Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Last minute hectic.


Sophie is awake at six and making it quite clear she needs to go out. There are some things in life that simply can't wait. On our tour of the village it's deathly quiet. The tikes have been despatched to their grandparents in St.Etienne. The man with anger management issues has also headed off. The young couple who have been living in the flat above the town hall have decided to get married and are moving out.  I know this because the young man has rented a white van to move their belongings. ' It's not my van. I'm just renting it to shift our furniture ' he tells me with great solemnity while carrying a microwave oven. He repeats this to make sure I've understood. I wish him a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and all the best for the future.

Off with Sophie to the covered market.We park in the multi-storey with the spaces that are too close together.  It's difficult to get the drivers door opened wide enough to get out. Angus informs no one in particular that the architect who designed the car park must have been a contortionist. This dispensing of wisdom is another sign I've become my father. In the back of the car Angus finds the cards and presents that he should have posted two (maybe three) weeks ago. Angus puts this forgetfulness down to 'recuperation'. We make a detour to the Post Office but it doesn't open until mid morning.


The freshly made Buche de Noel are flying off the bakers shelf. They will all be gone by 11.00. Peak shopping day.


Sophie sniffs the hyacinths at the florists but is much more taken with some pate en croute at the traiteurs.


This mornings wet weather has done nothing for the family divas coat.


Not many Gaelic Christmas carols, perhaps because Hogmanay was always more of a Scots thing. However, here is something seasonal in Gaelic : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SV9XqbYVp4


We briefly think of heading off en famille to this hotel in Paris with Sophie ( the Place des Vosges is just across the road for all those canine necessities ) but decide it's better to be empty nesters at home :
https://courdesvosges.com/


17 comments:

Lisa in Tokyo said...

I think Sophie looks lovely, as do the Buche de Noel. We celebrate Christmas German-style, on Christmas Eve, so the excitement is already starting to build here in Tokyo. I think the kids have figured out they get more presents when we stay home, so we have been expressly forbidden to travel this year. Cherry agrees this is wise. Happy Holidays to all!!

WFT Nobby said...

Bertie thinks he too would favour the paté en croute.

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Pate wins here, too! Have a wonderful, quiet Christmas.

The Life of Riley said...

Angus, wishing you, "The Font" and Sophie a wonderful Christmas at the ROF and all the best for 2020.

Milodog said...

Wishing you all a very ‘merry’ Christmas and a healthy and happy new year. Best wishes from deepest Wiltshire xx

Anonymous said...

Angus, I wish you and "The Font" and the PONette Sophie (I like this word, it describes Sophie as a very chic French Girl) a peaceful and wonderful Christmas. Best Wishes Luzia from Basel

Poppy Q said...

Mmmmm I love a nice pate and those ones look flash!! The cakes lo0k rather tasty too. Thanks for showing us the local delights.

Merry Christmas to you Angus, The Font and Miss Sophie.

Julie and Poppy Q

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Delightful music - and Sophie seems to me to be most coiffeured! Bouffant, oui? Have a wonderful at-home Christmas at the ROF. YAM xx

Camille said...

We too are anticipating a quiet, at home Christmas this year. Feels like heaven with no fuss or muss! Wishing all of you at the ROF a most relaxing and happy Christmas holiday.

Fay said...

I miss food as an art form....thank you, Sophie for your daily antics and thank you, Angus and The Font, for your recordings of said. Merry Christmas to all./Fay, the cardis 3 and the New Spoo, in SE USA, formerly NE USA, mostly far West USA, and a long time ago, for some years, France.

Teena and Lala said...

Wishing you all a very happy christmas. A wee parcel was sent Monday last week, but sadly I think it may have gone astray.

Allison said...

Merry Christmas to the ROF! That hotel in Paris is really stunning. Very nice website.

Fi from Four Paws and Whiskers said...

Merry Xmas to you all... the hotel looks wonderful but the ballerina could get annoying. Have a peaceful empty nesters day and keep that forgetful recuperation up.

Pam in NH said...

Merry Christmas to all at the ROF from your friends all over the world. XXX Pam

Stephanie said...

Wishing all at the ROF a very Merry Christmas! Thank you for all the lovely Christmas pictures, especially the delectable holiday pastries.

Bailey Bob Southern Dog said...

Sending Christmas wishes, peace, and love to all at The ROF, and everyone who reads of your Adventures!

Angus said...

The parcel arrived. Thank you ! What a marvellous idea. Bob has pride of place on the tree. How kind of you to think of him. We'll have similar baubles made up for all the previous PONs. There's something right about having them on display at Christmas.