Yes, Christmas is over and hopefully so is winter (more or less).
Firstly please accept our usual apologies for the delay in this update.
We are seriously thinking of changing to a quarterly update. Then we might
be in with a chance of actually meeting our own deadline! Watch this space!
Secondly - it seems that some people are under the mistaken impression that
Pamela writes these updates. In fact it is a team effort. David is the author
and Pamela is the editor. What usually happens is that David (who is the cameraman
aboard Lea Crest) chooses some interesting photos and then writes a narrative
to go with them. Pamela then proofreads/edits the text, combines it with the
photos and then uploads the file to the website. Simple!
So now that has been cleared up, on with our update, which this time is
a backlog of 30 pictures we meant to post on the site much sooner.
Our first photo is of Vivienne and Richard from New Zealand who live on
their boat JOHANNES on the next pontoon to us here in St Jean de Losne. We
try to have one evening each week together playing scrabble, dominoes, or
simply just having drinks and a good old chat. But whatever we do it is always
entertaining.
VIVIENNE AND RICHARD
This next photo is of an attempt to cook a good steak out on the pontoon.
But we don't think that the bars were getting hot enough. Won't be beaten
though and will try again soon.
STEAK OUT
Not sure where Richard was on this occasion but Vivienne came around for
a little company (called Gromit). Gromit's fan club really is becoming global!
GROMIT'S NEW FRIEND
On our Lundi promenade (Monday walk) we often walk to a nearby village called
Echenon and we pass by this group of Charolais cattle. As you can see from
this next photo, they are quite interested in any passers by and are very
vocal.
COW'S CHORUS
Even in the winter there are jobs that need to be done on the boats here
and often there is a need for a crane. But it helps if you get one that doesn't
fall over!
OOPS!
It was soon time for the "River Rats" Christmas dinner, which
this year was held in the village of Saint Aubin, a lovely village about 10
minutes drive away. The venue was a pretty little building which is very old
but superbly renovated and used by the local community for all sorts of events.
This year they even organised some French lessons, which have been very successful.
We offered to cook the meat this year and the next 2 photos show how it looked
before we did.
NICE RIBS
BIG BREAST
SAINT AUBIN
Unfortunately we do spend a lot of time socialising, so no apologies for
any future photos of such activities. This was Paul on DILLYKIM just sorting
things out before pouring us all a drink.
ALL TRIMMED UP
Whenever Paul and Val visit Grand Frais (our local super fruit, veg and
fresh fish shop) they always find some obscure item to bring home and here
you can see a prime example. What strange looking things!
STRANGE FRUITS
This autumn/winter we met Paddy and Liz for the first time. They have recently
moved into a little village just down the Saône, about 30 minutes drive
from St. Jean de Losne. Just after Christmas we were invited round for lunch,
it was of course very traditional fayre. Liz had obviously put lots of effort
into the day (although we are sure that Paddy played his part as well). But
the whole experience was just a little too much for the pets who seemed to
find it so tiring.
CREATURE COMFORT
Pamela's sister Pat was due to arrive at the end of December and the trip
to Geneva airport is much nicer than the one to Lyon. Over the Jura Mountains,
through some pretty ski resorts and eventually some beautiful views as you
descend to Lake Geneva. We decided this time that whilst we were in Switzerland
we would all benefit from a visit to Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva.
And just in time for lunch too - how fortunate!
MONTREUX
Of course it would be unthinkable to go to Montreux and not visit the statue
of Freddie Mercury. So we did just that!
PAT AND FREDDIE
As we said earlier, no apologies for the next photo, taken at a little get
together we had here on board Lea Crest.
MORE OF THE SAME
As you will no doubt agree, there is nothing quite so comforting as being
inside in the warm when it is cold outdoors. Our next photo shows just how
cold it can be here although this year it only got down to around -7 C overnight.
The photo was taken when winter was at its height and the water in the port
here froze over for a couple of weeks.
ALL SNUGGLED UP
But it is not all bad, especially when there is sunshine, and next is a
view from the other side of the harbour on just such a sunny day.
WINTER SUN
We decided this year to put some extra covers over the boat in an effort
to keep the roof clean and us warmer. As you can see, it didn't look very
pretty. But it worked and that is what matters!
ALL WRAPPED UP
There was plenty of sunshine to go with the cold temperatures this year,
making perfect conditions for getting out and about a little more. But of
course, mustn't forget to keep wrapped up.
ALL WRAPPED UP
This next photo is of the first part of the Canal de Bourgogne, which is
just round the corner from us. As you can see, the water in the canal was
frozen solid which must have been a bit of a bind for the people at the dry
dock who had to move boats in and out regardless. But with a bit of effort
they managed and just smashed through the ice as and when needed.
THE FROZEN NORTH
Over here in France (certainly in this part anyway) there is a tradition
in the month of January involving a cake called a Galette des Rois. It is
made of pastry and frangipane and contains a small pottery trinket. The cake
comes with a crown (made from gold coloured card) and the idea is that whoever
gets the little trinket is the king (le roi). That person can then wear the
crown and has good luck (It's a bit like putting a coin in a Christmas pudding
in the UK). In our next photo you can see Jeanne (the young girl under the
table) choosing who should have which piece of cake. Very fair don't you think?
GALETTE DES ROIS
This boat used to belong to our good friends Al and Robbie who are now back
in Australia. Things aren't quite the same around here without them and Gromit
certainly misses the president of his fan club (Robbie). So we just couldn't
resist putting this photo in, particularly as the boat is called ESCAPE (when
clearly that would not have been possible).
NO ESCAPE
As you may know, the French are famous for protesting about things they
don't agree with, or don't like the sound of, and they take their right to
free speech very seriously. Whoever did the writing on the surface of the
ice here was certainly keen to have his (or her) say!
FREE SPEECH
Apparently it is part of a localised protest against the suggested expansion
of Dijon airport to allow commercial flights to use it. It's a shame they
are protesting really as flights to and from the UK from Dijon would be ever
so handy for us. At any rate, here is another statement of opposition on a
different bit of the canal.
FROZEN BOURGOGNE
You will all have heard the expression "the show must go on".
Well over here it's the same principle for the bread. No matter what the weather,
the bread must be brought.
GIVE US OUR DAILY BREAD
The next 2 photos (taken by our friend Vivienne) are of a local inhabitant
foraging for food and as you can see there wasn't much of it about.
SLIM PICKINGS
The animal in question is called a coypu and luckily they are vegetarian
because this one was as big as a small dog. He (or she) lives on one of the
islands in the middle of the Gare d'Eau (the harbour) and it was really special
to actually see one in the flesh.
COYPU
In January we had a visit from Peter and Betty, who live in Mirfield where
we used to live back in the UK. They called to see us in their Camper Van
on their way down to Spain and we all had a great time catching up on things
back in Blighty. Here they are in the middle of Dijon.
PETER AND BETTY
Later in January there was a special Burns night supper at one of the local
restaurants with all the things you might expect, including genuine haggis
and whisky. But where were all the Scots?
Never fear …… Captain Ross is here! (looking suspiciously like
a waiter in this picture)
CAN'T GET THE STAFF
As you can see from the next photo, a good time was had by one and all.
HAPPY DAYS
The last of our 30 photos is of our friend Jean-Albert (a French man), supported
by his wife Jacqui (an English woman). He is playing a lament on the Northumbrian
pipes at a Scottish themed event (Burns Night/Supper) in France. Confused?
You soon will be!
SUCH A SAD LAMENT
Well that's it for this update and as usual we will promise to try and get
another done fairly soon. But as we said before, we are seriously thinking
of updating on a quarterly basis in future. After all, everyone must be fed
up by now with the same old topics for photos (boats, canals, bridges and
us having a good time)?
