Snowy Sunday

Yesterday, some of our visitors had left and were well on their way home before a mixture of rain, sleet and snow fell in the evening until late.

This morning dawned bright and clear and some of the snow melted - leaving garlands of snow on our glass roof.

But it is very cold, minus 2 and 3 and the snow is turning icy and lingering on fields and hills.  Roads have had some attention and main roads are mostly all right, but side roads still covered.

Our last visitors left allowing plenty of time to get to Calais but had a good run and managed to get an earlier ferry.  We hope the UK roads are as kind to them.

We took stale bread to feed the birds at Plan d’Eau at Marville…moving to a second place to park as the first was like a sheet of glass and very slippery.

Coots soon spy the bread...

 ...and a crow was soon joining the action!

 Nearby countryside...


 

On the way home, we stopped to take photos of the flooding around two local rivers - the Loison and the Thinte - both usually narrow, quiet waters - which were sparkling in the bright sunshine.

Countryside as we near Damvillers...taken from the moving car.

The countryside has taken on a picture-postcard look but it is a worry that all the snow will turn icy and roads and pavements become treacherous.  More snow and very cold temperatures are forecast - but also some sunshine to cheer us up.




We popped in to look at Les Ballastières at Damvillers and, across the lake, spotted two donkeys peeping through the trees...

...their shelter draped in a pretty pink tarpaulin!

The nearby island on Les Ballastières lake.










It was good to get out and have a change of scene and a breath of fresh air - but also good to get back home for a welcome cuppa. 

Christmas Day

Christmas Day was a lively and happy one...

Father Christmas did leave a mess this year - we think one of the reindeers must have followed him down the chimney...but stockings (pillow cases!) were filled and there were lots of presents under the tree...

Pops starts giving out the presents...

and Amber (and her sisters) helped.

Reece is curious - "Now what have you got, Dad?"

Ryan was log monitor and kept the fire going, sweeping up the fallout from the log bark...

One happy lady with her surprise present...

Ron and Ida a.k.a. Pops and Muzz.

Peter and Sheridan.

The welcome log fire looked great and worked well.

On Christmas Eve afternoon, Father Christmas/Papa Noel took time out and paid a visit and Phoebe, Amber and Hanna had their photo taken with him which we printed and framed for them as a memento.

Cheers, Adams Family! 

Phoebe, Dave, Hanna, Amber and Nadine.

Like the antlers, Dave!

Cheers, Pops!

Ryan with the broom again after getting the logs up from the garage in the hoist.

Reece kept the music going and was a willing and cheerful "gofer".

For those in the know this character, apparently, needs no introduction...

A super meal cooked by our two chefs - a delicious turkey (thanks Dave & Nadine!) joint of pork and leeks and carrots cooked upstairs by Ron and roast potatoes, parsnips, Yorkshire puds and gravy downstairs by Peter.

We started with pate and slices of warm "grande pain" and some time after the main course, Christmas pudding and mince pies with optional cream, brandy cream and brandy butter.

Nobody had room for cheese!


At times messy and manic but a memorable occasion which was fun and greatly enjoyed by all of us.