le pre-Noël en Bourgogne

 

After a wonderful week of festive cheer: spending time with family, opening presents and overindulging in cheese and wine here in Burgundy, we head back to Edinburgh tomorrow, to get ready for Christmas...

Paris, jour et nuit

We arrived in France a few days ago for what has now become our annual pre-Christmas Christmas. Before heading south to Burgundy, we spent 24 hours or so in a pretty damp, Paris. Soggy, but beautiful as ever and we enjoyed the sights and sounds of a city in full festive swing.

remember, remember

The 5th November. It's Guy Fawkes night, right? It is. It's also St. Sylvie, my saint or name day. In France, name days are known as a fête and are a very important part of everyday culture. It is still traditional to give a small gift to a friend or family member on their name day. I just happen also to get many fireworks displays for mine. Every day at the end of the weather forecast, that follows the French main evening news, the next day's name day is announced so you can prepare yourself to wish your loved ones well the next day. A really lovely coutume. Check here if your name is of French origin and start marking it in the diary.