For the first time since we arrived here I have started to sleep badly again. And the reason ..- Christmas! I have been merrily coasting along safe within the knowledge that I am doing very little for Christmas this year. We are returning to the UK, staying with Geoff`s mum, and Hazel is hosting Christmas Day at her flat. However it has just hit me that we are setting off NEXT Wednesday and there is still quite a bit to do! Hazel was out for a few days last week and we hit the shops and markets hard, but all the presents are still to wrap up and I still have to do some "last minute" bits and pieces shopping. There is also the hotel to book for an overnight stay near Calais and because we are taking the dog with us, the vet needs to be visited to get his passport sorted. My plans to do things keep being thwarted by last minute invitations (such as my art class Christmas meal) and appointments (another tourist office meeting at Sauxillanges - where incidentally Geoff got co-opted onto the committee!) so my shopping time is being severely hit! I also keep being asked to make some typical English Christmas things to take with me to meals. The mince pies are going down well, but trying to explain what sweet mincemeat is in French is proving a step too far for me! All of this takes time and thinking about it means a poor night`s kip!
The other thing which is interrupting my beauty sleep are the cows! We have a big herd of cows and their calves in the adjoining fields. They wear bells round their necks and the bongling, although very soothing at times, is not welcome at 5am! Nor are the frequent visits from the calves to our garden! The farmer is not very good at maintaining his fences and the calves are forever straying in search of nice grass - hence the garden visits. They are becoming a bit of a nuisance, as they panic when you go to chase them and leap over the walls, usually taking a few stones with them. They also leave little presents everywhere which is not so pleasant! We have christened this bunch "the Boulogne Boys" after the Paris St Germaine football team`s troublesome supporters! We need a cunning plan as to how to keep them off the property!
It was nice to have Hazel here again last week. We took the chance to visit a very festive Clermont Ferrand and enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere of the Christmas Market there. The place was buzzing and very lively. Hazel was not that impressed with the actual market though - it doesn`t compare favourably with the one at Strasbourg at all apparently! However the lights, the big wheel in the main square and the new tram system all made Clermont look very impressive indeed. I must say that Christmas shopping here is much more relaxed somehow. The shops are busy but not obnoxious and often you get the purchase gift wrapped for you, which is a real treat!
I`m pleased to say that following on from my last blog post, the birds have begun to use the feeder at last! They are still very wary, but at least they now know where the peanuts are. The seed dispensers still remain untouched, but as the weather is becoming much colder and frostier now, I suspect it will not be long before these too get discovered.
Finally, I would just like to wish everyone a Joyeux Noel and Best Wishes for the New Year. I hope you all keep reading in 2007, as I am sure there will be lots more tales to tell!