Better late than never!

A bit late, I know but Happy New Year Everyone! Thank you for all your kind get well messages and Christmas/New Year wishes. I hope that you all had a wonderful time.
I am looking forward to catching up and seeing what you have all been up to.

I have just recently returned from having spent Christmas and New Year with my family in France. I also popped over to Belgium.

Starting a New Year is a chance to reassess things in your life and reflect on the previous year. Like many of you, I have made my list of resolutions, it's quite long .... Somehow beginning a new year helps re-enforce your intentions, which is not a bad thing.


Bruges (in 3d)


One of many chocolate shops in Bruges


Miss P and I on a mission to buy some freshly made waffles


I always go to this place to buy waffles. The aroma is wonderful as you walk in.
Their freshly made waffles taste almost as good as the ones my Aunt Suzy and My Grandmother Gaby used to make. These waffles taste nothing like the supermarket ones! Soooo much nicer.


You can't beat the smell and taste of a real Belgian waffle


The Christmas Market was still there a few days after Christmas




Pretty tins full of chocolates


The chocolate shops always have such fantastic window displays


Belgian chocolates ...the best in the world... Chocolate Line is one of my favourite chocolate shops

Meanwhile back at home, it's looking like this and with more snow on the way forecast. Miss P is delighted by this, no school today because of hazardous access to the school!

Mr Snowman keeping watch in our garden


Snowy scene nearby


The fire has been lit every day since coming back. It is such a welcome sight when coming in from the cold. I have just restocked the log basket and coal bucket ready for the heavy snowfall they are predicting.

Off to relax a bit by the fire and do a spot of crochet. I started a couple of crochet projects whilst away. More in a future post.

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Local village church (taken last winter)

Thank you so much for all your get well wishes and helpful information on what some of you use to help ease a sore throat. I really appreciated it.


Taken in our village last winter

A week on and I am beginning to feel an improvement in my voice. What hasn't helped is that since my last post I've also had a migraine which lasted 3 days. My cold is still there but with a bit of luck all will be gone by Christmas day. Last year I was ill over Christmas and could not join in. I had a 3 day migraine and had to stay in a dark room, feeling really sick throughout. I certainly did not want to have another Christmas like that again this year!

Alan has been an absolute angel, he's taken Miss P to school and back every day, done all the shopping, he made me drinks, meals, looked after Miss P and some evenings sat down quietly next to me holding my hand (very comforting when you don't feel well..) instead of watching TV or playing F1 on the Wii.


Bought from Hunter Gatherer at the Country Living Fair a couple of years ago. So pretty when lit, unfortunately I have just run out of candles...

I haven't been out all week and have not experienced the busy Christmas atmosphere in the shops and streets. I am very behind on the Christmas front...Today the migraine has gone so I can start watching some TV again and watch something Christmassy whilst wrapping the presents.




Pink Christmas wreath bought for Miss P in Bruges, Belgium

As I shall be busy catching up over the next few days, I am taking this opportunity to wish you all a...

VERY

HAPPY

CHRISTMAS!



A bientôt!

Isabelle X

SNOW!...well a little dusting of it

This morning I was greeted by Alan telling me it had snowed overnight and that he was popping out to take some pictures for my blog (very thoughtful, I thought). That news certainly helped me wake up. I hopped out of bed to have a look out of the window. I confess, I was expecting more than just a dusting but it was still nice to have a little rather than none. Miss P's reaction to it was 'Ooh great, no school' but her hopes were dashed when Alan told her it would require more snow than that before the school would decide not to open.

I have laryngitis & a cold so have been staying indoors for the past few days. That's why Alan went out to take some photos for me this morning. I have had a deep hoarse voice for the past few days but today I am losing it...My work involves quite a bit of talking over the phone so I am taking everything I can so that I don't lose it! Being self employed I can't delegate my work to anyone else and with a deadline to meet I simply cannot lose my voice now...

I've just rang Alan at work to see if I can still be understood at the other end of the line, he said that now I sound like a little old lady...with a sore throat! Oh dear..., not being one to give up, I shall persevere...




Sunrise by the barn


The field opposite the house


Snow covered shrubs


Snow covered heather


Bird bath in the garden


Oh well it's a start, maybe we'll get more snow soon...

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

Christmas childhood books

Guess who? (Picture taken in Surrey in the late 1960's)

Well it has been a very busy week all round! Unfortunately not much of it being Christmas related. I still haven't written my Christmas cards...

In December, I bring out all the Christmas books including my daughter's. I love the illustrations and stories. They portray idyllic scenes which definitely help you get in to the Christmas mood!




The Snow Children






I've had this book since I was around 7 years old. I was very much in to Martine books as a child.
I thought they looked idyllic and Martine always seemed to have such a great time what ever she did.






The Snowman, I watch this film every Christmas. The music is so beautiful. One of my favourite scenes is as they fly over snow covered villages.


Beatrix potter


Angelina Ballerina


Angelina Ballerina. I like this scene, it looks so cosy as Mother & daughter make mince pies


Advent calendar


I also get inspirations for food and decorating the house from books such as this one.


I also get inspirations for food and decorating the house from books such as this one



Christmas Memories

So can you hear those softest sounds from out the snow filled sky A jingling and as a jangling as Santa’s sleigh glides by? So can you hear feel those joyous sounds as day replaces night A present here a present there and children’s eyes so bright? So do you think at Christmas time of when you were a child When magic and your simple faith had your whole soul beguiled? So when your children have grown up or maybe moved away We should all rejoice with memories of those entrancing days. David Keig

I wish you all a good week ahead

A bientôt!

Isabelle X

Looks like Rein..deer

Yesterday we went to Wells to watch the reindeer parade. Unfortunately, it began to rain just as the reindeer arrived on the market place.


I wonder what the little elf is thinking?


One of the many stalls


As it began to rain harder, I decided that popping in to Maddie Brown would be a could idea... Any excuse to look around one of my favourite shops in Wells!


We weren't the only ones to shelter from the rain, not long before the picture was taken, the area was full of people.




Miss P and I enjoyed a little browsing...


As we returned back home, we were treated to several rainbows on the way



It is a very busy time for most of us now, I hope that you are all managing to get your Christmas shopping & card writing done. I haven't written any cards yet...

A bientôt!

Isabelle X