the annual Xmas calendar luckily with photos from a holiday week in Gruissan, and FuturoScope between lockdowns!

The best news is the possibility of a vaccine, the first 90% effective, then an announcement from Russia 92% and more recently the USA with 95%.  Amazing how countries are trying to outdo the effectiveness of unproven vaccines, developed in their country.  I have read that there may be side effects, however it's got to worthwhile to get back to sort of normality.

Indian running ducks

Gorgeous fish stew

The other good news is that our ducks should start laying in December or January.  I have already started to check out recipes!  Evie wants to start making cup cakes again, which is great as they go well with an English tradition:  "a cup of tea".  I have been trying out some new recipes in lockdown, a squid, chickpea and chorizo stew a favourite (as I did not have squid I used prawns).  I have since made it with octopus.

Pruned vine

It's a period of gardening, cutting the grass for the last time, pruning the vines, cutting and pruning the Virginia creeper that clings to the Grange and Farmhouse.  Charlie and I lifted the citrus trees and placed them in the boot room to over winter.  I have done the same to the olive trees and will shortly place all the geraniums and other pot plants in the écurie (under-barn).

Projects are on hold again.  Hopefully between now and May, I will complete the apartment deck and garden and organise a new pool liner.  Luckily I finished the new road to the barn!

New road to Barn

Farmhouse roof repair

One sunny morning our builder Jean-Luc and son Gregory turned up to fix our leaky chimneys on the Farmhouse.  It took an afternoon of work, putting on new flashing and re-seating the canal tiles. I for one, would not have liked to be on a roof over 30 feet from the ground.  The roof should be good for 20 more years.  It was good to catch up over coffee, on a warm day (over 20 degrees) on the terrace, as we have not seen them since the first confinement.

The month has grown colder and we had our first frost with some very thin ice on the duck pond, on the 20th November.  Life has slowed down as we start to prepare for Christmas, so far Evie wants a fishing rod, Charlie something for his Nintendo and Tom a microphone for his PC! I have ordered some presents on-line and Christmas cards, which I am determined to send this year to everyone, as last year I failed miserably.   Christmas trees (Sapins de Noël) are essential shopping in France!

Janine had her 50th birthday at the beginning of the month which we celebrated with champagne, it's mine soon, the first week of December.  I will order some IPA and cook a hot curry.  This month also see's the winter birds arrive, as all the summer migrants departed some time ago,  Great white egret are to be seen in the fields and there is always a chance of an over-wintering Merlin or Peregrine falcon.

Well another month passes, the good news is we are starting to get bookings for next year, we are advertising with Gitelink, VRBO (was HomeAway) and France-for-families.  We hope the 2021 season will be good with families wanting a holiday with some seclusion, a pool and a warm terrace in the sun to eat and drink to get away from all the Covid madness.

Late meal on the terrace