Bourdon Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 I just looked at the clock thinking it was around 9.45. It was 8.15 :/ What do you all do (keeping it clean of course :) in these dark winter evenings. Do you have winter time hobbies? I hate the change over from Summer to Winter and it always takes me a while to adjust :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Well it is a couple of weeks off as yet....The winter is at least a time when things such as clubs associations choirs etc are in full swing, things that fold just at the end of May/beginning of June.There is a cinema here, meetings and talks, although I confess I watch quite a bit of TV and film, as well as reading the things that are being judged for the season of literary prizes that happens around now (Goncourt Nobel Booker)I also do a bit of writing, just for myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG MAC Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 When I have cleared the mortgage in the UK then my French winter evenings will be spent fitting out my workshop for a year or so and then when I live there..restoring old Jap motorycles.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quillan Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Rugby, Boules and catching up on all the TV programs I recorded whilst working through the summer. Day work is painting bedrooms, renovating a bathroom, painting shutters. Off to Scotland at the end of the month for a couple of weeks walking (with Mrs 'Q' of course) as my BIL has a timeshare on the banks of Loch Lomond. First time I have visited so I am looking forward to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 I love the dark nights and don't really do anything much different to the things I do the rest of the year. I am happy in front of my fire though, with the curtains shut and when we lived in France, curtains AND shutters shut early to keep the dark out. And just shutters are so cold looking, I do like curtains.And yes, libido should go up in autumn and there is nothing wrong with that! Historically a good time to get pregnant. Baby born in late spring and early summer and thriving by the following winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bourdon Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 I am definitely a spring/summer person. I love being outside. Gardening, the lakes, walking in the woods, bbqs. I have a couple of big vegetable gardens and grow as much as I can in them and spend loads of time there just pottering around.This time of year is good for looking for mushrooms and the weather at the moment is great.For me, I can't wait for the winter months to be over and done with. As soon as the House Martin's and Swallows start getting ready to leave ( I have 25 nests around my house and barns) I know that winter is just around the corner.The good thing is, that here, there are still seasons and for some reason time goes by very fast. What season do you all prefer and why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bourdon Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 [quote user="NormanH"]I also do a bit of writing, just for myself.[/quote]If you don't mind me asking Norman, what sort of things do you write about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulT Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Probably bananas, hence not for public reading :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 [quote user="Bourdon"][quote user="NormanH"]I also do a bit of writing, just for myself.[/quote]If you don't mind me asking Norman, what sort of things do you write about?[/quote]Satirical attacks on right wing politics [:)]Quite true, not a wind up:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kong Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Whilst writing do you drink large mugs of tea? I'm thinking of the late, much missed, AWB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Strangely enough I do, although I didn't know that the great man did Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 He was not a great man, just a load of left wing blather. Never did anything except criticize, lousy as a minister. Would have better if he had written decent fiction instead of his brand of pseudo-intellectual garbage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kong Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Here we go - quick march: left, right, left, right..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Actually, it is a time to open up a new jig-saw, dust off the DVD collection, plan for various birthdays which fall in the winter, as well as the dreaded Xmas. And dust off a much abused manuscript. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kong Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 One of the joys of living in France is Xmas isn't as dreadful as it is in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 True but it is beginning to get rather similar.Last year there were preparations already underway in the second week of December [:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 The difference, IMNVHO, is that in France there is no spirit of Xmas whereas in UK there often can be (notice the roundabout phrasing in case Norman has a rant). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Come on Kong, how is that true. I spent 25 xmases in France (as we actually went back to the UK for a couple) and every year the stuff in the supermarkets was out earlier and earlier too. The first signs the being the papillotes, which maybe something that was particular to my old region, I believe they were at one time.From what I have gathered parents spend about 112€ per child and £112, so slightly more in the UK, but not that much.And the price of the fete itself. Well, I would say that my french friends spend more than any of my UK ones, and that includes the booze that is purchased in the UK. A proper reveillon is a VERY EXPENSIVE even when done at home and there are two of them to do. And if one eats out, well around us in a resto it was around €120 per person at least. It may be done differently, but these fetes being done in France doesn't make them any less commercial as far as I am concerened. And good for anyone who can have a reveillon for less than the amount I quoted, I wasn't talking about something in a salle de fetes although they were always around a 100€ too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Mine last year was 45€[URL=http://s253.photobucket.com/user/bfb_album/media/b9dc54a3-a213-4f7c-8e88-3cffb7881cce_zpsc5359f37.jpg.html][IMG]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh80/bfb_album/b9dc54a3-a213-4f7c-8e88-3cffb7881cce_zpsc5359f37.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 But Xmas is not just about food and gifts, is it, Idun? There has to be something else.In all the countries I ever lived in, it was never there, but back down in the West Country, it was and still is. A spiritual value that goes back way beyond Christianity. Call it a mid-winter feeling if you like that the light will soon begin to return and that meanwhile we can draw a blanket of comfort round outselves with good cheer, being that little bit nicer, even to Norman, that the demons of the forests and the hills and the wolves that howl, are nor going to get us.Ooops, running away with myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormanH Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 [URL=http://s253.photobucket.com/user/bfb_album/media/Scrooges_third_visitor-John_Leech1843_zps9269df9e.jpg.html][IMG]http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh80/bfb_album/Scrooges_third_visitor-John_Leech1843_zps9269df9e.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Looks like a very very nice menu NH something I could eat at any time of the year for a lovely treat and thoroughly enjoy. But a special reveillon menu is not what it is 'chez nous'. Simply not enough luxury courses. Where are the oysters, the smoked salmon, the lobster, the frogs legs, the coquille st jacques and the wine and champagne.Maybe it was regional and people from my bit of France were particularly gourmande, which would not surprise me. A food orgy was what it was for the deux fetes and rather expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kong Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 I'm sure a proper reveillon costs a bit, but round here people create a good xmas bash for a reasonable amount.What I was eluding to was that the supermarkets in the UK were putting up the xmas stuff in august, whilst here at least they wait until after Toussaint. I remember going into shops in October and being asked if I was ready for Christmas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Ah right.I didn't know that other regions of France did not do the two 'big' reveillon fetes. I really believed that these fetes were a fundamental part of french culture. I live and learn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bourdon Posted October 15, 2014 Author Share Posted October 15, 2014 I popped into my local Aldi yesterday. They have a whole range of Christmas chocolates and sweets on display Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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