Dec

27

A Week in Provence - Winter [10]

Filed Under Live 

It’s Christmas! The snow has melted, the mistral has gone back to wherever it hides and the days have become calm and quite mild. We had a flurry of rain but that has gone too.

All the better to enjoy the festivities. There was much running around gathering up the last of the Chapon, ham, veggies (crisis - no round corguettes) and all was going well until an invitation to Cafe de la Poste in Goult for lunch.

Mayhem!

Ex-pats, Fox-Duncans, Charlie and Alma, poor food, consolation bottles of fine wines (Domaine de Verriere - first rose producer in the Luberon), French music with Gerard and his flock, and we staggered home and into bed at 17h30!

Christmas Eve was catch up - a lost day at this critical time is not good for Madame’s planning. The Eve dinner was Danish at Le Renard. Joined by Margery from the local Lumiere Cave, we started with traditional Rice Porridge (legend has it that is is prepared under the duvet - don’t believe it, I found no feathers), then on to Duck breast with red cabbage and other assorted veggies and finished off with Christmas pudding.

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[Margery gave Vicky a hunky beefcake rugger bugger calendar - no comment]

Christmas lunch was at the Bastide.

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The majority of the guests arrived on time, all spick and span and ready for the fun. Many concerned minutes followed by threats to go down the road and trace Alma, Charlie and her bad-tempered vehicle. However, a bark at the door announced Charlie followed by brussel sprouts, parsnips, bacon, dishes, packets, make up, velvet pants and high heels and then came Alma!

We had Kris Kringle and then the chefettes took to the kitchen to get the famous sprouts and parsnips on the boil. It was one glass of champers for each sprout.

Starter was occker-Aussie. Avo, shrimps, salmon, salad. Bloody brilliant!

Then came the chapon.

Before:

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After:

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Also a new dish - the ‘layered summer vegetables’ (in winter) - zuccini, brinjal, tomatoes. garlic and rosemary.

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We polished that off and then moved to the M&S Christmas pud.

Total blow out but tasty.

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There was much hilarity at the end of the day. Darkness has fallen and we bundled everyone into their cars - Alma’s started first time but she had to stop half way down the hill : dear Charlie has decided that the leftovers were his and was quietly tucking into the chapon, duck and bacon basket. The little car wiggled and waggled its way back to its home.

Boxing day - off to Marseilles for the Schneebs’ - Luberon bolly stocks in peril.

Au bientot and a Happy Festive Season - Bon Fete.

Lovonne and Simon xxx

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