18 December 2025 pre-Christmas celebration!

Time is going too fast, I am sure you will all agree! 

This afternoon we had a celebration pre-Christmas for our home group. Folk were invited along with their other halves. I conveniently prepared some brownies however I left them in the oven too long. Still no damage as I maaged to cut the burnt bits. And they were good!

Which country do you come from?...

Dear brothers and sisters, 

I started this blog a long time ago and it is so pleasing to see so many of you coming and visit. 

So today, I was going to ask you if you could tell me:

1. your name, 
2. your age and 
3. your country you are living in! 
4. I you have also a blog, 
5. let me know so I can go on it!

The Lord bless you and your beloved ones in the mighty name of Jesus our Saviour!

Burns night

Well, it's this time of the year. We are off to Weston village hall for a night of fellowship and fun. Steven is getting ready, putting on the 'kilt' and I am told that Viv and Ian will entertain us by their witty repartees. The Scottish poet Robert Burns was born on January 25, 1759.  The evening centers on the entrance of the haggis (a type of sausage prepared in a sheep's stomach) on a large platter to the sound of a piper playing bagpipes. When the haggis is on the table, Steven will read the "Address to a Haggis". This is an ode that Robert Burns wrote to the Scottish dish. At the end of the reading, the haggis is ceremonially sliced into two pieces and the meal begins. I do think people attend if they like haggis. Personally I don't mind as I have an acquired taste for the French andouillette so..the haggis tastes more oaty than the andouillettes. 

Have a blessed evening. N.

Friendship is a blessing ...

 Today I went to EMA airport to pick up our French friends 

coming from La Gironde. They brought us a lovely weather,

 it was sunny all day. After the chef Etienne bbq, 

we went for a walk by the canal and Shugborough. 

They found the bridge there quite quaint and different! 

The birds were devouring the seeds happily.

Tomorrow, we are off to Birmingham for a change of scenery, 

from the quiet rural place where we live to a busy and hectic town. 

I told them that I know a vintage place not far from the centre and 

hopefully they will find some souvenirs to take back to their loved ones.

I am glad that Oceane has accepted to be a translator too! 

You can guess who is the one not bothering speaking French at all! lol

Have a blessed evening. N.

Speck versus plank..ouch!

 

This morning, a simple thought.

In Matthew 7:3-5, we read  Jesus say:

3 ‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?4 How can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Hope you all had a fabulous Christmas.

We did have a really good time. On Christmas Eve we went to Christingle, at church.The children read very well  We met lots of friends and we had a fantastic time singing carols, praising the Lord for Jesus-Christ,our Saviour!
My daughters Cam and Imo were there too so I was full of joy.  In the evening,  we baked the traditional family cafe buche,an old French recipe for a coffee cake in shape of a log that my mum would bake.

On Christmas day, we went to another service and we met more friends, sang different carols and it was so enjoyable. 

Somehow, opening presents took for ages. I can't help noticing the difference between the presents I used to receive when I was a child, for example, a home-made jumper and 3 classic novels compared to what is acceptable now! 

Then we had diner later on! I am so lucky, my hubby loves cooking and he prepared everything, smoked salmon, avocado and salad for starter, then turkey and goose with home-made stuffing (with sage and chestnuts), leeks, parsnips, sprouts, roasted potatoes, carrots, then the cafe buche. 

 Later on we got in touch with other family members, my auntie who lives in Nice and Steven's dad who is in Norfolk. Our sister Pauline who is a nurse and was working texted us too from Wales. Family is so important, don't you agree ?