And from the Languedoc....a quick word

His Lordship is in the kitchen frying up mushrooms, chicken livers and bread soaked in duck fat. I've got my eye on a cold slice of turkey on a large chunk of hot toast followed perhaps by a small spoonful of Christmas pudding and crème anglaise, actually make that a large spoonful I've got rather a lot to do this afternoon and they do say that housework burns off the calories although I'm dubious.

We've had three days now of non-stop sunshine. Christmas Day was the prettiest though with a liberal dusting of frost and a piercing blue sky overhead. I'd kept the log fire burning but it really wasn't necessary. Bubbly was taken on the terrace and I gleefully took lots of pictures of the Christmas feast with the windows flung wide open to send to the Golden Oldies in Blighty although they seem to have disappeared into the computer.

The house is having a thorough airing for the New Years party that's going to take place. The beds are all made and pillows plumped, new ivy twined around the fireplaces and a fresh supply of chopped logs piled high. Yesterday I cut a magnificent bunch of mistletoe and winter greenery for the entrance hall.

I've just discussed the New Years Eve menu with the client. Five courses consisting of Fois Gras, Fruits de Mer, Roast Guinea Fowl, a selection of Cheeses, Chocolate Pots, gooey Meringues. I've had to sit down to take a breather, I feel ready for a doze just discussing it.

His Lordship is listening avidly. Turns out the client is in Madrid. I just knew what was going to come.

'Ask him to bring a bottle of Spanish sherry' he hisses.

He does this to me every time, his one saving grace being that he is a devil in the kitchen too !!

To the Manor Born

With only four full days left to Christmas most people would be slightly alarmed if they had not yet purchased any presents, given the Christmas menu due consideration or written a solitary card by hand. But me ? cool as a cucumber. There is after all plenty of time left and it's amazing what you can achieve if you get up early enough. And I should know.

His Lordship is just quickly 'refreshing' one of the bedrooms, 30sqm with the highest point of 5sqm and two whopping large beams that need 'feeding' by all accounts. A piece of Christmas cake you might think, I wonder what I'm going to do with the rest of my spare time ? knit a quick Christmas stocking ? It's a lovely room though affectionately known as the 'Spud Room' as its where the previous occupants of years ago used to do the chitting, (sorting out potatoes into trays to sprout), so it would be true to say there's always been plenty of energy in the room. It's now the dormitory of Le Chateau with far reaching views over the southern rooftops and the Montagne Noire in the distance.

So I shall leave you with this heavenly vision of pre Christmas life at Le Chateau. Far far below the Christmas tree lights glisten, you can just spot Father Christmas descending down the stairwell.

To everyone who has popped in to visit Sallys Chateau I wish you a peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year. I do so hope you will come and visit us one of these days for a holiday in the Languedoc, but for now I'm sure you will understand it's rather a flurry of activity here.

What else can I say ?

HO HO HO !!

'Tis the Season to be jolly ......

The dust has cleared and the new ceiling looks, well new, and vastly superior to the old one which did rather look old but not in a pleasing sense if we are honest, and you know that this blog is entirely honest and not contrived in any sense of the word. Oh no, what you see is what you get. Unless you happen to be behind the scenes of course !!

Struggled with tree as decorations jangled alarmingly as I positioned it nicely beside the fire, just to give my picture that 'touch of festivity'. Of course it can't stay beside the open fire it would go up in flames for heavens sake, artistic licence don't you know ? So okay hands up, slightly contrived.

My interior guru pops round for tea and brings a naughty selection of Christmas cakes, tiny logs covered in goo with a sprig of holly on for good measure. 'Keep the holly' His Lordship remarks, 'good for decorating the plum pudding. Considering his last plum puddings flames practically licked the ceiling I'm not sure if this is one of his better ideas.

Interior guru surveys the Sitting Room. 'You need to pop another sofa in here' she suggests and the piano needs to go into the Dining Room. The family groan and disperse rapidly.

Sudden cries of excitement have just emanated around Le Chateau. 'It's snowing' they announce. Languid teenagers appear out of a darkened room. 'Cool' 'It's cold enough' grumbles the Small Cross One and continues the laborious task of cleaning out a Nutella jar.

Snowing in the South of France ?

With the ski slopes of the Pyrenees a mere hour away looks like a spot of skiing could be on the cards this Christmas.

Christmas in a French Chateau

Hang on a minute I'll just fluff up my hair more and flick the mince pie crumbs off the soft yellow cashmere pullover I'm wearing. Where was I ? oh yes, Christmas is fast approaching and here at Le Chateau an all pervading air of calm and tranquility settles gently on its industrious occupants like soft snowflakes. Logs crackle contentedly on the open fire as the flames dance and twirl in the reflection of the shiny Christmas baubles, artistically hung from the mantelpiece. Above twined amongst the candles is an abundance of ivy freshly cut from the garden. Huge swaths of holly, rich in red berries burst forth from painted white jugs. Simmering gently on the Aga the mulled wine sits ready to offer a glass of seasonal good will to any visitor filling the house with the aroma of heady spices.

In the deep freeze dozens of home made mince pies, labelled obviously in baking date, jostle for space next to the prepared brandy butter and bread sauce. All the presents are wrapped in hand painted paper stowed carefully away in a secret corner of Le Chateau away from curious excited eyes.

'Is there anything we can do to help Mother dearest' ? rings through the air. 'Come along Darling, don't tease me anymore, you simply must tell me what your heart most desires this Christmas' His Lordship croons.

The sound of a horn being blown heralds the arrival of the builder. 11 days to go to Christmas and His Lordship is gripped in a fervour of home improvement. Scaffolding is strategically placed at a dizzying height at the very pinnacle of the grand staircase. A slight swirling of plaster dust hovers on the shafts of sunlight beaming down through the skylight before settling on everything in sight. Today apparently, a paint sprayer is being used to paint the impossibly large area of wall. It has occurred to me that had I had the wit to use one of these machines in the first place I might have saved myself at least two years work. Everything needs to be covered as the paint might, and I'm quoting the builder here, cover other things too. At the end I am assured the ceiling of my Chateau will be transformed. 'Everything will be just dandy for the guests arriving for Christmas' and here I quote the husband.

I've been giving it some more serious thought as to what Father Christmas could give me this Christmas. I've been terribly good all year and worked very hard. The business has taken off, looking back on 2007 there have been some interesting learning curves.

'Hindsight' I say, 'I think I would like hindsight for my Christmas present'

Hand painted tiles

The jolly post lady arrived this morning clutching an interesting looking parcel. Interesting insofar as it didn't have one of those nice little clear windows on the front thus dispensing with the need to open it if you didn't like the look of the sender.

It was my very first Christmas present, and possibly the only one and I decided to open it immediately as it didn't have any of the usual bossy notices attached. 'Do not open before Christmas' 'No peeping says Father Christmas' 'excess postage to pay' etc etc.

I was absolutely thrilled with the contents. Inside was a beautiful hand painted tile from my very talented friend Un Peu Loufoque, translating as, A little crazy which readers of her excellent blogspot can verify. I was slightly mystified as to why she had sent me the one entitled 'Boozy' but nevertheless deeply grateful that I had been bestowed one of her very talented pieces in the first place. I personally think it would have been far more appropriate under the circumstances to portray me as the lady hanging out all the washing whilst it is being vigorously blown by the wind, one of her four tile panals, but I don't wish to nitpick. Not only is she a writer of wit but does divine hand painted tiles, many of which are individually commissioned. Even now as we speak there is a splendid panel making its way across the English Channel for a discerning client to be displayed behind an Aga cooker.

She once inquired as to whether Le Chateau wouldn't benefit from a scenic display behind our Aga but she got short thrift from me. 'I know your game' I said, 'it's a free holiday in the Languedoc you're after. Soon afterwards due to the launch of her gorgeous website she became too busy to offer 'freebies' so in that respect we now share a common bond !!

I know that you are all hoping that I'm going to post yummy pictures up of roaring log fires, candles flickering, a fat basted turkey, a la Delia Smith for you to feast your eyes upon. You want the aroma of spices and woodsmoke to waft seductively through the computer screen, you want to feel the full experience of Le Chateau at Christmas. I hardly know what to say other than watch this space.

Tonight we have a raging gale with lashings of rain. The house is being buffeted this way and that and the shutters are groaning constantly. It's a seriously wild night.

Time to throw another log on the fire and fill up the glass with some fine red wine and thanks to the skill of Unpeuloufoque you can picture that very well .....

Fairy Cakes

The Christmas weekend went incredibly well here at Le Chateau, otherwise I wouldn't dare mention it !! The house looked divine, the lights worked on the Christmas Tree and His Lordship and I got a standing ovation after our delicious Christmas Dinner was served. The crowning glory was the holly catching light in a spectacular fashion on top of the Plum Pudding but then I did rather think he overdid the cognac. After lunch on Sunday they all sat outside in the warm sunshine and played boules for we had the most calm and beautiful day. When our guests left after having thanked us profusely I plonked myself on top of the Aga with a glass of something chilled. Aga owners will realise that this is what the left hand plate is for on the top !! Just as exhaustion was settling itself upon my weary bones The Small Cross One announced she was going to make fairy cakes. I hadn't the heart to discourage her but secretly hoped I wouldn't be left with all the clearing up afterwards.

I needn't have worried, the child produced the most scrumptious fairy cakes I have tasted in a long while. The sponge was light, airy and melted in your mouth. The icing with a hint of lemon gave just the right tang, the decorations for some reason had us giggling uncontrollably.

Afterwards as the embers died down from the enormous non stop fires in the sitting room we curled up together and watched the Antiques Roadshow.