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| Grange Christmas |
The bird table is starting to attract the odd bird, mainly great and blue tit, but the highlight this week was a super bright nuthatch, blue and orange. The feeding station has fat balls, peanuts and seed. There are great and lesser spotted woodpecker in the area, so fingers crossed.
The pool room has been cleared after ten years and is a lot tidier. Some of the plastic containers have now been recycled. However, there are a number of plastic containers with no indication of contents, so they went to the tip, where they will dispose sensibly. Next the ecurie will be cleared so that I can use the storage space in a better way. The wood (roof) will be sprayed against woodworm at the same time.
Christmas is fast approaching, I have written all my cards and will post today (over 50). I have included my first Christmas letter in English or French (the power of DeppL) as last year it took ages to handwrite each one.
The kids break-up from school on 23rd, the same day as our party in the Grange, so it will be busy. JP is making garlic bread, Martin, the Royal gin fizz (and bringing his cocktail kit) and Ian is serving the mulled and non mulled wine. I will make the chilli the day before to allow time to get everything ready. I will start by getting the log burner going first thing to warm the space up! However with over thirty people, French and expats it should be warm. I have decorated with Christmas lights and a two metre Christmas tree, so it's quite festive. Grange Party Video.
Once the party's over we will move the Christmas tree to the house, then the boys and Evie will re-decorate.
I have ordered the turkey (it's our tradition), but in France they seem preoccupied with the number of people to provide for. I wanted a five kilo bird as I plan to cook a few other Christmassy meals. They wanted to give me two - two kilo birds! for eight people so I upped it to twelve and explained I wanted one large bird. We shall see what I get. My Bacon by the Box order is in, and my Christmas crackers arrived from the British corner shop. I have ordered all the kids presents, just need to add some items to their stockings, which always contain three or four mandarin oranges and some Christmas chocolate, this year gold coins. Janine's car failed to start, so went to a garage, however after a quick diagnosis, fuel pump and filter have been replaced and it's now back on the road.
Attended a fab party at my friends château in Castres, there were over 50 people, 80% who were French. As I helped to serve drinks I had to try out some French! The atmosphere was good and the food excellent. Most people brought along a dish, I made an onion and taleggio cheese tart.
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| Big BBQ |
This weekend was the annual winter walk, attended by about 80 people. The weather started out misty but turned into a bright cold day. Afterwards there was an apero, then a meal. This year instead of lentils and sausage, they upped their game with Soupe l'ail, then beef (veau) and potatoes roasted on a huge BBQ. After a few bowls of soup then a few plates of the main course, there was hardly any room for the cheese, apple and pastry. Luckily it was washed down with as much red wine as you fancied. I have to say that after ten years each village gathering is still a special time.
Well it's halfway through December and Autumn is here, amazing to think the official winter start date is 21st. I'm sorting the final Christmas present, a hamper full of local sparkling and red wine from Garbasses, pink garlic from Lautrec, Dijon mustard, truffle infused olive oil and foie gras. Just some cheese and a gateau to complete nearer to Xmas. Janine will deliver the first week of January ro her father as she is off to the UK.
Postscript: The party was a great success, with fantastic mulled wine, Royal gin fizz and a hot and mild (for the French) chilli. Around thirty plus people attended. We started at 7pm and went on until 1.30am. Charlie was a star, serving tart, pate and rillette on croutons. The log burner was on all day and the room toasty. Xmas day started and the children enjoyed breakfast of croissant before their presents. I had awoken at 6am to deliver the stockings! Lunch went very well, considering as usual I ended up with a 3.5 kilo turkey and.....4 kilo Chapon, we were eight for lunch which started around 12:30 and went on until 6. We drank Champagne, good red and white wine , started with gravlax (first time I had cured anything!) ate turkey with all the trimmings. Evie made the pigs in blankets, which were terrific, each wrapped with a sage leaf. and we finished with an amazing selection of cheeses bought by Martin and Felicity. Finishing with Christmas pud, mince pies and clotted cream. Don't feel I need to eat for a few days.
After four days of preparation and cooking, I enjoyed a quiet few days from Boxing day, walking the dog, the odd glass of mulled wine, and watching Christmas movies with the kids. We will finish the year with a visit to the Christmas market in Castres, a chinese buffet, watch a VOSF film at the new Castres cinema and more walks with the dog. Christmas food will include a turkey curry (yum) cold cut ham and salad and chicken stew with dumplings. Castres Christmas video.
Joyeux Noël and Bonne Année
from all at La Bastide
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