A treat in lovely Loches.

Lovely, if chilly, afternoon in Loches yesterday with Eileen treating us to a 50th anniversary present of a delicious lunch in 'Le George' .  

After lunch we braved the low temperature and went for a walk around the town.

A visit to Amboise.

 

They made us do it!

No need to dream...a White Christmas

 

White Christmas at Chateau de La Guerche this morning.

Christmas market at Le Grand-Pressigny.

 

On Saturday we headed over to Le Grand-Pressigny's Christmas market on a rather dreich morning but we were impressed with the number of stalls they had  attracted and managed to pick up some presents from local artisans and joined friends for a glass of vin chaud.

The atmosphere apparently picked up in the afternoon and evening with a colorful Christmas tractor Parade as the grand finale. 

We had dinner guests in the evening so had to miss out but had a fun night at home. BTW have we told you the house is for sale?😄

Mon banc dominical / My Sunday Bench - in Tours.

 Papa Noel takes a rest on Rue Nationale in Tours - it's going to be a busy week for him!

A walk in Chedigny...dressed for Christmas.

On Tuesday we headed over to Chedigny for a winter walk around the village to see it was dressed for Christmas. Even without the roses it is still very pretty.

Christmas is coming...in Loches.

 

Today at the big tree at Tours...

 

A trip to Tours as it prepares for Christmas.

Jigsaw girl...

Ada was delighted to receive this jigsaw from Graunty Eileen for Christmas, it won't be easy however!

 

Merry Christmas everyone...

 

Taken in Touraine...

 

The crib in Eglise Saint-Mandé-Saint-Jean in Ferriere-Larcon

Christmas costumery...

 

A Christmas day that started with pyjama games and had a prehistoric period ended with a bit of glam...all good looks I'd have to say!

Merry Christmas everyone...

We are not sending out cards this year but instead are making a donation to cancer charities. We have used this image as it shows one of the rare occasions when we were in France over the festive period. It was at the 'Old Walnut Mill' where we shared many happy times with dear friends who have continued to offer their kindness and support over the many years of our living in France. 

Trying to enter the Christmas spirit...

 

Yesterday we chose to venture out and visit some of the Christmas markets that were on offer - we stopped into the one that was set up within the maison de retraite on the outskirts of  Abilly - took a bit of locating - we  should have read the small print - as we thought it was in the village, the signs were there but wee bit confusing for us old folk! Anyways,glad we went, as managed to make a start to present buying. We then chose to head over to the one at Crissay-sur-Manse which we expected may not be up to much as it is a very small (but pretty) village.  

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As we thought, it proved to be underwhelming with only four stalls but it did have carol singers and a big Santa Clause! 

We had gone with the idea that if it proved not to be good we could always have another walk around the village itself,which we did,so not entirely a waste of time.