Christmas 2020

Walk to La Bastide, Pyrenees in distance

Tiger

It's been an unusual year.  OK, that's an understatement.  We are in our second lockdown with some restrictions changing on 15th December.  We can travel, but decided it was safest to stay at La Bastide.  Christmas will be a virtual affair for the kids, grandparents, and friends, but with the vaccines on the way it's a small price for their safety.  Amazon have done financially well, as have other internet shops that deliver for Christmas.  I have two zoom Xmas chats with friends in the UK and USA.  My Christmas cards have not arrived from the RSPB, but at least I have stamps.  Hopefully they will arrive soon.  Last year due to travelling to the UK, I did very badly with Christmas mail.  

Rainbow

It seems that from January it will be more difficult for anyone in the UK to travel to holiday at La Bastide.  Getting Brexit done was Johnson's mantra in the election, however I think he has done more harm to the UK's worldwide reputation due to the abysmal way he has handled the trade deal or lack of it, with the EU.  I think it will do a lot of harm to the UK, with increases in food prices and the difficulty in doing business under World Trade rules.  Perishable goods will perish on lorries stuck in ports.  I worry for friends and family who will have to navigate the new UK!  Don't get me started by the way.

The Christmas tree is up early and decorated by Evie, I must say it looks fantastic.  We are making Chilli jam as presents for friends, Christmas pudding from a friend's husband's great-grand-mother's recipe.  I will attempt making chocolates and candied fruit.

La Bastide built in 1610

Christmas day will be traditional English fare with turkey or capon, gravy, pigs in blankets, cranberry sauce, roasted root vegetables with rosemary from the garden and Brussel sprouts with lardons and chestnuts.  Along with an old favourite to start "prawn cocktail," (Simon Hopkins recipe) Xmas pudding, and ice cream to finish.  We will start with champagne and I am sure red wine will follow.  We will end up watching a traditional Christmas film in front of the log fire.

Blossom in April

My nine year old daughter has become a university student early, eating pizza for breakfast!  But before breakfast she will collect chicken eggs, open the duck house and feed the ducks.  We installed an automatic door on the duck house, it has taken a week and a half for the ducks to use it at night, hopefully Evie and I will not have to round up the ducks in the dark!

It's been raining here with the ground saturated, not difficult with a foot of topsoil, then clay and rock.  It's also been cold with clear skies and frost on the ground a few mornings.  It even attempted to snow on Christmas day.  So far my new drains are working well and I have had no water in the kitchen (which is below ground as the house is built on two levels on a hill!).

Local food

We have had bright and sunny days in December with blue skies, and 16 degrees.  The quality of the light at this time of year is incredible, with the sun low, and a great time to take winter photos.  Autumn is over with a few trees hanging on to leaves.  A robin visits the terrace most mornings, to find whatever has been dropped from the bird feeder.  It is a great time to be outdoors with the kids, dog walking, birdwatching, gardening or just watching the ducks and chickens.

On a recent fishing trip with Evie we caught five roach, the smallest are now in an aquarium for a few weeks, they will then be taken back to the agricultural lake.  Guess what she wants for Christmas?

Grange kitchen

I have realised my blog is becoming a rant for which I apologise!  Special thanks to Neil who checks the blog each month and helps with any amendments to punctuation and content.  I have added a few of my favourite photos from La Bastide as I realised I have not taken many photos this month.

Festive kitchen

Christmas tree decorated by Evie

Lautrec market

Happy Christmas to all who have stayed at La Bastide, and friends and family who take the time to read what I have to say. 

To everyone in this world, I hope 2021 will allow us all to return to some normality. 

Happy New Year.  Steve.

Postscript:  Since I wrote this there is a travel ban from the UK due to a new strain of Covid-19.  My mother was tested positive with Covid a few weeks before Christmas, but on Christmas day was well and enjoying the party at the Care home.  Thank goodness.

Since writing this blog, a trade deal has been agreed, let's hope it will be good for the UK once signed by the UK and EU States.