What a relief. Our friend Kate Hohne,s 2 brothers were caught up in the terrorist attack in Mumbai. Both where staying at the Taj Hotel. One was actually taken hostage but thankfully escaped because he had a South African passport. They are now home safe and well thank god.
The weather over the Christmas period was really quite funny. Wet and damp for a week, then a dry week until Christmas Day and finally a big snow fall which only stayed a day. Most nights we had sub zero temperatures with a low of -8. The day time temperatures ranged from 0 to 9 but most of the time the temperature was between 0 and 5.
Rob Henderson an old student of Mummies and his girl friend Cyan came to stay for a few days before Christmas.
The start of the Christmas visitors.
It snowed heavily during the day before the Old Chap went off to the airport to collect them. He told me the roads where a bit difficult on the way there but the snow had gone for the return journey and it was no problem. It was wet and damp for their stay but that did not stop them going off to Bourges to the see the cathedral and leaving me home alone. They found a really pleasant Xmas Market complete with Father Christmas. The market was full of crafts and local food as well as a good selection of animals that included a donkey, a camel and a reindeer. Who was pulling Santa,s slay!!!!!
Rob and Cyan left on the Friday. We had the weekend to re make the beds before we went off to Lyon to pick up Auntie Ruth and Sister Emily. It was a really nice drive to Lyon. Interesting countryside, with still a lot of snow on the hills and passing through St Etienne. The folks had a little trouble finding the hotel we had booked. So much so they gave up on the original booking and we stayed in one they found in the centre of Lyon. Talk about the blind leading the blind. This was my first stay in a hotel. The room was far too hot so I did not sleep so well. Lots of funny noises and smells. I Kept the Folks awake most of the night and was very glad to leave. We picked up Ruth who had flown in from New York and Emily a hour later who had come from Gatwick. Lyon Airport was good. Very new with excellent parking but as far from us as Paris. It was again a pleasant drive back to Le Petit Freneix.
All hands to the pump to prepare for Christmas lunch and Boxing Day dinner. The market in Boussac was brought forward to the Christmas Eve which was a Wednesday, very confusing but more a social occasion than actually buying anything. Madame at the Bar de Sport was quite happy and her husband Jacky in equally good spirits as he chatted with Ruth about his exploits with the American Paratroopers in Martinique.
Christmas Eve brought the usual Clugnat Nativity Service. The 3 Kings were in the procession for the first time and we also sang When the saints come marching in for the first time as well. The Old Chap said where was Bill Ives? I think this was to cover up his singing when it should have only been the choir. The church was standing room only and the whole event very colourful and enjoyable with the children dressed in local costumes with the sheep and lambs bleating during the service.
Paul and Lois with their children Peter and Freddie came for Christmas lunch. Paul who is a butcher had supplied the turkey, gammon, English bacon and sausages which were to be devoured over the festive season. Before lunch we enjoyed a lucky dip. We took it in turns to take a present from the Christmas stocking and then you could trade it with someone else if they had something you wanted. Great fun.
Boxing day saw the arrival of Emily,s Aussie friends. Julian and Eleanor Parkin and Nick Edwards. Emily and the Old Chap picked them up from Limoges Airport while Mummy and Ruth prepared the traditional Boxing Day meal we share with the Hurwitz,s. This year their son Rafe and his girlfriend Crystal were over from the US and they came as well. A lovely evening with endless chatter and of course good food. The social whirl continued; Craft market and drinks at the Hurwitz,s today. The next day, Brunch followed by early evening bowling in Montlucon with dinner at Kates afterwards. A really fine evening with much leg pulling of Ruth by Paul. Emily and her friends went off to Bourges on the Monday for lunch and a tour of the Cathedral. It snowed really heavily on their return journey. Almost impassable in Boussac but not too bad here. The next day Mummy and Auntie Ruth went for a girl,s day out at La Chatre. They had lunch in a restaurant that Mummy said she is not going back to. Why, well the waitress asked her, is this your daughter? Mummy was not pleased. I was taken for a very long walk by Emily and her gang. Gosh I was limping by the end, so perhaps the Old Chaps little walks are not so bad after all. New Years Eve saw a visit to a very small Boussac market, before Emily and her gang set off to return to the UK. I went with the Folks to Paul and Lois,s for dinner with Auntie Ruth and we shared the evening with Freddie and some new friends Denis and Cecile who have a farm with horses and Highland cattle near Toulx St Croix. We all saw in the New Year in with great joy and expectation for a good 2009.
A day to re-make the beds before Sam Henderson and his girlfriend Olivia arrived to stay for a week.
The 2 January 2009 was a GREAT DAY. Lisa made contact with us on Skype for the first time. Mummy had not seen her for 3 years so you can imagine how excited she was.
The 3 January 2009 was a sad day because my lovely Auntie Ruth had packed her case and left us for her home in the USA. We put her on the train for Lyon in Montlucon,
When will I get another cuddle?