Wednesday 2 January 2013

TW 3 with a silver lining..

That was the week that was, BUT it wasn’t the week I was hoping for. To cut what could be a very long self-pity ridden story short I’ll limit myself to the

Good points:

A speedy, almost traffic free journey, to the Shuttle terminal on what was predicted to be the busiest travelling day of the holiday.

The journey, through France, to Thollon-les-Memises - nearly five hours quicker than our friends who were travelling three hours later.



The wonderful scenery as we approached the Alps which never fails to take my breath away.


Our apartment, enormous, stylish and comfortable with fantastic views of the Memises and the church.





The Christmas market at Montreux.



Freddie Mercury joining in the fun...






Sharing Christmas Eve (and a very French apéritif dînatoire) with Graham and Tracy and their friends and neighbours.

A delicious Christmas dinner, cooked by ‘chief cook’ Rhiannon, and cleared by ‘bottle washers’ Tim and Tom. We still have't managed to find room for the Christmas pudding!



Santa remembered our 'change of address'. 

Our first 'family' holiday for ten years. You can read about the last one here.




Bad points:

FLU – I began feeling a bit ‘iffy’ at the Christmas market but assumed the cause was the mulled wine - no, it definitely wasn't absinthe.

Ski time (for me) 0 minutes, although Tim and the kids fitted in quite a few.


Still... we're home,  I'm feeling much better and looking forward to 2013. I'm also about half a stone lighter than I would usually be following Christmas and a ski holiday. So it shows that every black cloud really does have a silver lining - if, you are prepared to look hard enough ...

And finally....





These photographs were taken on our New Year walk at Shugborough-by-Sea. Of course Shugborough is about as far from the sea as it is possible to get in the UK, but the flooded fields could make you believe differently!




19 comments:

  1. Having flu on holiday would have been the pits. Glad you are better now.

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    1. Thanks, Susan. I'll be fighting fit by the time I need to return to work... ;o(

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    2. And somehow, that always seems to happen... doesn't it!! 8-{

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  2. Sorry to read that you felt poorly during your vacation, but glad to know that you are on the mend. And a slight weightloss is always a welcome side effect, isn't it? ;) Martine

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    1. You're absolutely right, Martine!

      Happy New Year

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  3. What a shame that you missed out on slope time. Hope you're feeling much better now. Great photos. Jx

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    1. Hi Janice,
      As you'll know only too well, it's all relative.
      Best wishes for your continued recovery.
      Gaynor x

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  4. I hope you managed to enjoy at least some of that delicious-looking meal! Save the pudding for Easter? Hepe you're fighting fit now. Pauline & Tim

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  5. Thanks, Tim and Pauline.

    You'll have to come and share the pudding with us.

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  6. Oh dear, it's so frustrating when precious holidays are ruined by illness.
    I'm glad you're on the mend anyway.....just in time for the return to work !! (Doesn't it always happen that the weather improves when you get back to work if it rains all holiday, too ?!)

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    1. C'est la vie, Jean.

      Actually, I am rarely ill so I should just 'get over it'!!

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  7. So very sorry to hear you've not been well. It's that old 'teachers thing'... you only ever get ill in the holidays! So unfair!! However, glad you're on the mend. (Though just in time for the start of term probably!)

    If Rhiannon ever fancies coming and cooking for us, we wouldn't complain!

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    1. Less of the 'old' teacher, thank you very much!!

      I'll ask Rhiannon whether she would like to be adopted. She will be requiring her new parents to renovate her new house, though!!

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  8. ps. My friend's daughter used to work at Shugborough Hall. I notice they have a 'History of the Gardens' walk on January 12th. It's to be hoped the floods will have subsided by then!

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    1. I'll look out for the walk. It could be interesting.

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  9. The good points look really good, Gaynor. So sorry you missed out on the skiing. And you have some lovely photos and the whole family with you - makes being brave a bit easier, I'm sure. Let's hope it's over with for the year and that you have excellent health from now on. Health is, after all, the most important thing. Axxx

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    1. Thanks, Annie.

      Flu is flu, bad at the time but soon over. I think I've only ever had flu about five times in my life.

      Good health to you and your family. x

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  10. What a shame you missed out on the skiing...but the good parts look very good!

    That photograph of Shugborough Hall would have an eighteenth century landowner calling up labourers to dig a lake in front of the place....perhaps with a nice stone bridge...

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  11. Sorry to hear the dreaded curse of the teacher struck. We always seem to get ill the moment the hols begin!
    The good bits looks great fun though :-)!

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