Christmas lunch in the Jura mountains

Christmas day the crazy way

It all started as a joke, John and I thought we would go out for Christmas lunch but we left the organising far too late and by the time I went around trying to find a restaurant they were all booked. As a joke I said to John “it looks like it will be a picnic in the snow for us”. So thus the crazy day began. The previous five days were glorious, Christmas day very cold and windy. “ OH no the picnic will have to be cancelled” I announced to John with glee seeing the nasty weather on Christmas morn. “Why I am really looking forward to this” replied the crazy man of the household. So not being so enthusiastic about the day I came up with this clever idea of letting John do the packing and organising. I figured it was already close to lunch time and by the time he got things organised it would be too late to go. The plan backfired we were driving up to the mountains by two thirty much too late by my standards but not Johns. The temperature outside was minus three, it was Christmas day for heavens sake what two idiots would do such a crazy thing on a wickedly cold day. We went to the place we walked before not a car in the car park (all sensible people were indoors) we did not walk that far, I think that was due to my constant whining, my fingers and toes were in pain and I was hungry, well past my lunch hour. So here we stood under the shelter of a huge pine tree. My thought was we would now hurriedly eat and trek back to the warm car and head home, WRONG. I am bobbing around keeping myself warm when John starts stripping off his coat and trousers, WHAT THE HELL!.............. Under his ski jacket he had a T shirt and he had shorts under his ski pants, he produces a can of beer and starts drinking, watching him makes me feel even colder, “ put some clothes on” I bellow out. A deal was struck he would dress after I took a few photos and then we would eat.
So the sooner I did this the sooner we would go…….. who is this crazy man I married? The cold invigorates John, but poor Janette’s in pain with her fingers and toes not to mention her constantly running nose. I filled my hanky it was so cold the wetness froze, try using a cardboard hanky, thank god John had a spare.
The photos taken we ate, it was now late in the afternoon and we returned to the car, this was the high light of the day the car was not even running but it felt instantly warm out of the wind, as we wound our way home it just got better I WAS IN HEAVEN…….

Morges Mish mash

Walks in the snow

Having been back in Switzerland for weeks now, I have recovered from jet lag. It was lovely to see most of my friends in Australia but I missed a few on my list, however the trip was to help my mum organise home help for dad. So here I am back in Morges having left the heat of Mudgee behind, It took over a week for the stone in the base of my tummy to disappear, I felt rather sad. John was very supportive though.
When I left for Australia all the trees were just in the process of loosing their golden leaves. On my return the trees are bare(with the exception of fir trees) and a light covering snow covers the fields and houses, a complete change of scenery.
John and I tried snow shoeing last weekend, we loaded up with gloves, special cap, hot mulled wine, light lunch, walking sticks and snow shoes. We drove to a relatively quiet walking area, not too steep. Time to try out the new snow shoes, they look like squash racquets attached to our feet.
We walked for an hour my nose was freezing and so were my fingers, John says I complain too much but when I felt his fingers they were warm as toast his circulation is better than mine. The other unpleasant thing that happens when I get cold is my nose drips and my eyes stream……… how awful is that. So here I was trudging along trying to get used to the racquets attached to my already heavy boots, walking sticks in both hands and having to attend to the constant running nose and watering eyes, an awkward task. Although the scenery was spectacular I had my eyes focused on where I was going to plant my next step, avoiding holes from previous walkers as they made my ankles roll causing pain.
We had our light lunch and mulled wine sitting on some cut pine logs, my bottom got cold and then the urge to go to the ladies overcame me. Yes this was the moment I was dreading, and I wished I was a man. Near by was a clump of pine trees, so carefully picking my spot and with much awkwardness I did what needed to be done. A couple walking their dog was coming up to where I was, I believe I got away with it……..well I hope so. The walk back was much easier I had adjusted to the apparel on my feet, and I was warmed up by the wine. Maybe it would be safe to say I was enjoying myself and started to appreciate my beautiful surroundings, even John’s behind looked good. A woman on a dog sleigh with two eager dogs pulling her, over took us. What a great way to travel, it certainly would save my legs and keep the dogs fit, may have to get some dogs! So many people take their dogs for walks in the snow and the dogs seem to really enjoy it. We got to the car at five in the evening it was already getting dark. Driving back to Morges through the small villages was so pretty, many of the homes had Christmas lights twinkling and it looked like a fairy land against the white snow.
The streets of Morges all have been simply decorated each shop front has a red mat and a Christmas tree with red bows, they certainly have the Christmas spirit. Little shop stalls on the weekends fill the closed street. Locals selling their wares hot crepes, warm wine, roasted nuts, orange juice, hand crafted jewellery, sausages, cheeses, olives, blown glass, clothing, woodwork so much to make a shopaholics heart sing with pure joy. Now I have you all jealous I am leaving until the next blog...........

Mudgee

Visiting mum and dad has been an eye opener. I have learned a lot about my mum her patience and endurance amazes me. Now I can’t go into the challenges and failures of a 92 year old frail body that dad has without him loosing his dignity. What I can say is mum just stoically gets on with it, challenge after challenge.
I also can relate some funny stories
We did have a couple of funny moments that I am sure I can share.
The only thing that dad seems to be able to enjoy is a drive, so mum and I tried every day to take him out, on more than one occasion I gave up trying to get him to the car but mum kept persevering. On every second or third day I would be chauffeuring them around the country, dad in front and mum in the rear seat. On one such occasion we decided to take a drive to Rylstone, where we could stop for a coffee if dad was up to getting out of the car.
On the dash in front of dad was a shadow a small round shadow made by a spot on the wind screen. Dad with his failing eyesight was convinced it was a fly, so he slapped it numerous times and he could not understand why it kept moving, he also was confused as to why he could not feel any thing under his hand. Mum and I had to explain repeatedly that it was a shadow, we suggested he placed his hand back on the dash and look at the top of his hand where the shadow now was. Finally after many kilometres he realised it was a shadow and gave up. Within three minutes he started all over again mum and I just burst out laughing, dad wanted to know what we were laughing at, we could not tell him and made some thing up, realising we were not good at fibbing as dad was not convinced.

Mudgee had a new Aldi store open up, lots of hype in the local rag and opening day specials. Dad wanted to go but he can hardly manage five steps let alone walking in a crowded store. I suggested we use the wheel chair that a relative sent up, well that was an insult to him. No amount of cajoling would convince him to get in, so I got in and went for a spin in the front yard acting like a child all to the amusement of neighbouring units. Dad then decided he would get in but he would not be pushed by me. The wheel chair is an old one and heavy so it was not very far when he gave up and let me push him. Pushing a wheelchair is more difficult than you would expect especially when a pair of 92 year old hands, work against you. Mercifully we got to Aldi’s and loaded the chair up with groceries ( no not on dad) dad got to hold some cherries. As we were walking back dad started to eat the cherries and flicked the pips onto parked cars or over fences like a little child, then he decided to share some with me, passing them over his head, but my hands were not free. I attempted to take one but steering with one hand proved a little dangerous and a lot difficult, I almost ran dad off the footpath. All further offers I had to stop. Pushing dad felt like pushing an overgrown mischievous baby. I miss my folks but am very pleased I had the time with them they are so beautiful.

Snow shoeing

Photos

One week in Morges

It has been a week now in Switzerland and I have had a few obstacles to overcome. The apartment we have is very central and roomy. The décor is quite modern and most of our furniture does not match. The flooring is all wooden except for bathrooms if you walk the floor with hard shoes it is quite noisy. The apartment upstairs seems to have daily moves of furniture, scraping the floor making a lot of noise that we can hear quite easily. If it continues I am thinking of going upstairs and introducing myself and giving them a gift of felt stickers that they can stick to the bottom of all their furniture, so then when they move it, it should slip and slide quietly.

I go shopping every day and find things rather easily with the exception of a few items. Finding salt for the dishwasher was hard, the staff could not understand what I wanted but when I wrote it down, Oui they understood. Trying to find self raising flour was hard, but I have now discovered Switzerland do not have it, so it is back to plain flour and baking powder. I love the walks through the park with all the fallen golden leaves. So like a naughty child I look around to see if any one is looking, and if no one is, I run kicking up as many leaves as I can restraining myself from squealing with utter delight. Yes Autumn is my favourite time of year.

Twice now I have gone to the lake armed with stale brown bread, I love feeding the birds trying to throw to the more timid birds and not the aggressive ones. I like a little black and brown bird that is rather squat with a red beak and the baby swans. To me the large white swan is not a pretty bird. On the subject of birds we have a few sparrows that visit our balcony every day they are quite fat but one is very skinny and was hopping around rather awkwardly when I noticed it only had one leg, poor little thing so I sneak out a little bread for it as well.

There are many patisseries in Morges and I have tried many of the sweet delights they have to offer, the coffee is very strong and usually drunk black or with a dash of cream, a cappuccino is considered a breakfast coffee only. So I am trying to acquire a taste for the strong short coffee and it is becoming quite acceptable especially with a sweet cake. Cheese is also rather popular and a lot of space is allocated to it in the super markets. When buying sliced cheese over here it seems to be three times the thickness, fine if you like cheese, but I am not that keen on it.

Now onto my favourite subject wine, I have tried a few local wines and I have decided that while living in Morges I will become a beer drinker, the reds are watery and the whites taste mild no freshness or crispness to it. The overpriced imported Australian and New Zealand wines are small in selection, so beer it is. Maybe we should start an Aussie wine shop.

Today it is raining a steady rain, it is lovely to sit on the lounge and look out at rain trickling down the glass panes of the balcony. The cars going past spraying up water have a lovely sound as well. It was a joy walking to the shops this morning, it is such a cleansing feeling, I hold my face up to the sky and love the feel of raindrops hitting my face. The only problem with that is……. my glasses do not have wipers, and some people look at you rather strangely, wondering why you would do such a thing.

Morges Photos...we are here

Snow in Mortimer

The movers have packed everything and left me to deal with the tidy up of the empty shell. Mo Curly and Larry is what I nicknamed the removalists. Three full on poms, the smallest of these men was Mr Serious. He just got on with the task at hand, only stopping for a toilet break or a cup of tea, no unnecessary chit chat from him. The other gentleman was the clown always saying something silly or singing. He had a beautiful tenor voice that echoed through the house, but he never finished a song off, then he would announce he’s going on x factor. This man did not know how to wipe his feet, mud clumps all over the carpet. Finally the man that runs the show he was Mr Gloomy, his wife had recently left him so he needed a councillor and it seems that councillor was me. The three of them, all so different got the job done and left me with an empty lonely house that needed to be cleaned.With no beds in the house I stayed at De Vere Venue –Wokefield Park just down the road six minutes by car. It is rather classy and huge. But unfortunately the Brits have no idea what good service is, nor do they know how to clean. I had to play the heavy and get my quilt cover removed, and the bath cleaned.After my second night I awoke and looked out my window over the golf course. It had snowed overnight the view was very pretty with four inches of snow on trees and benches, everything was awash with white. After my breakfast I had to rush back to the house to unlock it for the viewing of another interested renter.The first problem was walking to the car, the entrance to the car park was slippery and icy, a few near spills and I made it. I had my bag with my computer, my jewellery, John’s new camera and all the things I did not want to leave in the room, so I planned to put it in the boot. The car looked like a giant cotton ball. I stood there looking how to tackle this new dilemma. Yes I had to put the bag down in the snow, as the car door would not open, it took my a while to locate the handle, luckily the side of a car does not accumulate as much snow as the top, finally with a good pull (thinking the handle would break) the door opened, and a pile of snow fell in onto the drivers seat. Bugger a wet seat, I brushed off as much as I could, then got my now wet bag and threw it onto the passenger seat. Janette is not happy I am wet and freezing.The heater of the car was on full bore for ten minutes and little had happened, the windscreen still was fully obscured with snow. So out with the credit card and I scraped away, my hands were purple and ached with the cold (no gloves). The snow was very hard and icy not soft, I managed to clear a viewing hole. Off I drove not being familiar with driving in snow and ice, I took it very slow and still snow flew up in clumps from the bonnet, thwat in the middle of the windscreen. Maybe I should have taken the bulk of the snow off the bonnet as this could be dangerous.The front garden of our house looked so different all in white, and evidence of a bunnies foot prints through the snow. Even though it was cold I thought how beautiful and wished I had not packed my camera, completely forgetting I had John’s with me. Getting inside the empty house made me feel very sad, my footsteps echoed reminding me I was on my own, how I wish John was not sent to France( how convenient) why am I doing this on my own. John will do anything to avoid a move, I allowed myself to wallow in sadness for a while then got on with the task of the remaining cleaning while I waited for the viewing.

Last train trip

Today I had my last train trip into Reading, as I was walking to the station it was windy and seemed to be getting stronger. I timed the walk perfectly, I had just finished purchasing the tickets when the train pulled up at the platform. It was lunch time so the carriages were rather empty. I sat down at a window and admired the country going in to Reading.Arriving in Reading the wind had picked up considerably, my eyes started to water with the sting of cold air. Leaves everywhere gold and brown with splashes of red, dancing a frenzied dance about my feet on the paved street, settling in a protected corner slowly gaining height. On I walked thinking this will probably be my last time in Reading and I felt rather melancholy.Plastic bags flew about some getting caught in trees, I just watched one struggling and fluttering to escape the grasp of branches. I stood there mesmerized it almost looked life like in its determination to break free and float up and away. A tall man I assume a Scotsman was busking playing the bag pipes in his kilt. He had a small gathering around him, I was wondering whether they were there appreciating the music or waiting for his kilt to blow up. I do not like bag pipes, to me they sound like whining cats, so it is now obvious I was waiting for his kilt to blow up, I am sure he had it weighted down, after ten minutes I left.After finishing my shopping I took the train back to Mortimer, I walked my last walk back from the station, laden with dry cleaning and groceries. I had no hands free to pick the plump blackberries intertwined with the hedges; my hands were hurting as the bag of groceries was cutting into my fingers. I stopped occasionally putting every thing down. I would take a small break reload then trudge on again. Arriving home and dumping my shopping, the phone rang it was Kurt he was on the train to Mortimer. Kurt wanted to come and stay the night, it was to be the last time we would catch up before we go to Switzerland. It was a sad evening I held back tears while Kurt did his best to cheer me up with his funny stories and he did manage to get me laughing maybe it wasn’t his stories but the wine that did the trick.

The ponies at Ascot

John and I went to the Ascot races, not far from here. What a huge race course it was a family day, bands played their were exhibitions of paintings and photos, a caricaturist sketching people. Though John and I did absolutely nothing for our wallets other than lightening them we enjoyed the day. The last two races were pony races children from different pony clubs around the district got dressed in jockey colours and rode their usually fat ponies and a few in good condition in a race, no barriers just a line to start, the boys were so much better than the girls, I wish they would allow betting on the ponies as John and I both picked the winners for those two races.
All is well here, still enjoying the wild life about, well maybe not the huge rat that regularly visits the back yard. The squirrels still make regular appearances, chestnuts are falling from the trees out the front of our street and blackberries galore along the roadsides. I did pick some and make a dessert but they are rather seedy, two days after eating them a seed will dislodge itself from somewhere and make a re appearance on your tongue. Now we stick to the commercial kind.

Ascot photos