View from the Back
Ramblings of a retiree in France
One from the vaults: Plans awry
For today’s post, I’m going back to 2015 and reflecting on our Christmas arrangements. TBH, not much has changed though we did have a wee pre-Xmas break in Austria – more of which later!
Our festive period tends to follow a pattern. We entertain friends the week-end before and then spend the entire period cycling plenty of kilometres, to wear off the additional calories, returning to work in the New Year, batteries recharged.
I’m not, and never have been, a fan of Christmases en famille. As children we never had table busting family Christmases. Frankly, not enough relatives. My father was an orphan and while my mother had living relatives, her older sister and mother whom we saw at least once a week, so there was no need to spend Christmas Day with them. Though we would, of course, see them over the festive period.
Initially, we spent Christmas with friends of my parents but, once they had children of their own, we spent the day chez nous. First as a foursome and then, after the arrival of my youngest sister Jane, a quintet. Occasionally, I recall, we’d have Christmas Day lunch at a hotel or restaurant. But with a Mum who was a fantastic cook and hostess, and a father in the food trade, why would you?
In all our many, many years of marriage (44 now), we’ve had a total of eight family Christmases, only one of which was with the outlaw (mother-in-law). A few of you may be wondering, somewhat enviously, how I managed this. I cannot claim any real credit. Rather it was all down to my mother-in-law’s lack of ability in the kitchen. Her cooking carried a government health warning. Would you want to spend Christmas with her? No, me neither! Given half a chance my beloved would have spent every Christmas with my family – my mother used to dote on him – with whom we’ve spent seven Christmases, the last one here in France back in 2005.
It was memorable for a number of reasons. We finally persuaded my father that my mother’s forgetfulness and sudden-found shy reticence was the result of Alzheimer’s not a personality change. The newly installed dishwasher in the new kitchen sprang a leak on Christmas Eve and I had to wash up by hand throughout the entire festive season. My parents spent three weeks with us, my sisters and my one brother-in-law only stayed a week but, at the end of those three weeks, I was exhausted from waiting on everyone hand and foot. I still recall my beloved cuddling up to me in bed, the day my parents left, saying: “Haven’t we had a wonderful Christmas and New Year?” My response was unrepeatable!
I have spent a number of Christmases working – one of the perils of being in Finance. But we’ve enjoyed more abroad, skiing in either Austria, Germany or Switzerland or relaxing in warmer climates such as Spain, Dubai and Arizona.
Since moving to France, in recent years, we’ve settled into a bit of a routine with the bikes. Christmas Eve we indulge in our usual oysters and champagne – very French! Christmas Day we dine at a local restaurant. This year we ate warm, home-made, cinnamon buns for breakfast and enjoyed a ride in the bracing air which gave us a good appetite for lunch, followed by a brisk walk along the sea-front in the sunshine. Pretty much all according to plan.
Boxing Day, my beloved and I both went down with a gastric-flu type of bug. We were laid low for several days which left us far too weak to cycle or indeed do much of anything. It was only on New Year’s Eve that we once more felt almost back to normal, though we didn’t see in the New Year. New Year’s Day, we enjoyed afternoon tea at a hotel overlooking the sea. It was afternoon tea French style, teeny-weeny pastries with tea, not a scone in sight. We had planned to stay and watch the fireworks but after enjoying the sunshine, felt chilled as soon as the sun set. We hurried back home to a bowl of hot soup.
We may not have logged the hoped for kilometres but we’ve gotten an early start with the New Year detox and reorganised a lot of drawers and cupboards. The late Wallis Simpson allegedly said “You can never be too rich, or too thin.” To which I would like to add, “or ever have enough storage space.” I’m going to be busy recycling this coming week, which will leave me with a warm, self-satisfied glow.
View from the Back 
Sounds like you always enjoyed your Christmases Sheree. Hope you’ve recovered from your bug. We spent NYE isolating in the UK and were in bed by 9 due to jet lag, but my parents neighbours had fireworks going from 7 pm until the small hours!
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This year was no different, thanks Alison.
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So glad you recovered Sheree. Looks like fun outing .
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It was, thanks
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cute snowman!
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😎
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I’m glad you enjoyed the festive period in the way that suits you best.
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Thanks Sue
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I’m pleased you seem to have recovered. Good luck with recycling
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Thanks Derrick
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