Happy Birthday hubby..

Hubbys birthday.....what a treat, I decided to book into our favourite restaurant www.grange-aux-oies.com.  Superb setting, and such pretty grounds, and lots of activity from the Red squirrels ..

The restaurant is overlooked by the amazing www.Chateaunieuilhotel.com.

We had an apero of G&T....along with a Amuse-bouche....what a lovely way to start our Birthday lunch.

The Restaurant is modern and contemporary, but has a very welcoming atmosphere...the staff are very tentative, and very polite. The food is divine, and spectacularly presented..flavours bursting in your mouth, very mouth watering..   hope I wasn't drooling :-)

Here are a few photos so you can experience the occasion.... Bon appétit..

La Grange (The Barn) 'La Grange Aux Oies' is a delightfull place in front of the impressive Château Hôtel of Nieuil. Here, you will spend a pleasant moment in a friendly atmosphere thanks to a team full of consideration. Sitting at a table outside in the summer, in the shadow of a chestnut tree, or maybe by a fire place when the winter is coming in an original décor, combining old and contemporary. But 'La Grange Aux Oies', it is also a view on Art: in the restaurant, paintings and sculptures are at their place, as well as in the art gallery. The place looks like our way of thinking: a way of life in harmony with the nature. The kitchen garden, source of inspiration for an inventive cooking, an instinctive cooking! A typically French cooking thanks to our local producers. So do not hesitate, softly, enter in this peaceful world.

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..