A QUIET START TO THE NEW YEAR

The Xmas festivities are now a memory, and now we come to the really quiet part of the year.

Temperatures have warmed up a bit after the snow we had last month, so soon the garden will be rotorvated again and preparations for seeds will be happening.

Marie has a good sized propagator for growing seeds so we expect even more success this year.

Darts has resumed and we got beat 14-5 last Thursday by Dinan. Al didn't play as it was his turn to miss a match.

Excitement this month when Al's brother Tony and his wife the dangerous Nikki arrive, and on the same the day Colin & Judy Williams arrive.

The local landlord has been forewarned.

Pictured below is the early part of the partial eclipse of the sun last week which was viewed from the garden

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy new year to all our blog followers.

New Years resolution:

Don\t fight over petty things, like imitation sticks!

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.