Christmas at home

Happy new year to all our family & friends 

We were not quite sure, but I think this was the first Christmas Mary and I had spent on our own.  It has been quiet but enjoyable despite missing the family - we shall see them in the spring. But including the unexpected too - I toppled from my exercise bike on Christmas morning, no harm done, but I spent the  morning in the local A&E being checked for vertigo.  We are so lucky to have the little local hospital which was being built when we arrived in Lunel in the mid-2000s.  Those hearing the news at a distance were a bit alarmed, but I realise thinking back that I have toppled a few times over the years (broken arm about 5 years ago, and several slow-motion tumbles from my road bike when I had one.  Despite often-reported sicatic and joint pain the main concern for me is stability, since I'm a bit top-heavy and tend to move without thinking!  My new year's resolution is to think on and avoid falling, to which end our spelndid factotum M. Beaumann has started to fit a number of rails and grab handles in the showers and on steps.

Christmas flowers from family

I was home in time for a late afternoon roast lunch set off by a wonderful Jacob Savigny Vergelesses.  You cannot begrudge Jean-Michel and Christine their retirement, but I am very grateful that we stocked up with a number of their excellent wines before the label entered the history books.  And back groove by today (28 December) when I had a frosty early-morning trip to the town for greengroceries.  The winter sunshine is glorious.  Here are some photos just after sunrise today.

I am not a great games player, unlike some of our offspring and their broods, but Mary and I have set ourselves the undemanding task of a game of Scrabble an evening over the new year, and yesterday's inaugural game was OK (combined score 565) but we play for enjoyment not competition.

We have enjoyed Christmas music as always, with the Radio 3 offerings including plenty of good carols, augmented by our stack of favourite CDs though we shall give the Vienna new year concert a miss.  Radio 3 presenters are m=like marmite, nice if yuou like them.  Mary is more critical  than I am of some of the newer arrivals, but we did enjoy Sean Rafferty (just retired with a great farewell evening on 7 December with some of our favourite musicians including Ailish Tynan and Sarah Connolly.  I have come across people who could not stand him (the marmite factor again) but the warmth and affection of artists we admire confirms our view of him as Someone we will Miss.

We have a new favourite gastronimic restauruant in Lunel, Maison Soubeiran (I am amused by the coincidnece of the family name from the books and films of Manon des sources which we rewatched with great pleasure a month or so ago) - elegant food from a self-taught woman chef.  You eat surrounded by pictures of Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg.  

We have jsut passed our 18th year here in Lunel and in the house.  Of course, by now and with no more chambres d'hôte the house is too big, but it will take us time to plan any move especially given the beautiful garden space we enjoy.

We have another couple of weeks before regular activities resume - we have a lot of friends in the area who are part of our regular French/English conversation groups, and we'll look forward to getting back with them during January.

... and it's goodbye from him too