Not everyone has time to go and gather their own holly in the forest so the gypsies sell ilt at the market. In Australia, it’s flown in! Comme tout le monde n’a pas le temps d’aller chercher son houx dans la forêt les gitans le vendent sur le marché. En Australie, il arrive par avion …
Monthly Archives: December 2015
Christmas Hankies – Mouchoirs de noël
I don’t know if many people still use handkerchiefs in France (or anywhere else in fact), but when they do, these Cholet handkerchiefs seen on the market in Blois just before Christmas, are considered to be the best choice.The history of the Cholet handkerchief goes back to the Vendée wars on the Atlantic coast of …
Joan of Arc in Blois – Jeanne d'arc à Blois
Yesterday, I mentioned the statue of Joan of Arc in Blois by American sculptress Anna Hyatt Huntingdon. I remembered having taken a photo two years ago (in better weather – it was August) in the bishop’s garden next to the town hall. It was very sunny so you can’t see her clearly but I know I …
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Diane in Blois
We found a new park in Blois on Sunday. I can’t wait to go back when the sun’s out. In the meantime, here is Diane of the Chase by Anna Hyatt Huntingdon. An article in our local paper, La Nouvelle République tells the story of how the Salon de Paris exhibition in 1910 refused to give first prize …
Santa at the Window – Père noël à la fenêtre
chirst I don’t remember seeing all these Santa Clauses climbing up the window when I was a child. The only Santa I ever saw was in David Jones department store in my home town of Townsville. Note the pun on the Krys Optician’s window! Je n’ai pas le souvenir d’avoir vu un tas de pères …
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The Official Bakery of Father Christmas – La boulangerie officielle du père-noël
Now, this one is a mystery. What on earth could be the signficance of this official bakery of Father Christmas in Blois? En voilà un mystère ! Que pourrait bien être la signification de cette boulangerie officielle du père-noël à Blois ?
Christmas in France's Oldest Prison – Noël dans la plus vieille prison de France
Beauvoir Tower in Blois was originally a keep surrounded by a moat. In 1256 it was attached to the town’s fortifications and became a prison in the 14th century. Today, local crafts were being sold for Christmas. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even sleep there! La tour Beauvoir à Blois est à l’origine un donjon entourée …
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Mulled Wine – Vin chaud
Manning a stand at the market is exhausting work at the best of times without when you have to put up with the cold in winter, a cup of mulled wine is a warming moment. Travailler sur le marché est épuisant même dans les circonstances les plus favorables mais quand il faut supporter le froid en hiver …
Christmas preparations – Préparations de noël
This week, we made our Christmas foie gras with friends (7 of us) using a recipe where the foie gras is kept in salt for 17 hours and doesn’t require cooking. You can find the recipe here. Cette semaine, avec des amis (on était sept) on a fait notre foie gras de noël avec une recette …
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The Big Cedar – Le grand cèdre
I took this photo on Sunday when we went to vote for the regional elections at the (now closed) school down the road. What a beautiful tree! J’ai pris cette photo dimanche lorsque nous sommes allés voter pour les conseillers régionaux à l’école (malheureusement fermée) dans notre rue. Quel bel arbre !