Merry Christmas, everyone!

Much to our surprise, Aude’s brother Jerome arrived on the 23rd, ahead of schedule, so we had everyone here for dinner on Christmas Eve. Aude, her mother, and I went to the Christmas Carol service at Canterbury Cathedral while her father and brother did some shopping. We stayed up until midnight, and according to French tradition (or at least the tradition in Aude’s family), we opened our presents at midnight.

Christmas day was a relaxed affair — the weather was unseasonably warm. After breakfast, we headed out for a walk around the town and had a pint at the local pub, Simple Simon’s. Everyone else continued on the walk while I went home to cook dinner.

And we ate. And we ate. And we ate.

Foie gras, caviar and smoked salmon. Goose, stuffing, parsnips, carrots, red cabbage, green beans, roast potatoes and more. And bread-and-butter pudding to top it all off.