In training for Christmas lunch…..

carousel at Bordeaux christmas market

A few of us decided to get together for lunch before Christmas ….always a good excuse. We chose one of our local restaurants who do a very generous set price menu, Le Huit ( No. 8). A soup starter, then three choices of entrée, the same for  the main, then cheeses, then a special dessert  prepared by  the chef…….a Bombe  Alaska for 13 people complete with flaming brandy ! Needless to say, a good time was had….

a happy gathering , as usual

and not just because of this..

don't get too close - flaming brandy !

Well, winter solstice is here and the days will start to lengthen from now on, so we are told. The coldest weather is still to come, maybe even snow this year ?  The Christmas markets are with us for a few more days and the street decorations will remain until the end of January, just to add some cheer to the dark days of winter.

typical christmas markets 

could only be le Champs Elysées

christmas in Paris

Bordeaux christmas

We’ve opted for a traditional french Christmas lunch, though the french have their main meal with family on Christmas eve. We’ll start with oysters for Graham, then smoked salmon, foie gras, then turkey with roast vegetables and cranberry sauce, then of course some cheese, and finishing with an english christmas pudding ( a gift from  english friends ), but the french usually have a buche de noël. Naturally , it will all be washed down with champagne.

buche de noël

 We’ve been here for two and a half years now, and still loving it. Looking forward to seeing more of you visit us next year so we can share this wonderful place with you.

we'll be here at the bar on the corner later for a christmas eve drink

christmas tree under the dome at Galeries Lafayette in Paris

Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année 

à tous nos amis

It’s that time of year again…

I've made  our christmas cake and decorated the tree.

these strange decorated tree branches have popped up all along the street

decorated pine cones make a  tree for the carpark

The commune workers have strung the christmas lights and put out their home made christmas trees in  the street gardens in Port Ste Foy. Obviously the mairie has a very limited budget for such things so a little imagination has transformed what they have freely available - that is, pine cones and tree branches,  In Ste Foy they’ve put out small white christmas trees along the main street and decorated everything that doesn’t move with gold ribbon and bows.

everything sparkles 

do these represent angels ?

There’s to be a marché de noël ( christmas market) starting next week and a marché gourmand (foodie market) on christmas eve and new year’s eve ,and you can have your photo taken with santa on 23^rd outside the mairie in Ste Foy.

the giant snowman in the supermarket carpark

the main square in Ste Foy

gold, gold and more gold

even the florist has made an effort

We haven’t heard the bell ringing from our local church for some time. Apparently there has been water damage to the belfry over many years and the mairie has finally found the funds for the repairs. We should be hearing ‘Jacqueline’ , as the bell is called, ringing out for Christmas this year. 

view from the belfry

the church tucked in behind the musée de fleuve
et vin (river and wine  museum)

Having a quiet vin chaud (hot mulled wine) with friends at the saturday market when we were treated to a performance by the local male choir. Very christmassy.

  

Joyeux Noël à tous nos amis