That's it, we made it to the holidays - woohoo ! I need to chill out, sort the house out (lots of cleaning, dejunking and tidying planned) and manage to put on a UK-style Christmas in a country that doesn't do turkey, pigs in blankets and Christmas pudding. This could be interesting ! I think I've got all the presents covered (a few are still awaiting delivery) and the tree is up, so I think I'm doing pretty well so far !
Sunday 13th December - As Christmas is nearly here and I'm still not entirely sure what will happen shops-wise (I have fears the new Covid virus will head over to us ... people were saying at our school this week that they wouldn't be at all surprised if the schools shut down again in January or February), I decided to head into town with the kids to grab the final few Christmas presents. Whatever hasn't been bought can be picked up after Christmas now, as the kids are too old to believe in Santa anyway !
Monday - Pierre had to do an art project for school using nothing but different kinds of paper. Juliette helped him out and he created a Christmas scene using tissue paper, card, foil wrapping paper and a couple of little pictures (of a lion and a star). I emailed it to his teacher (who is working from home) and he got 15/20 so he was well chuffed !
Tuesday - It is dark when I go to school in the morning (I'm at the bus stop by 7am) and it is already getting dark by the time I come home at the end of the day, but Juliette took this picture of the cool sunset (or it could be sunrise? I can't remember !)
Wednesday - After a morning at school, I headed back into town, this time to drop off some paperwork at the insurance company's office and to put in a cheque at the bank. There were big queues outside all the shops so I guess I'm not the only one to have left my Christmas shopping until the last minute this year !
Thursday - The French government announced last night that schools will remain open for the last two days of term, but any pupils who want to stay at home in confinement for a week before Christmas were entitled to do so. Pierre informed me that all of his class except for 4 pupils were staying at home. It didn't really seem worth going in in that case so he stayed at home. Juliette did go in, but only because she wanted to go and have fun in PE - strange child !! This is a picture of the sunset, which means that the other one was sunrise. It doesn't really look like winter, does it ?!
Friday - The final day at school - phew, I definitely need two weeks off to unwind ! An arty photo taken through the trees at the bus stop for today. That was as good as it got. I got home from work at 5pm and fell straight asleep on the settee !
Saturday - We wrapped up all the presents that had arrived by post during the week and the tree is totally surrounded by gifts now. Next job - working out what we're eating and grabbing all the festive food. I don't know if you remember that our freezer defrosted when we were on holiday the summer before last and totally stank afterwards. I haven't plugged it in since, using just the freezer box of the fridge and buying fresh meat on a weekly basis. Well, we went to investigate and it didn't smell anywhere near as bad so we plugged it in to see how it went. It actually seems useable so we bought a few bits to try it out. That would definitely make things easier, especially over Christmas.
Yay for making it to the holidays! Gorgeous photo of the sunrise and sunset and I love the photo taken from the bus stop too. Glad to hear that the freezer seems to be usable. Merry Christmas to you all and hope you have a good one. #project366
ReplyDeleteHappy Christmas to you too. It's lovely having some time to just chill out for a change ! xx
DeleteHooray for the holidays.
ReplyDeleteEek! I hadn't thought of you being in a country which isn't big on pigs in blankets and Christmas puddings.
Pierre's art project looks fab and the skies so pretty!
I hope your freezer is still working. Having one really helps especially over Christmas. x
I did miss pigs in blankets - I couldn't even make my own as they don't do bacon either (and I'd have loved a bacon sandwich for breakfast too !). I usually bring loads back to put in the freezer but it won't be allowed from now on - blooming Brexit !
DeleteWell done Pierre for his art project. N would also want to go in for PE, although not if the rest of school was on. Lovely skyscapes. Our freezer was playing up for a while and was down to -36C, but thankfully now it's fuller, it's back to -19C which I can live with.
ReplyDeleteHmmm I'm wondering now what happens if a freezer gets too cold. Does it damage the food ? Never thought about it !
DeleteSun set or sun rise, doesn't matter, very pretty. Did you say Sophie was already over with you? I do hope so. Hope you all have a nice relaxing holiday season togehter
ReplyDeleteYes, Sophie made it home a few weeks ago luckily, before the new variant kicked in and the rules got tougher. Goodness knows when she'll be able to go back to England ! Oh well, could be worse !
DeleteLovely - always inspiring beauty
ReplyDeleteI am also worried that the same will happen here and that the schools wont open in Jan. I hope you managed to find the festive food you were after I had no idea that they dont eat turkey on Christmas Day. Great work on the picture.
ReplyDeleteI did manage to find a turkey. No pigs in blankets or stuffing but beggars can't be choosers ! lol
DeleteWhat do the French have for Christmas dinner? I wish our government had given parents permission to self isolate the children to protect Christmas, instead we were waiting until Christmas Eve to find out from the school if Christmas Day ocould go ahead. #project366
ReplyDeleteFrench people do a big meal that lasts for hours on Christmas Eve (about 7pm-1 or 2am) then another big meal for Christmas Day (about 1pm-5pm at the table) then another one for New Year's Eve. They have pre-dinner drinks and nibbles (crisps, nuts, little sandwiches, mini quiches, chorizo/sausage, etc) then a starter (scallops or smoked salmon or foie gras), main meal (roast venison, wild boar, all that kind of stuff ... some people do a turkey apparently, as I managed to find one ! ... with rice or potatoes or chips, veg, etc) ... then cheese and bread, then dessert (usually a yule log or an ice cream yule log). The meal basically lasts all day and to be honest, I find it totally boring after an hour or so ! lol. Shhh !
DeleteGlad you managed to find a turkey, shame you couldn't get hold of any pigs in blankets. I went to read the comments to see if anyone else was wondering what they had in France instead, it sounds like they enjoy grazing on lots of food :) A bit like me then haha. I like Pierre's snow scene x
ReplyDeleteIt's mainly very very long meals ! lol
DeleteHope the fridge freezer kept you going over Christmas and that you had a wonderful time
ReplyDeleteIt certainly did, still going strong !
DeleteGlad the freezer is ok to use now. I remember that defrosting post! Everyone (almost) needs a freezer at Christmas.
ReplyDeleteLove Pierre's arty paper creation. Well done!
Also love the beautiful sunrise and sunset pictures.
Happy New Year to you and yours.