The "old" year comes to a close.....

Wednesday turned out to be as wet and windy as the previous days and the short bursts of dry and sunny weather did not encourage much outdoor activity. A shopping trip to Esnandes and the Intermarche in Nieul sur Mer was about as much as we managed.
On the way back we took an excursion to see what activity there was on the development site that runs parallel to Rue des Ecoles. There are several lots where building has begun and a couple of house look completed and occupied. There are also two "blocks" that are up with rooves on but no "glass" as yet. (see the photo) and we reckon that these are the homes for rent to local people that we saw designated as part of the overall planing permission. It is a big site and will take quite some time to finish at this rate.

We took lunch in Le Relais de la Poste in Marsilly and thought eh bar was quiet lively we were the only two in the cafe. Two more people turned up before we left. Once again they are catering a do in the village hall for St Sylvester and this year's menu is focused on venison at 47 euro a head excluding drink. We are planning an evening at home.

In the late afternoon Michael Miller and Anne Marie came on a social visit on their way back from shopping in La Rochelle. We served them tea and scones and chocolate cake that (winter) Angela had baked in the afternoon. This was the first time we had met Anne Marie. They are very convivial company and we spent a pleasant hour with them. Thunder and lightening marked their departure.

We settled in front of the the log fire for an evening of reading, me White Tiger and AA (Angela/Anika) The Girls Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest, music, and a bit of telly.

It is early afternoon today December 31st and we have ventured out to make sure we have all we need for tonight and tomorrow. We dropped in to take a look at the restaurant at Chez Chocolat in Esnandes. We have made a reservation there for Saturday night so more on this later. AA has just set about lighting the kitchen heater and we pan a snack-lunch and Coq Au Vin for our very own St Sylvester feast tonight.
Of course somewhere in the world such as Sydney it is already 2010
Cheers
Happy New Year to all our readers