A Time of Waiting

 Despite our best intentions January has been a month of suspended animation.  The weather has not been too unkind, our coldest nights have been between -8 and -10 but the cold spell with night time temperatures of -3 or -4 has lasted for most of the month.  These days we lack the courage or motivation to work outside in the cold!

As it happens, January is a month for maintenance.  Our central heating boiler was serviced, the water softener was serviced and we had a minor issue on the car seen to.  Other than that, we have been finding jobs in the house.  Sue has been cleaning or renewing grouting, I've connected a new light over our dinning table and we've been looking at videos for inspiration to give the internal decoration a bit of a 'lift'.  Quite whether anything comes of it remains to be seen.

During this time of cold and scarcity we've been leaving out dog food for the wildlife up at the end of our alley.  Our local fox has become a regular visitor, a buzzard has found the food and is remaining in the vicinity, deer and a hare show themselves occassionaly and we are also visited by a roaming 'farm' cat.

So now we wait ... and hope!

Winter's harsh grip

 It snowed last night, which doesn't happen too often for us.  So we were presented with some nice white scenery this morning.  However it is now the end of the afternoon and the snow has largely gone.

This cold spell is forecast to last a fornight (or so) with negative overnight temperatures.  Let's hope it is only a fornight and that Spring will begin !?

Out with the Old, In with the New

 Well we saw out the old year in style.  We went to the restaurant Delicatessens in Gourdon for a special New Year's Eve meal.

The meal began with nibbles served on a slate: spiced soft boiled egg in its shell, sweet potato chips with a dip and crispy cornets filled with paté.

The first starter was a fabulous Ceviche of Sea Bass.  This was the best dish of a great meal.

The second starter was a generous portion of Foie Gras !

For the main course we both chose the Pigeon, served on parsnip purée, garnished with trufle slices ... superbly cooked.

The cheese element was a Brie mousse on a chestnust and honey biscuit.

The dessert was chocolate shells, some filled with pineapple, some with a jasmin flavoured cream, served with coconut garnishes on an incredibly thin sheet of pineapple.  Lovely and light at the end of this incredible meal. 

 Except it wasn't finished as mignadises, sweet nibbles, accompanied the coffee!

 During the meal we were serenaded with music from a duo (guitar and trumpet) playing a selection of english and french songs.

We apologise for subjecting you to all of these photos of food ... we think it's a bit 'naff' but the meal was soooo good!