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A look back at 2021

Hello Everyone

Happy New Year again. I hope you all had an enjoyable start to the year? We had a very quiet evening: supper, a movie and then toasted the New Year in with Chateau Bourguet’s ‘Bulles d’Alayrac’ (sparkling wine from our local vineyard), while watching fireworks at Chantilly (the armchair version for us). On Sunday we had our recently widowed neighbour for a belated New Year’s lunch, which I hope she enjoyed although she says the portions I serve are too large!

I have decided to take a little time this year to reflect on the last year and work out my resolutions for 2022. Last year was quite overwhelming at times – too many plates to spin. I am usually quite adept at managing stress but seemed to have reached saturation point. Time to look after myself a little better I think. It is also high time we sorted out more storage cupboards in the house – project number 1 for 2022! The lack of storage does not make for a tidy house, and it doesn’t help that at times it feels like we are camping here!

So here we are – another year over, a new one beginning. 2022. 2021 was again overshadowed for everyone by the global pandemic. There were, however, lots of goings-on here at our petit château and some lovely memories.

Last year I suggested using a memory jar. We started but life overtook us and we didn’t carry on with it, so I am going to try again this year. Did anyone else do this?

As they say on Strictly – the results in no particular order:

  • A source of entertainment and joy has been watching our 4 rescue kittens grow into very individual and gorgeous young cats, each with its own character. At times also a source of exasperation…
  • Bear the rescue Carpathian Mountain dog (we think) also continues to grow – now 46kg. He is a lovely dog at heart, but has become a little jealous of the cats and taken a bit of a dislike to Louka. Another problem to tackle in the coming weeks.
  • We have not really had the chance to visit many places but did manage a few brocantes, vide-maisons and a wine tasting visit.
  • We opened up the staircase in the tower and Max fixed the belvedere floor, a great spot for an evening aperitif (when it is warm!).
  • We uncovered a stone basin/bath of sorts in the garden
  • A late frost meant most of our fruit trees were hit, so no fruit, bar one cherry! Vineyards across France were hit badly by the late frost, with scenes of fires being lit amongst vines to stave off the frost on the news.
  • We discovered wild asparagus, a local delicacy, and went on many a forage for it. We even found it in our little copse!
  • We bought/acquired some lovely pieces of furniture to renovate and bits and pieces to go in the house and garden, including the lovely urns, now planted with spring bulbs.
  • The vegan recipe repertoire expanded and we experimented with carrot top and radish top pesto.
  • Max finished painting all the garden table and chairs pale blue to match the shutters – it all looks very smart now.
  • Lots of jam and chutney making. The locals are now getting to grips with chutney – so far nothing but positive reviews!
  • There were sad times and happy times, and now the challenge of rethinking our plans a little.
  • The house keeps giving us further gifts of problems to sort out and we made the various attics and cellar a little cosier with a complete coat of insulation. When I say we, I really mean that it was done for us.
  • As ever fabulous sunrises, sunsets, night skies, and a night time outing to watch a meteor shower, including an encounter with a badger.
  • And so many beautiful flowers…
  • I found my dream car (and was so colour co-ordinated!), but had to also deal with our actual car being hit by a lorry in a freak accident.
  • Max caught Covid and was quite ill. It then took over 3 months to regain his sense of taste and smell.
  • I managed a couple of very brief trips to the UK after a long absence.
  • I discovered through bitter experience that cat bites are quite dangerous.
  • My French vocabulary continues to expand in areas I never imagined I would need to know. Cat bites, infected fingers, x-rays, blood tests….and many DIY areas, things I am not sure I even knew in English. Max is making good progress with his French too.
  • The weather has been bizarre: late frosts, warm when it should be cold, cold when it should be warm, torrential rain, spectacular storms. A real sign of climate change and something we need to take very seriously.

This is a snapshot of some of the things we have experienced in 2021. Onwards to 2022 and more adventures. Not forgetting coffee and chocolatines, and patisseries galore!

Join me again at the end of the week when I will be updating you on my plans for the blog.

Have a great week and take care.

A bientôt

Ali xx

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