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!

Dead or Alive?

When we arrive at Le Pre Vert one of the first things we do is take a turn around the garden. Today we were keen to see the work which had been done at the bief of the Aigronne which runs along the bottom of the garden. In January we were told that work was to be carried out to cut down some of the larger trees and clear the banks. None of our trees were affected by the cull, although some plots adjoining ours have had some very large trees cut down and stacks of cut wood are in evidence.

On one of the plots a lorry was being loaded with the larger trunks. I’m sure that as we walk the area we shall see more evidence of this work.

The ‘big freeze’ seems to have taken its toll on our garden. We’ve lost a number shrubs and trees. Perhaps you can confirm our diagnosis? 

  

Tea on the sunny terrace…

Some things never change; Tim at work on his computer, but, if you look carefully, you can see that as a concession to being on holiday he is wearing his shorts...

We both slept better last night ( after a night at the Premiere Classe in Boulogne, who wouldn’t?)  and are looking forward to a delicious lunch with our friends John and Maureen at Le Breuil. I wonder whether  we’ll get a sneak preview of the preparations for the BIG party …