46. AND SHE LOOKS 47

Wednesday was Marie's 46th birthday.

We know she is 46 as we had her carbon dated last spring.

So it was off to the Auberge in the village for a fine lunch of Foie Gras, Fillet of beef and Passionfruit Gateau, all washed down with a few bottles of fine wine..Well, the cheapest one on the list to be honest!

John and Andy prepare for some fine dining.

Birthday girl tucks in to her dessert.

XMAS DAY

So Xmas day has come and gone.

For the first time ever we had Xmas lunch on our own.

All the usual stuff, turkey, ham and the trimmings.

Then i the evening we went up to the bar and a few with the locals.

The dogs had a great xmas.

Arthur and Bella opened their presents..well Arthur did because Bella is lazy.

Then Arthur took charge of both prezzies.

A new football and a brand new product called Safestix, which you can throw a seriously long way, and without the danger of using a normal stick.

Bella then test roaded the new ball.

Before a tasty dogs dinner of Roast Chicken, Carrots, Yorkshire Pudding and gravy!

Then we were at last allowed to officially open the Xmas Chocolates, which were apparently fewer than when mustered owing to "Stock Damage"..or so I was told!

XMAS LIGHTS

The front of house Xmas lights again increasing our electricity bill 10X

Bah Humbug!

XMAS NATIVITY

While Shepherds watched their flock by night

All seated on the ground.

No animals were hurt in the making of this nativity.

MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY!

BORING IN THE RUN UP TO XMAS

So time for a little experiment to pass a few moments before Santa comes.

We were bought a 1kg tin of Quality Street by friends who went back to the UK for a few days.

Unfortunately, the "Chocolate Nazi" of the house, who is Guardian of all things Chocolate, has forbidden any pre Xmas sweeties.

So there was only one thing to do, and that was to count the sweets daily to make sure she is playing by her own rules.

So far so good.

Here is the result of the muster of Quality Street.

There were 85 sweets in the tin.

Unfortunately the most populous was the

Strawberry delight (Nothing delightful at all as no bugger likes them.) with 12. Almost a 1 in 7 chance of pulling one out if blindfolded.

Next was the brown papered "Toffee Deluxe" with a creditable 11, and likely to be enjoyed by all.

Then came the also unpopular "Orange Cream" with 11.

The attractive pink one is called "Fudge" and came in with a creditable 9, as did the big round "Toffee Penny", and the blue "Coconut Eclair"

The long "Toffee Finger" came in well with another 9.

Right now we get down to the serious end of business.

The foil wrapped chocolates of "Caramel Swirl and

Orange Chocolate Crunch", came in with a pathetic 6 a piece.

But the last 2 really got me angry.

"The Green Triangle and The Purple One" also only managed 6.

This despite being sold in giant form individually back in the UK," AS THEY ARE SO POPULAR"

How can they be "SO POPULAR" if they are poorly represented in the tin.

A 1 in 14 chance of being pulled out.

I was so angry!!

I decided to write to Nestle and complain in my strongest words.

And here is that letter.

Dear Nestle,

Next year I am buying effing ROSES!

Alan.

HELPING OUT

Our Russian friends needed help to cut their pine tree down. It had been infected by Processionary Caterpillars, which sting badly and are sometimes lethal to animals.

After paying 250 years last year to have them exterminated, they have returned,so it made sense to chop it down.

Al went with Andy and toppled it, stripped it down and made firewood within 7 hours.

MINCER!

A top money saving kitchen appliance. The old fashioned mincer.

Minced beef is very expensive here at about 9 euros a kilo, yet bourguignon beef is about 3 euros a kilo.

I bet when Nick reads this he will think the post is about him.

Afraid not Love!

DOGS LIKE SNOW - OFFICIAL

It has stopped snowing at last.

10 inches over 2 days have fallen on our part of Brittany.

The most snow in December since records began.

They began keeping records last Tuesday!!!

Seriously, earliest snow here since 1980 a village elder told us..after a few glasses of pastis!

So, off for another mid morning walk.

Snow on the fields gives you scope to go anywhere.

Arthur combs the hedgerows.

Bella demonstrates the depth of snow.

Both enjoy chasing snowballs.

And snow makes a cheap and refreshing snack!

This is certainly going to be laying around for a few days.

Perks of living somewhere so remote..There is always unused snow to walk on!

MORE SNOW IN THE GARDEN

The shear weight of the snow has bent the branches back on the conifer in the front garden.

I thought it was best to shake a lot of it off.

Enough snow to cancel most football fixtures, but it doesn't bother the dogs!

BIG SNOWFALL

7 Inches of snow fell overnight.

And it's still snowing this morning.

So the simple thing to do was get the wellies on and take the dogs out.

The sun was trying to break through, but to no avail.

Still as handsome as ever, but also looking more like George Michael every year!

Also a strange mist was laying low across the fields.

MYSTIC BLOODY MEG.

Quote!

"I am just going to cycle up the shops, the weather look fine"

A VERY COLD END TO NOVEMBER

November has finished with hard frosts and temperatures down to -8 now.

It's become husky weather, and Arthur likes to dig for food!

A view across the fields from the west of St Potan

And as usual the dogs are enjoying the cold weather.

And this morning, 6 inches of snow overnight.

We are off for a walk and to take some more pictures