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| Alpine view |
Started cold with the chance of snow, ducks and chickens are not laying. Chickens are moulting. Ducks are lazy!
We had a great Christmas, it started with our party in the Grange, lots of Royal gin fizz, mulled wine and hot chilli, it was so successful that I have had a number of requests to do the same next Christmas! The atmosphere was very Christmassy with all the decorations, lights and the tree with lots of friends and family. Christmas day was a great success also, starting at midday and going on until 6pm, when my guests departed. The kids loved their presents, we went to the Castres Christmas market, Chinese buffet, saw Wonka at the new comfy cinema. We had an aborted attempt at ice skating, as it was closed. New year was a quiet affair, Tom went to stay with a friend and had fondue. I cooked venison with dauphinoise potatoes and a morel mushroom sauce. We all saw in the new year with sparklers and silly string, sent messages to friends and family and went to bed around 2pm after watching the fireworks in London on the TV.
At the end of the winter holiday, Tom even tidied his room ....a first. The children are back to school Monday after completing all their homework.
I'm back to French conversation and French class. This week I have to give a presentation...in French. I have decided to present my life as an ornithologist, which started at age five, my mother bought my first 7x35 binoculars and bird book. It will be a difficult presentation, as all in French! I also start physio, which I started after my operation and is helping immensely. I still have a bad back, so will see an osteopath, hopefully before my trip.
I'm off to the UK 13th until 29th, with a week in Austria with the boys, this time Bad Gastein. The snow is good, with more due. Looking forward to seeing family, friends and the mountains.
The children want to ski in the February break, so I have a friend Neil coming along and ski with them, as I cannot ski anymore. We will drive to Baqueira in Spain, a favorite resort with the kids and I. We have booked accommodation in Tannu, which is close to a lift. A bus runs every day and I will again be the chalet person, cooking supper and preparing a lunch!
Memories from pictures is common, and yes, I have thousands of actual photos and digital images. I however, have a number of very old t-shirts that go back to trips from over 30 years ago, skiing in Whistler Canada, seeing bands in a San Francisco park when I stayed with my friend Jane. T shirts from Kona that became sponsored by two friends companies and my company for the London to Brighton bike ride. A number of ski t-shirts and one from diving in Koh Samui, Thailand. It's fair to say a number (most) need to be retired!
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| Spring on the way |
Cold start today with over an inch of snow which made going to French a challenge, thank goodness for all weather tyres.
Field trip
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| View for the balcony |
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| Salzburgerhof hotel |
My visit to the UK was a blast, had great times with friends and family. Lots of walks, some very cold especially around the lake at Virginia Water. A pub crawl in Brighton. A fabulous dinner with friends from Weybridge, Holt, Selsey, Bridlington and St Charles - Missouri. This was followed by an eventful ski trip to Bad Gastein - Austria. Good snow, friendly hotel with great food especially the apres ski which was from 3pm - 5pm. Highlights tacos and spare ribs, yum. I can recommend Crystal ski as very well organised, but Bad Gastein does not have many beginner's slopes!
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| Sunset in Brighton |
Back to normality, French style - taxi strike, farmers strikes and possible changes to Gite taxation! The good news is the fibre is connected and I have ordered for installation 20th February. My son will be very happy.
Video of Bad Gastein Waterfall video
P.S. Happy New Year or Bonne Annee!
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