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| Yorkshire on the up! |
What else is there to say? - It tasted good of course.
Here is a photo of the chef with Lilly, the newest baby at church.
Ahh
Monday, 30 January 2012
Yorkshire
Pud that is.
There must be something about the flour in France, or perhaps the French oven? But either way June says it has never risen like this before!
What else is there to say? - It tasted good of course.
Here is a photo of the chef with Lilly, the newest baby at church.
Ahh
What else is there to say? - It tasted good of course.
Here is a photo of the chef with Lilly, the newest baby at church.
Ahh
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Gasson Hunting
If you are not a Gasson, yet you may still be interested in this little history...
June is a Gasson (by birth). So whilst the cat (ie me) was away in Paris she spent the morning looking up the Gassons of France. Most appear to have died over 100 years ago. However there are some left and then to her surprise, there was one in Vitry le François. A shop owner. With a Google map. Right across the square from where we live.
Well the cat came home early for once and it was still light. We decided to pay a visit to the shop and look for the name. Here it is.
We looked in the window but there is no indication that a Gasson owns it. Still it looked interesting with all sorts of books and artist materials so we decided to go in.
It is an Aladdin's cave with nooks and crannies. I think the proprietors may have busied themselves on the shelves near our browsing because we clearly were just wandering round. So I was close to the older lady when the shop assistant asked "madam Gasson" something.
What an opportunity! "Excusez moi" I said, "mais est vous Mme Gasson", "oui" she replied, "Donc, Mme Gasson, ce ci est Mme Gasson" I said pointing to June. (Madam Gasson, this is Madam Gasson) - people who know us will realise this is a slight twisting of the truth, June is in fact Mme Westoby, but it was too good a line to miss because of a detail!
"Vraiment?!" she exclaimed - yes it was true, and after I had put the detail right, her husband joined us an we had a jolly good chat. They were very surprised (and pleased) that there were Gassons in England. Something to do with William the Conqueror we thought. Were we tourists? No we live across the square. More amazement!
They were charming and friendly and we bought a book that will teach us the French times to plant our pottager (allotment) - if we get enough time down there! Actually it's a planned event; with June's brother planning to visit us just before Easter to do just that- plant up the vegetable garden. It is as well to be prepared.
June is a Gasson (by birth). So whilst the cat (ie me) was away in Paris she spent the morning looking up the Gassons of France. Most appear to have died over 100 years ago. However there are some left and then to her surprise, there was one in Vitry le François. A shop owner. With a Google map. Right across the square from where we live.
Well the cat came home early for once and it was still light. We decided to pay a visit to the shop and look for the name. Here it is.
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| The bookshop at Vitry |
It is an Aladdin's cave with nooks and crannies. I think the proprietors may have busied themselves on the shelves near our browsing because we clearly were just wandering round. So I was close to the older lady when the shop assistant asked "madam Gasson" something.
What an opportunity! "Excusez moi" I said, "mais est vous Mme Gasson", "oui" she replied, "Donc, Mme Gasson, ce ci est Mme Gasson" I said pointing to June. (Madam Gasson, this is Madam Gasson) - people who know us will realise this is a slight twisting of the truth, June is in fact Mme Westoby, but it was too good a line to miss because of a detail!
"Vraiment?!" she exclaimed - yes it was true, and after I had put the detail right, her husband joined us an we had a jolly good chat. They were very surprised (and pleased) that there were Gassons in England. Something to do with William the Conqueror we thought. Were we tourists? No we live across the square. More amazement!
They were charming and friendly and we bought a book that will teach us the French times to plant our pottager (allotment) - if we get enough time down there! Actually it's a planned event; with June's brother planning to visit us just before Easter to do just that- plant up the vegetable garden. It is as well to be prepared.
Sunday, 11 December 2011
Christmas Fayre
Or "Fête de Noël" here in France.
This weekend the amusements in the square started up. All jolly good fun, and rather like going back in time for us. It was even cold (but not wet) to add to the atmosphere.
There is a merry-go-round (the same one as is usually here) for the children, and a new event, the toboggan slide. Actually they are large and rather heavy rings that the children themselves have to drag to the top of the slope. They have also added some mats on the route to slow the descent somewhat. It appeared to be popular!
So too was the candy-floss, especially as the portions appeared huge. We plumped for the hot mulled wine after first buying local honey at another hut. We were rather attracted by the welcome sign that read "Come in we're OPEN". And one of the ladies did speak English. Apparently we were their first customer. Not surprising with the welcome sign being as it was.
And then the French decorate the event. This time with polar bears, arctic foxes, penguins and seals in a snowy scene. All lit up when we returned later after dark, and the merry-go-round added mist, very effective.
Further up the road the city 'gate' was lit up. It is on a roundabout but still worth decorating. Here are the snaps:
Sunday afternoon.
The afternoon was remarkable because we went to the advertised gospel choir in Chalons. By experience we knew this would probably be in English; and it was. Also by experience we knew that, despite no advertised price, we might need to find an entrance fee; we didn't.
It was free, and very good. The soloists had superb voices and there was a wide range of music. The leader also explained the origins of the music and the meaning of the gospel. And they were there to chat to us afterwards with biscuits, bibles and big smiles.
In fact the event was so popular that it quickly overflowed the meeting room. The choir decided to put on a second event straight after the first on for all those who could not get in first time. We just squeezed in to the first event, but it was standing room only at the back for Terry and June got a seat only because children were asked to sit on their parent's laps.
No photos, but great memories!
This weekend the amusements in the square started up. All jolly good fun, and rather like going back in time for us. It was even cold (but not wet) to add to the atmosphere.
There is a merry-go-round (the same one as is usually here) for the children, and a new event, the toboggan slide. Actually they are large and rather heavy rings that the children themselves have to drag to the top of the slope. They have also added some mats on the route to slow the descent somewhat. It appeared to be popular!
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| Welcome, we sell sweet things! |
And then the French decorate the event. This time with polar bears, arctic foxes, penguins and seals in a snowy scene. All lit up when we returned later after dark, and the merry-go-round added mist, very effective.
Further up the road the city 'gate' was lit up. It is on a roundabout but still worth decorating. Here are the snaps:
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The afternoon was remarkable because we went to the advertised gospel choir in Chalons. By experience we knew this would probably be in English; and it was. Also by experience we knew that, despite no advertised price, we might need to find an entrance fee; we didn't.
It was free, and very good. The soloists had superb voices and there was a wide range of music. The leader also explained the origins of the music and the meaning of the gospel. And they were there to chat to us afterwards with biscuits, bibles and big smiles.
In fact the event was so popular that it quickly overflowed the meeting room. The choir decided to put on a second event straight after the first on for all those who could not get in first time. We just squeezed in to the first event, but it was standing room only at the back for Terry and June got a seat only because children were asked to sit on their parent's laps.
No photos, but great memories!
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Fire in the Wood
Ok, this is a little old, but we did visit Chalons en Champagne in December 2011 to see the notable Christmas fair. There were some nice things on offer, at the usual "not knocked down at all" French prices. But one man was demonstrating French Canadian woodsman/tracker skills.
He set up a hut opposite the marie and lit his fire- a most remarkable method.
Take a look at the photo below. Then imagine starting by cutting the log with a chain saw cross-wise from the top. The fire is lit in the centre and burns inside!
It was a very welcome warm moment on a chilly day!
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| A woodsman's hut |
Take a look at the photo below. Then imagine starting by cutting the log with a chain saw cross-wise from the top. The fire is lit in the centre and burns inside!
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| A warm feeling inside |
Friday, 2 December 2011
Vitry Lights
Not quite the Northern Lights, but pretty just the same, and much more dependable.
I did think they had come on a couple of days ago. Early morning, I was opening the shutters and saw the lights on. Later June looked out to see them and despite the night still being dark, there they were, off. And off all that night at the end of the day too. I imagine I must have spotted the test turn on!
So today, Friday 2nd Dec, they turned on properly and I took some photos. Here are a couple of shots. There are more on the link. Photo Album of Christmas Lights:
I did think they had come on a couple of days ago. Early morning, I was opening the shutters and saw the lights on. Later June looked out to see them and despite the night still being dark, there they were, off. And off all that night at the end of the day too. I imagine I must have spotted the test turn on!
So today, Friday 2nd Dec, they turned on properly and I took some photos. Here are a couple of shots. There are more on the link. Photo Album of Christmas Lights:
Saturday, 19 November 2011
Colmar
Colmar is south of Strasbourg and we went there for somewhere to go. The old town was something of a picture as you can see below.
Colmar was preparing for Christmas. Market stalls and rides were being set up everywhere, but since this was November still, it was all yet to open.
Pictures (and sometimes captions) speak for themselves.
This last shot was when it was almost dark, but it had to be tried. It really was this colour.
We will be back.
Colmar was preparing for Christmas. Market stalls and rides were being set up everywhere, but since this was November still, it was all yet to open.
Pictures (and sometimes captions) speak for themselves.
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| The huge church - The patterned roof is typical |
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| The river runs noisily below the street level |
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| Decorated stalls are everywhere |
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| The Little Venice area |
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| A ski and sled log cabin - appears to be created new for the season. |
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| The self-named "Romantic" restaurant |
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| Setting up. This ride is a reindeer monorail.... |
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| Old and beautiful house and roof |
We will be back.
Monday, 14 November 2011
Travel Home
Or not to travel home - if the rail strikers had their way!
Clare chose Tuesday 8th November to go back to England by rail. Strike day as it happened and her train was cancelled. It looked to be running when we checked Monday 7th, but on the day it did not run.
But we did!
First we checked trains from Reims. They had to arrive in Paris in time for Clare's Eurostar connection. There was one, in 50 minutes. But Reims is 80 minutes away by car.
The train went via Épernay, 70 minutes away, but from Épernay the train departed 30 minutes later. We jumped in the car. We drove, without speeding, toward Épernay, keeping an eye on the destination time on the GPS. The time was good, so when the GPS took us via a short-cut we kept to it.
We parked with 10 minutes to spare- time to get the ticket printed. I queued (in case the machine refused the reference; it was the wrong station after all!), and Clare accessed the automatic ticket machine. It worked, the machine printed the ticket so we abandoned the queue for the singe assistant on duty, and found the platform.
And so Clare caught her train to Paris to arrive at Gare de l'Est with 25 minutes to walk the 10 minutes to Gare du Nord. Would she make it? She arrived in Paris at about the same time we arrived back by car. This time the GPS decided to take us the slow country route. Glad it didn't do that earlier! Since she was probably busy before the train left I sent a text only after the departure time.
Later I received the reply. "Took the wrong turn out of the station and missed my train. Because of the strike, they put me on the next one at no extra charge." Just an hour later back in England, that's all.
The fall back plan to go the next day saw 50% of trains also cancelled, so better this way I think.
Clare chose Tuesday 8th November to go back to England by rail. Strike day as it happened and her train was cancelled. It looked to be running when we checked Monday 7th, but on the day it did not run.
But we did!
First we checked trains from Reims. They had to arrive in Paris in time for Clare's Eurostar connection. There was one, in 50 minutes. But Reims is 80 minutes away by car.
The train went via Épernay, 70 minutes away, but from Épernay the train departed 30 minutes later. We jumped in the car. We drove, without speeding, toward Épernay, keeping an eye on the destination time on the GPS. The time was good, so when the GPS took us via a short-cut we kept to it.
We parked with 10 minutes to spare- time to get the ticket printed. I queued (in case the machine refused the reference; it was the wrong station after all!), and Clare accessed the automatic ticket machine. It worked, the machine printed the ticket so we abandoned the queue for the singe assistant on duty, and found the platform.
And so Clare caught her train to Paris to arrive at Gare de l'Est with 25 minutes to walk the 10 minutes to Gare du Nord. Would she make it? She arrived in Paris at about the same time we arrived back by car. This time the GPS decided to take us the slow country route. Glad it didn't do that earlier! Since she was probably busy before the train left I sent a text only after the departure time.
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| A photo from Clare's visit - nothing to do with the dash for home! |
The fall back plan to go the next day saw 50% of trains also cancelled, so better this way I think.
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