Have a Happy Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Pretty Christmas cards, sprinkled with glitter and tradition start to trickle in as I compose the less than nostalgic electronic newsletter.  I don’t know why, as it happens exactly the same time every year, but I always seem surprised that the festive season is already upon us and I have no baking done.  Oh yeah, I gave that up with paper cards.  

So, Father Christmas, have you got all that?

I'm not sure he's going to remember everything.  

We kicked off the 2014 New Year with a cruise to the Mediterranean.  Starting in Barcelona, we enjoyed Gaudi to the max and of course some tasty food (its not a holiday without good food).  The Sagrada Familia church was phenomenal.  Gaudi’s mathematical genius and artisitic creativity is mind blowing.  It is one of the most amazing sites we’ve seen.  We now also know where the word gaudy is derived from.  We’re not sure that we’re “cruise people” but we had a good time visiting the ports of call of Tenerife, Lanzarote, Malaga and Casablanca.  We met the lovely Smith family who also came to visit us this past October. 

Gaudi's Sagrada Familia

Inside Sagrada Familia - the most amazing stained glass ever!

Whoa! Inside a "ham-ateria".  Seriously, this is a cafeteria that sells only Iberico jamon sandwiches and Cava

Markets in Casablanca

Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca

  

         February ski break in the southern French Alps were courtesy of our fine friends Marie-Ange and Frédéric and the loan of their mountain condo.  We had great ski weather and the best pizza in living memory.  Marie-Ange and Frédéric visited us this spring and we walked from end to end of London.  I don’t think Marie-Ange’s feet will ever be the same.

         E was most excited to see her pal Rosa in Tuscany this Easter.  It was like no time had passed between them.  The adults had a great time eating, drinking Chianti, eating some more and some great sight seeing.  It is an incredibly beautiful part of Italy with gorgeous views and colourful sunsets. Florence was lovely with fabulous and famous art (ooooh David!) but the esoteric gelato flavours like goat cheese and fig or spirulina and lavender kinda eclipsed it!   We headed to Jasmine and Charan’s in Ferrara.  Jasmine toured us around, translated and was all-around hostess with the mostess.  A super highlight was Jasmine taking us to Leonardo’s balsamic farm.  We learned soooo much about balsamic vinegar and why the good stuff is expensive. 

Have you seen this pose before, les Banvilles? 

Bandito - expat

So you take the big barrel and you move it to the smaller barrel, and then you wait about 100 years....

And then you taste it!  Adrian - you can't eat the spoon.  That old Balsamic vinegar is some yummy!

Balsamic pearls...

Pearls expensive enough to wear!

Colour coordinated tourists to match the wisteria

Picture in the villa - good thing it wasn't in the children's room.

View from Volterra

Spring saw a WWII battlefield tour in France with fellow Canadians.  Noel Clancey joined us and was official photographer.  Every time I visit the battle sites and memorials, the enormity of the sacrifice so many young souls gave becomes more poignant.  It is also amazing that E has had the opportunity to see these places and understand them at a young age.  Of course, there was also great Michelin starred French food and Calvados flavoured gelato to be enjoyed!

So many gelato, so little time

E's first communion

Father Tim with the family.  I'm doing just like Kate and wearing my dress twice.  And E is recycling my First Communion dress.  

For May break, we went to the Isle of Wight.  The multicoloured sand beach and Queen Victoria's summer home were highlights.

Up close you can see so many different layers of coloured sand.  Freaky!

Not bad digs for a cottage

A repeat photo - but how could I not include the Queen's Garden Party?

E enjoyed a surprise visit from Laura in July.  They enjoyed touring around London, shopping at Harrods, the Victoria & Albert museum, blackberry picking, drinking Babycinos and hanging around. 

So happy to have a Canadian friend visit!

I think we're busted.... these really aren't babycinos....

The Foreman’s joined us in rural Charentes, France for a week in August.  Who knew France had a middle of nowhere without neighbours?  We visited cute towns like La Rochelle, an underground church, Bordeaux and hung around the outdoor bbq smelting steel.

 

E and I headed to the cottage in Nova Scotia for 2 weeks in August.  It was nice to go home and see all the GD relatives. Who knew Aunt Marilyn makes a wicked Chicken Bone!? We had great weather and enjoyed steamed pudding, playing with cousins, watercolouring and visits from the Greenough’s and Jenn Wheatley.  When I asked Ellen if she had a good vacation, she said, “No, I had a great vacation”!  I think Grandmaman and Grampy did too. 

Do you think jelly-fish would be good on toast?

Getting ready for the corn boil!

So, how are we going to make it across without losing our moustaches?

So, do you think the waters really have sharks?

I've fallen and I can't get up.

More cousins, or pirates?

I think you have to go faster to get a wake.

The new school year brought a little routine back to our lives.  E continues to be busy with swimming, ballet, Brownies and choir.  She is a voracious reader and her curiosity for the world around her will take her far.   She has assimilated into the British culture and no longer refers to trousers as pants and inserts “whilst” into her vocabulary.  Still no detectable accent – but she can do a wicked imitation.

Lazy days of Indian summer brings out the wildlife in the neighbourhood.  Oh, I'm just a cute fox taking a nap on the bonnet of this fancy sports car.

Karen-Anne's whirlwind London tour.  Checking out samples at the Borough Market

Street food - scrumptious goat -  at the Borough market

Treated to a chic dinner  by Karen-Anne and Dan

Karen-Anne and Dan at Rivea by Alain Ducasse

For October break, we headed to Stonehenge, Bath and Cornwall.  Bath is a gorgeous city.  We hear Cornwall is beautiful too -but the fog impeded viewing any vistas.  Still need to post pictures from that trip...a New Year's resolution.  

         Adrian continues to enjoy his busy but rewarding work. He works with a great team and it is our built in Canadian community.  He has taken up slalom kayaking with a local club that uses the Grand Canal to practice, which was historically significant to the industrial revolution.  He is also into changing flat inner tubes on his new mountain bike.

Is this for real?  So here I am trying on a $2000 silk-lined trench coat at Burberry's and they're giving me a glass of Champagne and hors d'oevres?  Even though I look brilliant in this coat, I can't wear something that is worth more than my car.

         The family would say that I keep busy with wine tasting.  But that is only partly true… (I am still thinking of another defence…) London has some of the most epic wine events like the London Wine Fair, a Barolo tasting with Decanter, Harrods Champagne night, Australia House wine tasting… I mean there is all this holiday planning, staying fit, (don’t let me start on all the handymen appointments that suck up my time….).  

Just a little sip....

Drinking all that Burgundy must be what made Louis Latour 7th, so tall!

We’re in London for Christmas and will fill our table with 13 friends.  My cousin Jean-Francois and his family, Rozita, Shadie and Shirine arrive on Boxing Day.  We’re all going to Paris for New Year’s where we’ll also see Sylvie and Jose. 

        

We wish you a very Merry Christmas and the best of health and prosperity in the New Year!

Pam, Adrian and E