Boxing Day 2015.

Of course the French do not have Boxing Day but we, being English, will always think of December 26th in that way and that it is often a day for walking, if the weather is kind.

Today is mild with pleasant sunshine shining from a blue sky.  Not particularly seasonal but very welcome after so many grey, damp days.

We take a short stroll to the edge-of-town "green lane".  We sit on a bench at the top of a path and I leave my husband there to rest his bad knee while I walk a little further, as far as my back will allow...what a couple of old crocks we have become!  On my return he decided to head for home.  I opted to stay a bit longer, pretend the surroundings are our garden - something we do not have unfortunately.

Due to yet more "technogrief" (see a previous blog post) I am unable to upload photos from my camera to my computer and thence to my blog...so it hardly seems worth taking any.  I left my camera at home and hope instead to find the right words to describe the picture...

I sit on a bench
raise my face to the sun
bask in its gentle warmth
Nearby a clear and sparkling
brook babbles its hurry
I look across an expanse
of bright green fields
towards the dark shapes
of forested hills on the horizon
birds chirrup and cheep
I hear the tap-tapping
of an unseen woodpecker
Upwards dark, bare branches
leave traceries against the blue
A light breeze suddenly soothes
my face, like an answered prayer.

Lit up for Christmas

In homes, hospitals, villages, towns and cities decorations and lights herald Christmas…

Our "old faithful" little tree at home.

Snowman made with plastic cups in St Nicolas Hospital, Verdun.

Next to the snowman in a hospital corridor.

Winter scene with tinsel on the other side of the hospital corridor.

Above and below - outside the Mairie at Thierville.

Above and below - Magma shop windows in Damvillers.

Late Saturday afternoon, 19th December 2015 at dusk as the lights came on, showing up more than when the sky is dark.  These photos don't show just how busy it was with people and cars in slow convoy through the city centre, but hopefully give a flavour of the Christmas Market and celebrations at Verdun...

Small skating rink on Quai Londres.

A favourite patisserie and cafe where we enjoyed...

...a jug of hot chocolate and cream-filled meringue boules covered in chocolate!

This morning, Sunday the 20th, the view from our window...

By the time we joined in, an hour later, the crowd had trebled.  Papa Noel gave sweets and presents to the children, there were donkey rides in the place for the tinies, horse and cart rides through the town for older children and their families, hot chocolate or hot wine along with cake, chocolates and roast chestnuts.  The event was organised by local volunteers and funded by Credit Agricole Bank and La Poste. It was a happy, festive and social occasion which was enjoyed by all. 

Technogrief - whatever the season!

"Technogrief" was a word I coined in the days when I ran my own secretarial business, JustASec, from home - my last job before I retired.  The word covered a multitude of technological disruptions - and still does!

Just recently my digital camera and PC had a technical disagreement, probably due to my being given a sudden “choice” and clicking the wrong one!

But at last, today, all is resolved and I can get back to uploading photos from my camera and on to my blog, after a frustrating hiatus.

The following photos were taken at Lac de Paix on December 3rd late afternoon as the sunshine was slowly disappearing.

Now, a week later and under cloudy skies, with winter knocking at the door, the temperature at the lake complex is just 1 degree. Houses, villages, towns and cities are being lit up with Christmas decorations and the Season takes over our thoughts...

p.s. Technogrief strikes again - this afternoon, with boiler and central heating problems! As I said, that word covers a multitude...

Paris, November 2015 - a tanka

Paris ~ November
innocents fall like leaves
Daesh
not a State or Islamic
“one who spreads disorder”

And still there is war…

Friday the 13th - November 2015 - a black day indeed for Paris with a massive co-ordinated attack by Islamic Terrorists. 

Three days of mourning have been announced and candles burn in windows in remembrance of those who died.

So many atrocities this year that I sometimes feel we are in a third world war.

On Sunday afternoon, the 15th, we were reminded of the First World War and how it affected this area in an exhibition in the Salle des Fêtes. 

It was an excellent display, detailed and thorough…