Monday 26 January 2015

A frosty sunny morning for a walk..



'Shall we go for a walk" I asked my husband....

Well I didn't expect it to be so long, especially with not being prepared. I was trying out a new route for my Nordic walks that I do with a friend. We usually do about 5 kilometers...this walk took us over 9 kilometers...I have to say I was shattered, and after only having a light breakfast,  it was now past lunch time.. Jelly legs kicked in.. :-/









....nothing a good English Breakfast couldn't put right :-)






Having said that, the walk was beautiful, blue sky a sharp frost and glorious sunshine...

















Robbie Burns Supper..

Robbie Burns




A very well known Poem by Robbie Burns... A Red, Red Rose..


O my Luve's like a red, red rose

That's newly sprung in June; 
O my Luve's like the melodie
That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I:
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry:

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun:
I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare thee well, my only Luve
And fare thee well, a while! 
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho' it were ten thousand mile. 





We celebrated Robbie Burns, with a superb Haggis Supper at our local restaurant Cafe Portebleue in our village.

 The Haggis was addressed traditionally with the "Address to a Haggis" verse and the teller in full Highland regalia .




Address to a Haggis:




Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o the puddin'-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye worthy o' a grace
As lang's my arm.
The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o need,
While thro your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.
His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An cut you up wi ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin, rich!
Then, horn for horn, they stretch an strive:
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
The auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
'Bethankit' hums.
Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi perfect scunner,
Looks down wi sneering, scornfu view
On sic a dinner?
Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as a wither'd rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Thro bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!
But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll make it whissle;
An legs an arms, an heads will sned,
Like taps o thrissle.
Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies:
But, if ye wish her gratefu prayer,
Gie her a Haggis


Our food was delicious, and the Haggis exceptional..... Each year a quiz is performed, and the questions Scottish related...and so far, including this year, our Team have won...our 3rd Year... :-)... our prize: a bottle of fine Brandy...  :-) 












We are having 2 celebration Suppers this year...another at a friends at the end of this week....a great occasion with some great friends...very much looking forward to it..







Saturday 10 January 2015

Happy New Year...bringing in 2015..








New Year 2015 saw us bring it in with family. My sister & brother-in-law, and my brother & sister-in-law....

Hubby cooked a superb 8 course meal, something he is very good at...again a copious amount of food & drink...starting off with Oysters and Pink Champagne..






















Should have then been Petit Fours and coffee..but no room left :-)





We have in our village a very quaint Wine Bar, the building is dated back to the 16th Century...a beautiful building with a large Inglenook fireplace. We would all sit around wine tasting, toasting around the open log fire......an amazing ambience to the place...and a little treasure find for us..










New Years day we were invited to friends...they have a super party every year, we all had an amazing time...excellent food as well..







After the New Year we had a lovely Tapas evening at home and invited friends and neighbours..a great way to start the New Year... lots to eat and drink and some great laughs..the food was a great success too..
















We even managed to fit in a meal at one of our favourite restaurants......more food & drink :-)

















At last some lovely walks in glorious blue sky and sunshine...








                     ....out with the old, in with the new, may you be happy the whole year through...