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Posts Tagged ‘canterbury’

Better late than never, right? It has taken me ages to get these photos online because of constant travel, and because of the delay I can’t recall all the witty anecdotes that went along with these photos.

That’s not a total loss, because Neil tells me he only logs onto my website to check out the pictures. So no need to waste time writing up memories if he is only going to look at the picture, right?

In any case, these are a few pictures from our first visit to Canterbury since leaving. We celebrated Aude’s birthday with friends on Saturday evening, then met up with some others at the Goods Shed on Sunday morning for brunch, which is where these shots were taken.

Matt and Aude having brunch at the Goods Shed in Canterbury

Matt and Aude having brunch at the Goods Shed in Canterbury

MG

MG

Sandro

Sandro tells a story…

Neil

And a photo of Neil, since he mostly likes to look at himself. πŸ˜‰

I’ve finally unpacked my laptop at home and had time to go through the last few shots of Canterbury. My uncle was in town for a few days on business the week before we moved and came down to spend the weekend with us, squeezed in among the moving boxes. What some people will put up with for a pint or two of decent beer!

Having met my aunt at the wedding, Anne-Laure and Neil were keen to meet the other half of the pairing, so we arranged a Sunday roast…

Anne-Laure can't believe what Neil is saying!

Anne-Laure can’t believe what Neil is saying!

No, she really can't believe what he's saying...

No, she really can’t believe what he’s saying…

Bob, looking surprisingly fresh for having just arrived off a trans-Atlantic flight

Bob, looking surprisingly fresh for having just arrived off a trans-Atlantic flight

Daisy, unimpressed with the entire affair

Daisy, unimpressed with the entire affair

Matt and Aude pose for the camera

Matt and Aude pose for the camera

Neil horsing around?  Never!

Neil horsing around? Never!

Now it's Bob's turn to pose

Now it’s Bob’s turn to pose

Obligatory family photo

Obligatory family photo

Matt is very comfortable

Matt is very comfortable
A very happy cat...

A very happy cat…

I hate New Years. I never really see the point in blowing a lot of money to celebrate a holiday that doesn’t really mean very much. So a quiet New Years Eve at home with Aude and Jerome was just what the doctor ordered. Although I suspect he wouldn’t have ordered quite so much foie gras and champagne.

Aude and Matt

Aude and Matt

Aude and Matt

Aude and Matt

Aude and Jerome

Aude and Jerome

After quite a good start to the new year, I was a little disappointed to discover that I’d accidentally locked the cats in the bedroom overnight (not helped by the fact that they knocked over a stack of papers and managed to jam the door shut). The result of this lock-in was a big pile of cat poo in the centre of the bathroom floor.

Not really an auspicious start to 2008, is it?

Another evening of gluttony is over, although a malfunctioning oven meant that some last minute jiggery-pokery with the microwave was required to make sure that we all got fed (and the veggies were still a little on the ‘al dente’ side). Nevertheless, we managed to make a good dent into the roast beef and traditional trimmings.

Matthew presents the roast beef

Matthew presents the roast beef

Teaching Aude's parents how to play backgammon

Teaching Aude’s parents how to play backgammon. I promise I’m not making up the rules as I go along.

We woke up this morning to discover that the weather was warmer, the fog had finally lifted, and the sun was shining. Perfect weather for a Boxing Day walk along the beach. We jumped in the car and drove down to Deal for a few hours along the coast, then back to the house to pop the roast beef in the oven.

Boxing Day is a great invention. I wish we’d had it when I was a kid…

Aude by the seaside

Aude by the seaside

Aude and her mother

Aude and her mother

Perfect weather for a seaside walk

Perfect weather for a seaside walk

Matthew's hair is not designed to withstand a coastal wind

Matthew’s hair is not designed to withstand a coastal wind

Aude's father poses for a shot

Aude’s father poses for a shot

A quick shot with all the hair in place while the wind had died down...

A quick shot with all the hair in place while the wind had died down…

That's the Christmas spirit!

That’s the Christmas spirit!

Cheeky!

Cheeky!

So the gluttony of the season continues. Last night I cooked two ducks (Donald and Daffy) with all the traditional trimmings – orange sauce, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans and plenty of wine. After we’d finished dinner and watched the Queen’s speech, there was only one thing to do – head off to the pub. It was a great way to celebrate my last official English Christmas for a while.

Both Daisy and Calypso seemed enthusiastic about some of their presents (mostly the toys) but Daisy refuses to go inside her new carrying cage, preferring instead to sleep on top of it. What can I say – cats are weird.

Daisy is very excited about her new Christmas present

Daisy is very excited about her new Christmas present

Never a stupid cat, Daisy figures out quickly that it's safer to be on top of her cage than in it!

Never a stupid cat, Daisy figures out quickly that it’s safer to be on top of her cage than in it!

Calypso looks on cautiously from the sidelines

Calypso looks on cautiously from the sidelines

Relaxing after dinner

Relaxing after dinner

Putting the final touches on Donald and Daffy before they're served for Christmas dinner

Putting the final touches on Donald and Daffy before they’re served for Christmas dinner

Daffy a l'orange

Daffy a l’orange