Normandy Grey. 
And a very Merry Christmas from me!
If youāre on instagram Iām @catsceats and Iāve put a sprinkling of Christmas pictures up there. And yes, my Christmas is featuring the most ridiculous quantities of gourmet food. And I havenāt stopped eating yetā¦
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The Dickens/Disney version
Reality: see above
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Merry Christmas Everyone
Iāve just woken upā¦ seems the dregs of tonightās champagne finished me off. I reckoned Iād only been dozing but OH assures me I was spark outā¦ hic 
This year has been a rather different Christmas from usual.
Our best laid plans have definitely āgone astrayāā¦ but weāve not done badly. Tonight we dined on delicious confit de canard, roast pots and parsnips and a few brusselsā¦ cooked in the duck fatā¦ yummy.
No mincepies for dessert this year (not so far, maybe tomorrow, maybe notā¦)
Mondayās baking-day disappeared in the ether, after the death of a friendās mum led to much dashing about and errands which needed running.
And Tuesday was spent visiting a dear friend who is in āre-educationā after a nasty fall and broken hip.
Sadly, the hospital/rehab is quite some drive, but it was worth it to see her face light up when we arrived bearing goodies.
As always, we left her laughing when we finally set out for the journey homeā¦
So, today, Christmas Dayā¦ dawned sunny and bright.
and we took the opportunity to do a load of washing which dried marvellously in the unexpected warmth.
Mind you, I lit the logfire this afternoon against the expected drop in temperature and weāve sat, gazing into the flames and totally relaxing. No visitorsā¦ just usā¦ absolutely marvellous.
Peace and Goodwill to All
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Your Normandy Grey is definitely greyer than Aveyron Grey (below), thoā this morning we couldnāt see the other bank of the Lot (under 30m from the house).
OTOH looks like our mist is higher than your fog
(more about the former shortly on the Rando Photos thread)
No matter what shade of grey your Christmas Day (or not) - hope itās been a good one!
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My Christmas meal with friends Marian and Eddie just down the hill was wonderful. Marian did a traditional turkey dinner with lots of trimmings and we had Christmas pudding afterwards. Lots of laughing and joking before the log fire over coffee but I didnāt want to to overstay my welcome and left at 7.30.
Parked the car outside the gate again rather than mess about with gates and doors in the dark and a very big welcome when I walked through the door. Of course, being an hour and a half late with their dinner had nothing to do with it.
Watched both Midwife and G & S later on but was somewhat disappointed with both. maybe itās me. 
Really looking forward to Outnumbered tonight though. I feel as if I have grown old with those 3 kids. Rarely have I watched a programme so well acted, by everyone.
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Hope everyone had a good day. We had our small commune in for a goose roasted to perfection. Not happy though as with six, none of the goose left for picksā¦(imo, the best part of having a goose)
I agree about G&S, but maybe difficult to make a finsl episode. I shall miss Nessieš¢
Happy leftovers day!
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@Corona - there were no leftovers in this house! The fish and chips were yummy yummy in our tummy and Stuart ate all the batter bits whilst I was doing the washing up!
Nothing left even for the kittens (Bobby, Charlee and Tabatha) and Ruby our dog, but they did have special treats (cooked chicken) earlier in the day.
@captainendeavour and @DrMarkH - itās what I call a mizzy wizzy day - 'orrible!
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We watched 2 of our traditional Merry Christmas films yesterday:
Miracle on 43rd Street
Love Actually
That leaves us with:
Wonderful Life
Christmas Candle
The Three Tenors Christmas
So whichever we choose, weāre set for another lovely evening by the fire.
Canāt believe the Post Office and the Mairie are both Open for businessā¦ while weāre still in Christmas Cheer mode.
Happy Boxing Day everyoneā¦
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I love the fact that France returns to normal after Christmas Day - and there isnāt even the stupidity of the sales - just a normal day.
I remember a Boxing Day in the 60s when I met up with friends and it had snowed heavily - ours were the only marks in the snow as we crunched along the A24.
edit: Weāve even had our first nuisance phone call of the day - ignored of course. 
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My Christmas treat to self was to fire up the heaters in the sitting room and try watch some iPlayer - continue with the wonderful āAsiaā nat history [narr St Attenboroā] and Wolf Hall
I would be pleased to have some advice about what folllwed ā¦
Despite the i/net page in āSettingsā confirming connection by wire, trying to open iPlayer/ITV X showed, āYou are not connected to the i/netā. Not true because I could open YT
Several goes of unplug TV and router [30 secs] and plug in - same result. I have found that things go awry if the TV is not used for days/weeks. The unplug/plug routine usually sorts it.
Canāt be the VPN [Surfshark] because I could open iPlayer on the phone with Surfshark set to a UK server.
Then I discovered I could open iPlayer via the link on the BBC news app on the TV.
I shall continue furkling with this stuff but anyone who knows whatās what - let me know, please
And Happy Friday 27th from M Edie Eff
Iām so happy, just got the text! They can keep them coming until we get back to France 
A special shout out to those, who, like me, had to spend Christmas away from friends and loved ones and instead spend it with family.
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We had BW on Xmas Eve too! It was sort of our Xmas meal as my youngest brother and his lot came over; Xmas day was just my Mother and I - and for Xmas Day lunch we had the remains of the Beef Wellington! Not v. festive but a big meal two days running would have been too much!
Then Xmas part 2 happens on New Yearās Day when my middle brother is coming over from the States with his two daughters and we are gathering at my sisterās in Kent.
Our BW was ready-made and sourced from Donald Russell in Scotland - very nice beef, came out saignant / a point.
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Thatās cheating I made mine from scratch with GF pastry!
Hubby also had it on Xmas day as he doesnāt like ham or turkey!
I had a butternut, ham, turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and gravy sandwich for lunch today
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We had pretty much the same as yesterday but MrsW wanted Yorkshire pudding with it so I made one for her (though it took me an hour to find a shop that sold milk)
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The Christmas festivities are coming to a sudden end tonight.
Friday, there will be a funeral for our friendās mum. Big crowd expected and lots of tears. Having said that, the lady in question had a super sense of humour so, with a bit of luck, weāll be reliving/remembering some of the fun times we all enjoyed in her company.
At least the weather should be kind, no snow or rain forecast!
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