Saturday, 26 December 2015

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...




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

Friday, 25 December 2015

Now that's what I call Christmas...


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

Happy Christmas everyone

Thursday, 24 December 2015

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'


Wednesday, 23 December 2015

Tuesday, 22 December 2015

Monday, 21 December 2015

Saturday, 19 December 2015

Friday, 18 December 2015

Something for the weekend...



On Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th December, from 6pm to 10pm, the castle and its gardens will be decorated with thousands of candles to celebrate the magic of Christmas. 












Tuesday, 15 December 2015

Poster post...


In the spirit of Christmas...our son Michael has produced this poster to promote the annual Christmas gig (sold-out) of the band (Kid Canaveral) he and his partner Rose play in.

He has used a poster that they bought at a brocante in Angles sur l'Anglin and superimposed the band member's faces onto the characters. Michael is the boy watching the train, Rose is the lady in the green coat, Kate is the lady in the bluecat, Scott is on the rocking horse and Dave is blowing the trumpet...all with strangely heavy growths for ones so young. 


Sunday, 13 December 2015

Carol singing at the 'Marche de Noel' at the chateau in La Celle-Guenand.




First gig of the carol singers...at the 'Marche de Noel' at the chateau in La Celle-Guenand, great fun, for us anyway..Jane (Henderson) did a  great job of dressing us! This is after only three rehearsals BTW (can you tell).


Our next outing is at the 'Marche de Noel' in Le Grand Pressigny on Monday 21st around 5.00 pm.



Thursday, 10 December 2015

Spoilt for choice this weekend for Christmas markets...




All going well we should be at La Celle-Guenand on Saturday as I'm joining the carol singers for some renditions of some traditional English and French carols...after 3.00pm if you care to join us.






 

We would also recommend Ferrière-Larçon's market on Sunday if only to see how they adapt the church.to accommodate part of it.


Friday, 4 December 2015

Something for the weekend...Christmas markets



Saturday 5th December




PREUILLY-SUR-CLAISE

Christmas Market - Local produce and handicrafts,carriage rides, fairy make-up and sale of trees. Place du Champs de Foire from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm 

VILLENTROIS (36)  MARCHÉ DE NOËL


8.00 am – 7.00 pm

Brocante - Vide greniers
Venue du Père Noël
6.00 pm : Free concert "Les chants du Fouzon" en l'Eglise de Villentrois

8.00 pm : Repas Berrichon (15€)


CHAMBOURG-SUR-INDRE 

Christmas Market - Various artists and artisans traders. 4.00 pm: Children's Choir School Chambourg. Photo with Santa (€ 1) - Place de la Mairie from 2:30 pm to 10.00 pm

LA LIEGE

Christmas Market - knitwear, crochet, cards, and embroidery. Salle socioculturelle 2.00 pm - 6.00pm 

Sunday 6th December

CHEMERY 

Christmas Market - Cloître de l’Abbaye


Tuesday, 1 December 2015