St Sylvestre
Thanks Susie. You've introduced me to a new time-wasting occupation. It's not something I should be doing, sometimes it isn't something I want to do, sometimes I find it compulsive because you just never know what the next click is going to bring you, do you?
I just love stumbling. It's great fun. Yesterday I stumbled for a couple of hours. I wonder if that was a particularly productive way to spend a Sunday afternoon but, hell, it's winter, it was mizzling down outside and I was keeping nice and warm and had a few laughs along the way.
I resolve NOT to stumble today.
Oh, go on then, just a quick look.....
... and then I really must start thinking about New Year's resolutions. Or maybe not.
Monday, 31 December 2007
Sunday, 30 December 2007
Call me! (Blondie, 1980)
St Roger
Happy Birthday to Stephen! (We won't give away your age!)
Our daughter gave us a nice present at Christmas, it's a new Skype telephone which means that if there is anyone else out there on Skype you can talk to us, and vice verse for free (don't ya just love that word?).
If you have a Skype telephone, please e-mail us to let us know your Skype address - we've set up an e-mail account just for this purpose so please, no spamming or phishing - we won't reply unless we know you (or want to know you!). The e-mail address just to let us know your Skype account is smithsenfrance@gmail.com .
If you don't already know about Skype, you can find details here. Basically you set up your account with them and connect a headset and microphone to your computer - or a special Skype telephone with a USB connection, and Bob's your Uncle (actually mine was Bill, not Bob, and Ernie and Dick too). You can call landlines from Skype too, and the calls are much cheaper than from a normal landline. By the way, I'm not on commission, just converted to a new way of staying in touch with the family.
I really must clear out my e-mails though. Not just those I have received but the accounts I have set up in the past and rarely use any more. There are the hotmail account, the Yahoo account, the AOL account that I set up when we had our internet connection with them, and the two Wanadoo accounts, French and English. I don't use half of these any more but, you just never know when an old friend might just get in touch for the first time in years and they only have your old e-mail account. It is just another facet of my hoarding problem. Books, magazines, old balls of wool (to make blankets and soft toys), fabric remnants (to make that patchwork quilt one of these years), not to mention buttons, lace, ribbons. I could go on.
But I won't.
This time.
Happy Birthday to Stephen! (We won't give away your age!)
Our daughter gave us a nice present at Christmas, it's a new Skype telephone which means that if there is anyone else out there on Skype you can talk to us, and vice verse for free (don't ya just love that word?).
If you have a Skype telephone, please e-mail us to let us know your Skype address - we've set up an e-mail account just for this purpose so please, no spamming or phishing - we won't reply unless we know you (or want to know you!). The e-mail address just to let us know your Skype account is smithsenfrance@gmail.com .
If you don't already know about Skype, you can find details here. Basically you set up your account with them and connect a headset and microphone to your computer - or a special Skype telephone with a USB connection, and Bob's your Uncle (actually mine was Bill, not Bob, and Ernie and Dick too). You can call landlines from Skype too, and the calls are much cheaper than from a normal landline. By the way, I'm not on commission, just converted to a new way of staying in touch with the family.
I really must clear out my e-mails though. Not just those I have received but the accounts I have set up in the past and rarely use any more. There are the hotmail account, the Yahoo account, the AOL account that I set up when we had our internet connection with them, and the two Wanadoo accounts, French and English. I don't use half of these any more but, you just never know when an old friend might just get in touch for the first time in years and they only have your old e-mail account. It is just another facet of my hoarding problem. Books, magazines, old balls of wool (to make blankets and soft toys), fabric remnants (to make that patchwork quilt one of these years), not to mention buttons, lace, ribbons. I could go on.
But I won't.
This time.
Saturday, 29 December 2007
Arise, Sir Michael
St David
Today the New Year's Honours List has been published and it is to be Sir Michael Parkinson. Well done Parky. Saturday nights, however, will not be the same without him. I never did quite get used to him being on ITV, a channel I confess we rarely watch but on the few occasions we did catch him over there we were pleased to see that the format of his shows had remained the same as when they first started in 1971.
Of course everyone remembers that emu incident but I just loved the way he prompted people gently to tell their (obviously rehearsed) anecdotes. His own favourites were often sports personalities, Muhammad Ali, Geoffrey Boycott, George Best and the lovely David Beckham. His final show, the one before the one where he picked all his favourite moments was rather disappointing. Billy Connelly was his usual magic, outrageous self, but Dame Judi Dench was cut far too short and what, frankly, was Dame Edna Everidge doing there? It was a disappointing ending to his career. I look forward to seeing some of the earlier interviews being released on DVD later, I'm sure that must be in the pipeline. Perhaps he can resurrect interviews with David Niven, always a great laugh, the Princess Anne interview, John Lennon, Peter Sellars, the list would be endless.
I wonder if anyone can take his place as chat show king? Alan Titchmarsh does a good job - time for the BBC to jump in quick and snap up that idea I would have thought.
Congratulations also to Sir Ian McKellern, the lovely Leslie Phillips ('Hello!'), super Julie Walters and gorgeous Kylie Minogue. And one of the most deserved awards to Nicholas Kenyon the out-going administrator of the BBC Promenade Concerts for stirling work over the last 11 years and bringing a wider audience to the Proms.
I know some people think that this sort of thing is a waste of time, money, and space but I love that people can be recognised by their peers for their work whether it is in the world of entertainment or not.
Today the New Year's Honours List has been published and it is to be Sir Michael Parkinson. Well done Parky. Saturday nights, however, will not be the same without him. I never did quite get used to him being on ITV, a channel I confess we rarely watch but on the few occasions we did catch him over there we were pleased to see that the format of his shows had remained the same as when they first started in 1971.
Of course everyone remembers that emu incident but I just loved the way he prompted people gently to tell their (obviously rehearsed) anecdotes. His own favourites were often sports personalities, Muhammad Ali, Geoffrey Boycott, George Best and the lovely David Beckham. His final show, the one before the one where he picked all his favourite moments was rather disappointing. Billy Connelly was his usual magic, outrageous self, but Dame Judi Dench was cut far too short and what, frankly, was Dame Edna Everidge doing there? It was a disappointing ending to his career. I look forward to seeing some of the earlier interviews being released on DVD later, I'm sure that must be in the pipeline. Perhaps he can resurrect interviews with David Niven, always a great laugh, the Princess Anne interview, John Lennon, Peter Sellars, the list would be endless.
I wonder if anyone can take his place as chat show king? Alan Titchmarsh does a good job - time for the BBC to jump in quick and snap up that idea I would have thought.
Congratulations also to Sir Ian McKellern, the lovely Leslie Phillips ('Hello!'), super Julie Walters and gorgeous Kylie Minogue. And one of the most deserved awards to Nicholas Kenyon the out-going administrator of the BBC Promenade Concerts for stirling work over the last 11 years and bringing a wider audience to the Proms.
I know some people think that this sort of thing is a waste of time, money, and space but I love that people can be recognised by their peers for their work whether it is in the world of entertainment or not.
Friday, 28 December 2007
December's reading
St Gaspard
Not content with finishing one bathroom, Jon has now started work on the downstairs 'smallest room', also known as the reading room as we have bookshelves in there. Storage was one of our major concerns when we moved in with the boxes of books, already reduced in number from the vast collection we had in the UK.
We seem to have shelves of books in most rooms whilst still trying to keep the number down to a reasonable level and, finally, beginning to get over the compulsion to keep every book we have read over the years. Now we are more willing to part with books after we have both read them, although so far they have only got as far as the garage. Our original intention was to take some back to the UK to charity shops there and the better ones were going to be sold on Amazon, unfortunately we filled the car so much with other things that there was no room for them.
There are a couple of charities here that will take English books, and there is also a recently discovered small library run by a French/British association locally so we may be able to offer some of them there. Just as long as we remember to put them in the car one day when we go out.
We have just read the latest reading group read. Alan Alda's autobiography 'Never Have Your Dog Stuffed'. We both really enjoyed this insight into the actor's childhood and his strained relationship with his mother who suffered from schitzophrenia and an alcohol problem. His book isn't the usual 'I'm a celebrity, look at me I'm wonderful' type of book littered with references to other actors and actresses. Instead it is the story of his unusual childhood, his struggle to get work as an actor leading to his success in the series M.A.S.H, and the story of his love for his wife and family.
Now we move on to Lionel Schriver's 'We Need To Talk About Kevin' which, from first glance through looks rather more challenging!
Not content with finishing one bathroom, Jon has now started work on the downstairs 'smallest room', also known as the reading room as we have bookshelves in there. Storage was one of our major concerns when we moved in with the boxes of books, already reduced in number from the vast collection we had in the UK.
We seem to have shelves of books in most rooms whilst still trying to keep the number down to a reasonable level and, finally, beginning to get over the compulsion to keep every book we have read over the years. Now we are more willing to part with books after we have both read them, although so far they have only got as far as the garage. Our original intention was to take some back to the UK to charity shops there and the better ones were going to be sold on Amazon, unfortunately we filled the car so much with other things that there was no room for them.
There are a couple of charities here that will take English books, and there is also a recently discovered small library run by a French/British association locally so we may be able to offer some of them there. Just as long as we remember to put them in the car one day when we go out.
We have just read the latest reading group read. Alan Alda's autobiography 'Never Have Your Dog Stuffed'. We both really enjoyed this insight into the actor's childhood and his strained relationship with his mother who suffered from schitzophrenia and an alcohol problem. His book isn't the usual 'I'm a celebrity, look at me I'm wonderful' type of book littered with references to other actors and actresses. Instead it is the story of his unusual childhood, his struggle to get work as an actor leading to his success in the series M.A.S.H, and the story of his love for his wife and family.
Now we move on to Lionel Schriver's 'We Need To Talk About Kevin' which, from first glance through looks rather more challenging!
Thursday, 27 December 2007
No room at the freezer
St Jean
Weather: At last a little milder! And no rain.
I just discovered that it is St Jean today, so I had better plan a little something for Jon's Saint's Day. I don't think I will be decorating Millie Mehari with lace ribbons and bows in the French style though!
The weather has turned a little milder. I have no idea how long this will last, having given up many moons ago on the accuracy of Mr Meteo who never seems to get anything right. Now we just look out of the window in the morning and if we can see the home of dear Mrs Veranda, then the weather must be OK. If it is all white between here and there then it's cold and if we can't see it, then it must be foggy. Et voila!
I made the mistake of going shopping this morning. Just for a few bits and pieces, nothing too desperate, but there were lots of special offers on that were too good to resist so the freezer is now fit to bust again - and there are various ingredients waiting to be cooked ready for the Reveillon (New Year's Eve to you) and our visitors arriving on 2 January.
I also restocked on birdfood again since the greedy little blighters have finished up everything we had. A few weeks ago we met someone who complained that since his wife started feeding the birds he was now spending an extortionate amount of his meagre pension on bird seed. We'll have to look out or we'll be in the same boat.
That will be my mother's fault of course, she suggested it would be nice to have a little bird table in the fig tree.
Jon has spent the morning finishing the redecoration of the bathroom which now looks clean and shining again with no signs of condensation or the resulting muck that goes along with it. Long may it last.
Next job .......? Don't know just yet, there are too many to choose from.
Weather: At last a little milder! And no rain.
I just discovered that it is St Jean today, so I had better plan a little something for Jon's Saint's Day. I don't think I will be decorating Millie Mehari with lace ribbons and bows in the French style though!
The weather has turned a little milder. I have no idea how long this will last, having given up many moons ago on the accuracy of Mr Meteo who never seems to get anything right. Now we just look out of the window in the morning and if we can see the home of dear Mrs Veranda, then the weather must be OK. If it is all white between here and there then it's cold and if we can't see it, then it must be foggy. Et voila!
I made the mistake of going shopping this morning. Just for a few bits and pieces, nothing too desperate, but there were lots of special offers on that were too good to resist so the freezer is now fit to bust again - and there are various ingredients waiting to be cooked ready for the Reveillon (New Year's Eve to you) and our visitors arriving on 2 January.
I also restocked on birdfood again since the greedy little blighters have finished up everything we had. A few weeks ago we met someone who complained that since his wife started feeding the birds he was now spending an extortionate amount of his meagre pension on bird seed. We'll have to look out or we'll be in the same boat.
That will be my mother's fault of course, she suggested it would be nice to have a little bird table in the fig tree.
Jon has spent the morning finishing the redecoration of the bathroom which now looks clean and shining again with no signs of condensation or the resulting muck that goes along with it. Long may it last.
Next job .......? Don't know just yet, there are too many to choose from.
Wednesday, 26 December 2007
White Christmas
St Stéphane
I don't think this is quite what Bing had in mind when he sang that lovely song
White, it certainly was, snow it wasn't but it did look very pretty. This is when it was -10 degrees C.
And this, from another angle
Later on it warmed up to -2 degrees C and the feeding frenzy began. Not us, these little chaps
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I don't think this is quite what Bing had in mind when he sang that lovely song
White, it certainly was, snow it wasn't but it did look very pretty. This is when it was -10 degrees C.
And this, from another angle
Later on it warmed up to -2 degrees C and the feeding frenzy began. Not us, these little chaps
I shall refrain from putting up any pictures of our own delicious lunch. The reason being that I did follow the nice market stall holder's instructions to stuff the neck of the goose. Unfortunately it did look rather, well, how can I put this? Well, actually, erm ..... phallic. (Sorry, Mum)
As we fell about laughing, Jon only looking slightly worried having checked first (?), we imagined people giving theatrical winks in kitchens all over France. Ooh, err, Missus. Lots of nudge, nudge, wink, wink jokes going on.
We had a very nice, quiet and relaxed day, took several hours to eat our 7 small courses the only disaster was the completely defrosted basil sorbet which had been left out of the freezer to soften slightly. Not to worry, I replaced it with an exotic fruit one instead. Now I have to remember to serve the refrozen basil sorbet another day!
Monday, 24 December 2007
Food preparation
Ste Adèle
After days of planning to make this Christmas special, since it is the first Christmas Day we have spent alone for over thirty years, I think I have finally cracked it.
We went down to Cahors market this morning, hearing it was particularly special on Christmas Eve, and we were, frankly, rather disappointed. We bumped into friends who were equally surprised to find so few stalls and we wished each other a Happy Christmas. A very nice man found me a goose small enough for two people and proceeded to do things to it that I won't offend the vegetarians amongst you by describing. He told me exactly how to cook it, and I listened attentively even though we have had goose for Christmas dinner several times in the past.
We topped up the 'decent' wine cellar (as opposed to the everyday wine cellar), threw in a bunch of flowers for good measure and returned to a slap-up lunch of .... a hot dog.
The hard work will start this afternoon. I've picked a special fish menu for tonight, 5 courses in total but all light courses. I will try to get ahead for tomorrow's rather more ambitious menu too.
Happy Christmas one and all.
After days of planning to make this Christmas special, since it is the first Christmas Day we have spent alone for over thirty years, I think I have finally cracked it.
We went down to Cahors market this morning, hearing it was particularly special on Christmas Eve, and we were, frankly, rather disappointed. We bumped into friends who were equally surprised to find so few stalls and we wished each other a Happy Christmas. A very nice man found me a goose small enough for two people and proceeded to do things to it that I won't offend the vegetarians amongst you by describing. He told me exactly how to cook it, and I listened attentively even though we have had goose for Christmas dinner several times in the past.
We topped up the 'decent' wine cellar (as opposed to the everyday wine cellar), threw in a bunch of flowers for good measure and returned to a slap-up lunch of .... a hot dog.
The hard work will start this afternoon. I've picked a special fish menu for tonight, 5 courses in total but all light courses. I will try to get ahead for tomorrow's rather more ambitious menu too.
Happy Christmas one and all.
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