November continued to be cold, windy and wet. The river Hers overtopped the little bridge for the second time this year, though locals say it hasn’t done so for the last thirty years!Halfway through the month we even had a couple of days of snow. This didn’t stop the hens from laying, however!Recovery from the surgery on the nose seemed to take longer than expected, but breathing does seem to be getting easier and there’s no sore throat most mornings. However, the surgeon isn’t ready to sign me off and feels a bit more radio / laser treatment may still be helpful. That would be under local anesthetic.

After that grim November, December, by contrast, has until now been beautiful with blue skies and warm sunshine after frosty nights. Unfortunately this is due to break on Christmas day! We combined one of our visits to the clinic at Colombiers with taking Harry to the Motorhome centre at Narbonne where, FINALLY!, he got his new skylight! Hurrah!  While waiting for the job to be finished wo took the opportunity to go down to Narbonne Plage in the last of the daylight:

Not the best photo ever! The sculpure represents a wave and the old man was caught by surprise with his leg hurting! That’s another issue due to be resolved, or at least treated, by injection, in January; it’s been a long wait!

Lucy has to have jobs done in the other direction, but the drive to Foix is very pleasant, and on the last occasion we went into the town for the first time and found a shop specialising in British goods and produce; there will be pudding on Christmas day! Foix is dominated by it’s castle, but we haven’t visited it yet:

There was another fish & chip night at the Mad Hatter in Mirepoix on the 13th. In response to an invitation on their website, I offered to add some Christmas music – in several languages – to the evening. It seemed to go well and be well received:Most of the music was to the guitar, but I did play the melodeon in public for the first time as well.

A lot of time has been spent – mainly by Carol – getting the attic room above the garage ready for use as a bedroom. Sorting out this lot was just part of it!:So today – 22nd Dec. – the family arrived at Carcassonne airport, to be greeted by bright sunshine and snow on the mountains, oh – and me with the big, black hired Nissan Qashkai. Big? Not really big enough for five folk, plus baby and luggage. The journey home was not really comfortable, though some slept through it and we arrived safely. We’re looking forward to a Happy Christmas; more of that next time …… 

left to right: Megan, Becky, Sean, Shannon.