Dimanche - Christmas Day!

Sunday dawned in typical northern winter style, fashionably late at approximately 8.40am. Even though it was Christmas Day, we also arose at a leisurely pace, had croissants and a cup of tea. About 10am, we exchanged gifts from under our tiny tree. This was a mixed bag, some gifts successful, others not so much. Annie and I bought our men a jumper each, both in the largest size in their respective range. Unfortunately both were a tad snug and were then put aside for exchange. Annie and I bought each other art equipment from Sennelier's Art Supplies, surprise, surprise. Steve gave Annie a pair of fur lined gloves and a lovely peaked woollen cap. Michael gave me a red leather wallet, guaranteed to last longer than either of us. We unwittingly gave each other a box of chocolates from the same stall at the Christmas Markets. They seemed like a good idea at the time but a tad too rich for tummy comfort.

Then it was time for champagne, video calls to various children, who were each treated to a tour of our Parisian apartment. They all seemed suitably impressed, although some were a little shocked when face to face with the painting of ten nude men.

Lunch was a team effort. Steve was in charge of cooking the meat, Michael handled the roast veggies, I made the gravy from scratch and Annie did an amazing job of decorating the living area and also made a very elegant centre piece for the table. We sat down to eat at 2pm, put on our party hats and told jokes from the bonbons and had a very festive time. The food was just delicious and the cakes from Lenôtre topped off our gastronomic feast, with the help of a scoop of ice cream.






As we enjoyed our dessert, our poet laureate Michael whipped out a few verses he had penned the day before:

Parisian Interlude

Off to gay Paree we did go

Our friends Annie and Steve all in tow

Anne's 60th birthday was the event at hand

An Eiffel dinner was had, alas no band

Parlez vous Anglaise was our constant urge

Je ne sais quoi replied the Frenchman called Serge

Parlez vous Australie, we switched our attack

Oui oui Messieurs et Mesdames, we never looked back 

Christmas Day in Paris is the day for us

Baguettes, croissants, bonbons, what's the fuss

A party for four with all the Christmas cheer

Jacks, champagne, caviar, don't forget the beer

Together we celebrate the Yuletide season

Happy with great company, no other reason

But our hearts wander to a land unique

To Australia, where love of family is magnifique

Trés bien, bonjour, au revoir we say

The French language we attempt in our own sweet way

So whatever it's been, it's certainly been fun

Now off to Ireland to let the leprechauns run.

Une poème magnifique, the rest of us agreed, quite emotional towards the end. 

The remainder of the day was spent lying around, cleaning up, a tea of leftovers, more drinking and a Euchre fest. None of us left the apartment.