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

BRASS MONKEY!

After the snow at the weekend, the temperatures have not got much above freezing and as I type this at 10-15am, it is minus 3.6.

Here is the icy scene looking out too the left of our house.

And here is the icy scene looking out too the right.

Luckily this morning Mr Bonenfant has just delivered our domestic fuel oil for the winter.

ANOTHER FINE SATURDAY NIGHT

Mikhail & Natasha invited us round for an evening of Georgian style food.

That is Georgia the country not The House of Hanover Georgian era (1714-1811)

A lovely cheese stuffed flatbread, beetroot and walnut puree as well as soused peas for starters.

Then pork dumplings with a lemon chicken casserole.

Delicious.

MORE DARTS

Has been quite an impressive start to life in the National league Division 3.

We lost on Thursday 10-9 (Al did not play owing to squad rotation)

So that is Won 3 and Lost 2 so far.

Still happily in the top half of the table!

EARLY SNOW

It was certainly expected, and this morning we have had a layer of snow across the Cotes D'Armor. It started about 8am here and lasted 2 hours.

Just enough time to take the "Snow Dogs" out.

It's disappearing rapidly, but more is expected in the week.

FAREWELL TO ST LOERMEL

Friday night saw the closing of the bar in St Loermel

Morgane and Benjamin have run the place for 6 years but with two young children it has become a bit too much especially as Benjamin also works as the 2nd chef in

our village restaurant.

There was a happy hour and a good few turned out.

And Ulysses the dog can retire from his pub duty of trying to mount anyone who enters the bar.

The new owners are hoping to be up and running by 6th December, but it will re-open as a creperie and bar.

A QUIET WEEK

Not so much quiet really, we just forgot to take pictures..

Last Friday we lost 16-3 at darts to Plousane. A team that were 5 divisions above us 2 years ago.

Totally thrashed out of sight, and they will almost surely win our league this season.

Saturday we hosted a curry party for 8. Alain, Josie and their girl, with John, Chrissie and Natasha joined us for Sheek kebab, Tikka Massala, Jalfreizi and all the trimmings.

Tonight is another darts match, this time at home to Pleurtuit. Would be nice to win and maintain our top 4 position.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Once again we turned out for the remembrance day parade in the village.

A wet and blustery morning meant that the main part of the service was held indoors at the Salle de Fete.

The march off at 1140.

About 100 people attended.

The laying of the wreath.

Every year a citation is read out to honour someone who served in the 2nd World War (Obviously there are no 1st World War vets left!)

A 97 year old local had this years award.

I didn't catch his name but he joined the army in 1935 and at the outbreak of the war was sent to the Luxembourg border.

He was captured in 1940 and spent the war in internment near Rennes.

Ooooo. Look at our medals.

And to complete the look. A Canadian poppy and a MOD Guard pullover!

I couldn't find my George Cross and other medals for making Cornish pasties under gunfire. (Well, at the Portland Thursday War at least)

VETS IN PRACTICE

Call the emergency vet!

Poor old Athur has a poorly paw!

He split his left front dew claw playing in the garden.

It's painful for him when you touch it, but hopefully it will drop off in a few days.

If not, it's up to the vets !

WELCOME TO NOVEMBER.

And it is unseasonably warm.

The clocks going back now means it is dark at 6pm and light at 0745.

Long nights eh?

So what's coming up in the Gard household this month.

All darts matches are on Thursdays this month.

We are at Languenon tomorrow and in the interests of squad rotation, I am dropping myself for that game.

But Dinan, Baguer Morvan and Pleurtuit are on the horizon.

Thursday 11th is remembrance day, so as usual we will go to the village ceremony, and raise a glass to all we have served with as well as remember those that are no longer here.

We certainly will go up to St Malo soon and have a Chinese buffet!

That is really it socially for November.

The veg plot will be rotorvated very soon and we are going to re-plaster a bedroom ceiling.

Don't forget to save a few pennies in the new year to come to my "surprise" 50th, which will take place in the village bar on Sat 2nd April.

4 days after the big day, but the most viable option.

Seems we have a few coming but there is space for more to stay!

THE HALLOWEEN BASH - GHOULIES ARE OUT!

The English and French turned up suitably attired for a Halloween bash at the Cheval Blanc last night, and a good time was had by all.

Live music, food, plenty of drink, gave the whole place a real party atmosphere.

The Cheval Blanc is becoming a community centre for ex-pats and locals alike for language learning, rambling, painting, and a library.

Anyway, here goes the pics from last night with a description.

Don't forget to double click to enlarge the picture.

Left to Right:

Lily, Jo, Marie, Annie, Chrissy, Me, and er..Mikhail.

Everyone made the effort to dress up in Halloween costumes except..er....

..Mikhail, who came as a terrorist.

Not the smartest move in an Irish bar!!!!!

John and Chrissy as Frankenstein and Morticia.

Doug and Jan make an effort.

Jo takes a picture as Daisy nicks her lager!

She show's promise for a 15 year old!

The 2nd pumpkin carving that Marie did.

Marie won the fancy dress and was presented with a bottle of Mumm Champagne.