What a good year...

Looking back on 2015 we would have to say, again, that we are quite blessed. Like any year it has had its challenges, not least with Pauline's mum's and dear friends' health issues but we have come through relatively unscathed.
I have put together a slideshow of people, places and events that have made our year such a good one. Apologies to anyone I may have missed out. Thankfully, much of our time here revolves around good people -  family, friends, neighbours and guests at our holiday homes, all of whom make our lives what they are. The photographs imply that we do a lot of socialising and have music in our lives,which is quite true but we also have to work - but what a place to do it in!

We had much to be thankful for in 2015, a year when Pauline celebrated a 'special' birthday and we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. Miki,the owner of 'Le Bourg' made our anniversary year a bit special with her far too generous contribution to an unforgettable trip to her native Canada.

Next year, will again hold its challenges,  with people trying to make our adopted country less attractive to visit, plus our new work project, but we are up for it!

A huge thankyou to everyone who has been part of our year.

Barrou's Christmas lights...

Like most of the small villages here in Southern Touraine Barrou dresses itself up for Christmas...

This is their Christmas 'bush' in the square

and this is an example of their street lighting on Grande Rue

This is the trees on the riverbank, it is nice that they make the effort.

As do some of our neighbours on Grande Rue.

Sorry about the poor quality of the pics..

Accounting error...

As we walked along Boulevard Beranger on our recent visit to Tours we thought we spotted 'tree fellas' (sorry) up among the trees but then realised there were in fact only two.

Parking in Tours...

When we were up at Tours last week we spotted a couple of not so well parked cars.

Christmas afternoon in Le Grand Pressigny...

We were invited over to friends just outside Le Grand Pressigny for Christmas lunch so decided to stay overnight at Les Balcons so as we could walk to our host's house in the country.

The town was very quiet as we passed along Grande Rue..

It was an excellent afternoon for a walk...so much so that we were forced to remove our coats as we strode up into the countryside.

After an excellent lunch in good company we finished off the evening by taking pics.of the full moon.

Our host took this one of me taking one of the moon.

Christmas day in the 'Old Walnut Mill',Barrou...

The beautiful morning we had yesterday meant we could get outdoors and  enjoy a lovely Christmas day walk around Barrou.

 

We went along Grande Rue

and the banks of the Creuse...

through the village square...

and up behind the village.

Looking back down towards the village...

and west along the Creuse valley.

Back into the village past the church...

into 'The Old Walnut Mill'

and a reward of a sparkly apero before heading over to friends in  Le Grand Pressigny for Christmas lunch.

Now that's what I call Christmas...

Another great version of 'Angels we have heard on high'.

Happy Christmas everyone

A visit to Tours at Christmas...

We went up to Tours on  Tuesday, parked the car in Le Grand Pressigny at the bus stop at the Salles de Fetes and let the bus driver take the strain.

The city has been dressed for Christmas but we were up 'on business' though we took advantage of the occasion to visit their annual 'Marche de Noel'

The Christmas market is set up in 'Place du General Leclerc' in front of the railway station and bus station...

 and along Boulevard Heurteloup.These rows of little huts are now sadly synonymous with Christmas markets everywhere from London to Paris to Berlin to Glasgow...indeed most major cities.

What happens to them after Christmas? the odd one might get a 'festival gig' here and there but so many!

Papa Noel was doing the rounds...

as was the carousel.

It is only as the light fades that the lines of 'Festi-huts' take on a more festive look...

As like last year we didn't really see a lot of buying going on.

'Place Jean Jaures' was looking good

As was 'Rue Internationale'