Joyeux Noël
We have moved to rue Auber, Marseillan with all the expected difficulties of relocating on market day to a medieval village with winding streets the width of a Fiat 500 into a house with four flights of perpendicular stairs. What fun we had! Actually, it was fun thanks to the help offered by Michel and Patrice (old hands at such moves being born and bred in the region) and the mandatory break in proceedings to partake in a leisurely lunch at the Port, three courses + wine, of course....
Marseillan looks appropriately festive with all the streets bedecked with lights as would be expected, but what wasn't expected is the amount of activities and events on offer, the marché de noël complete with cute log cabin chalets as stalls and the crèche animée with lifesize animatron characters and real ducks, geese and hens - a terrific effort for this little town!
Pere Noel arrived on the back of an elephant, which threw me somewhat - perhaps sleigh and reindeers are just too old hat here? Musicians in fancy dress stroll the streets playing traditional songs and a bizarre medley of carols set to a samba tune; we have partaken in the communal roast chestnut tasting, warmed up with plenty of vin chaud and had to leave the performace of the nativity by La Pastorale des Santons de Provence as we hadn't a clue what was going on - probably because they were using an ox and an ass as narrators...
Christmas Eve is the Big Day in France, rather than the 25th, so we plan to engage fully in La Parade Imaginaire where fairy tale characters parade through the streets from the port to the Place de la Republique - I am really hoping for an appearance of my favourite 50 foot Polar Bear float tonight as he hasn't been seen yet and I do prefer him to the rather ravenous looking Wolf float currently stalking the streets. After the parade are Chants de Noël by la Chorale des Enfants at the creche then midnight mass at, you guessed it, 9.30pm.
We are off to Grand Cap for some last minute shopping today and Monsieur Sanchez has delivered us a ton of logs for the fire. I've given up on finding cranberry sauce and stuffing but am looking forward to both buche de noël and christmas pudding. I'm none too happy at the weather forecast however, with sunshine and 15 degrees on the cards! Nooooo! I signed up for frosted windows and snow flurries, not lunch on the terrace! Well, we shall see, but whatever the weather the log fire will be burning and the wine will be mulled so I wish you all a merry Reveillon and jolly Noël!
Marseillan looks appropriately festive with all the streets bedecked with lights as would be expected, but what wasn't expected is the amount of activities and events on offer, the marché de noël complete with cute log cabin chalets as stalls and the crèche animée with lifesize animatron characters and real ducks, geese and hens - a terrific effort for this little town! 
Pere Noel arrived on the back of an elephant, which threw me somewhat - perhaps sleigh and reindeers are just too old hat here? Musicians in fancy dress stroll the streets playing traditional songs and a bizarre medley of carols set to a samba tune; we have partaken in the communal roast chestnut tasting, warmed up with plenty of vin chaud and had to leave the performace of the nativity by La Pastorale des Santons de Provence as we hadn't a clue what was going on - probably because they were using an ox and an ass as narrators... 
Christmas Eve is the Big Day in France, rather than the 25th, so we plan to engage fully in La Parade Imaginaire where fairy tale characters parade through the streets from the port to the Place de la Republique - I am really hoping for an appearance of my favourite 50 foot Polar Bear float tonight as he hasn't been seen yet and I do prefer him to the rather ravenous looking Wolf float currently stalking the streets. After the parade are Chants de Noël by la Chorale des Enfants at the creche then midnight mass at, you guessed it, 9.30pm.
Looks more traditionally festive than anything anyone else has posted. Its raining in LA, which makes LA worse than anywhere else in the world. On the bright side I'm dog-sitting Toby the Chihuahua from downstairs. Does Alex have grey-flecked hair now, or was it decorative Christmas frosting? It happens to us all. Merry Christmas to you all! PS have opted off facebook for a while and feel none the worse for it. Load of bollocks.
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