Christmas, not for prophet?

December 18, 2010

tags: Auberge St Donat, Australia, Cote D Azur, Currencies Direct, Euro Millions, Ex Pats Golf, Living In France, Moving To France, The Ashes 2010, Valbonne, Valbonne Book Shop

I went to buy some Christmas presents yesterday, looking especially for a self-help book. I asked Lin Wolff the owner of the Valbonne bookshop where I could find the self-help section but she said it would kind of defeat the whole point if she told me.

Christmas a great party time, but apparently there is some kind of obscure religious connection, long submerged under a blanket of commercialisation. Personally I prefer atheism which is apparently a not for prophet organisation. I wonder if an atheist can get insurance against acts of god? Anyway, there are loads if Christmas markets springing up everywhere, there was one in Le Rouret last Sunday and one in Opio tomorrow, but the best one around takes over the old Valbonne village from 21st to 24th of December, where they usually lay red carpets through the village. That is very good of them, and I realise that they are eternally thankful for the astonishing effect that this blog has had in the commercial life of the village in my own mind, but I really don’t think I deserve it.

Yesterday, the airport run to collect that nice lady decorator was delayed sufficiently be the weather in England to have two effects, it enabled the contract cleaners time to depart before she arrived, but meant that I was too late to make the Auberge St Donat for lunch, and with the wingco delayed as well, and with Lou Fassum full,we adjourned to the Auberge Provencal in Plascassier for an excellent tartiflette, a wonderfully fattening and heart stopping winter meal. This was in partial celebration of the wingco finally succumbing to two years of pressure to become a Currencies Direct customer. Once again I had to buy him lunch, as that was what I was told I had agreed, but he seemed not to recall that I had bought lunch on two previous occasions in recognition of him signing the forms. Then I discovered to my horror that I had neglected to bring them. However, despite much evidence to the contrary, he is a gentleman and as good as his word and no doubt the on-line application form.

He still considers this column to be “ghastly” which implies that he must occasionally take a peak, whatever he says, or else how would he know that it is still ghastly?

German beware, Mick Pedley in his German shooting trousers

My rather poor picture today is of Mick “German shooting trousers” Pedley wearing the now near mythical garment. I fear for the health of any Germans in the vicinity. Tomorrow I am scheduled to play golf with the landlubbers where Mick will no doubt have an eye out for the dreaded hun, but rain is forecast so I will suddenly find myself with an urgent commitment that I have only very recently become aware of.

So Christmas is looming and once again we will persuade our children to sit on the lap of a bearded old man offering them presents whilst warning of paedophiles. I have always wondered why Father Christmas is so jolly, maybe it’s because of all the sherry’s he gets left, maybe it’s because he knows where all the bad girls live.

So once again I have taken to my sofa for the overnight cricket but the worm has turned and the Australians have gained what looked yesterday like an impossible advantage, so I will have to watch closely to see if England can dig their way out of their pit today. With the wingco today, I bought a Euro Millions ticket so I feel certain that our trip to Sydney for the last Ashes Test is now certain..

Chris France

Buying a house in France, moving money?www.currenciesdirect.net/chrisfrance

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Best Estate Agency in Valbonne? http://www.rivierarealty.net/

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