Bloavezh mat!

Bloavezh mat!, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Bonne année, bonne santé!

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!

Happy New Year!

Bubbly!

Bubbly!, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

The fosse septique needs to be emptied (this has involved unmentionable
sanitary problems over Christmas)), but nobody knows where it is located.

A farmer neighbour has been over a couple of times, and as there is no
evidence of the fosse in the garden (no visible cover or ventilation outlet) he
thought the house drainage might connect to the fosse which served the old
cow-shed.

He had a look, and sure enough it was full.

This morning he came back, to drain away one load. We tested flushing the
toilet. Alas, the water wasn't draining away normally.

The only other approach was to locate the drain as it leaves the house, and
then trace it to the tank, wherever it might be.

Ah well, I thought. At least having to do all that digging will help me to
get warm.

Then wonders!

After an hour or so I hit polystyrene, and underneath was a stone slab. A
bit more clearing and I managed to lever up the slab.

And joy of joys, a tank full of foul-smelling liquid!!

The farmer's coming back on Friday or Saturday to check on progress. He'll be able to empty the tank!

As they say here, il y a toujours une solution!

For the record

For the record, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

We'll need to ne able to locate the cover to the fosse septique the next
time.

Found!

Found!, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Tree hedges

Tree hedges, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

The muddy corner is frozen

The muddy corner is frozen, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Frosty textures

Frosty textures, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Frozen ridges

Frozen ridges, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Twiggy

Twiggy, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Looking down

Looking down, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Fir cone

Fir cone, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Bark

Bark, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Water's edge

Water's edge, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Frost patterns

Frost patterns, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Oak leaves

Oak leaves, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Frost

Frost, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Frozen!

Frozen!, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Morning

Morning, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Textures

Textures, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Peace and quiet

Peace and quiet, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Sign language?

Sign language?, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Projected colours

Projected colours, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Crèche de Noël

Crèche de Noël, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Unusual figure for a crèche

Unusual figure for a crèche, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Lights, shadows

Lights, shadows, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Vas chercher!

Vas chercher!, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

What a place to lose a ball!

What a place to lose a ball!, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Lost ball!

Lost ball!, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Winter walk

Winter walk, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Vas chercher!

Vas chercher!, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Forest floor

Forest floor, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Leaves

Leaves, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Footpath signs

Footpath signs, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Forest signs

Forest signs, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

This gate's not been closed for a while!

This gate's not been closed for a while!, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

In the woods

In the woods, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Late afternoon sky

Late afternoon sky, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Afternoon walk

Afternoon walk, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Good for the digestion!

The table is ready!

The table is ready!, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Beef rendang with stir-fried vegetables

Beef rendang with stir-fried vegetables, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

I forgot to take a picture of the entrée, which was chicken satay sticks with
peanut sauce and a side salad.

Dessert

Dessert, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Vanilla ice-cream, lemon sorbet, and summer fruits from my garden;
blackcurrant, raspberry with a strawberry coulis.

Canvas bag from Phoebe's school

Canvas bag from Phoebe's school, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

British supermarkets still give people plastic bags, but there is a campaign
against using them.
Here in France supermarkets stopped giving out carrier bags quite some time
ago.

We've just been shopping!

We've just been shopping!, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Oranges, lemons, figs

Oranges, lemons, figs, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Fruit!

Fruit!, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Tomorrow's cook!

Tomorrow's cook!, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Wood for tonight!

Wood for tonight!, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Christmas Eve sunrise

Christmas Eve sunrise, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.

Frosty verge

Frosty verge, originally uploaded by Rhian vK.