Another mild January

We set off for Saint André in the morning of 10 January 2015 with my parents. I had checked the weather forecast and it didn't look great but as we crossed the Saône the sun came out and there was blue sky. By the time we reached the house it was already 14 degrees outside. Inside the house it was about the same and we noticed the radiator that M. Gosset had put in on Friday. I switched the boiler up and the new radiator was belting out heat so I think the kitchen will be a lot cosier from now on.

We fired up the Godin which Dad has been itching to do since the summer and that too meant that the temperature rose to a mighty 19 degrees by Saturday evening (I was almost too hot).

New radiator in kitchen and proof that we are reaching warm temperatures!

For lunch we went off to the Etape Charolaise and we were in luck as the main course of the menu du jour was hachis parmentier. The starter was a soup based on pumpkin and was delicious and after cheese it was either mousse au chocolat or tiramisu (both excellent). After lunch we went off to Cormatin for a walk. The weather was still warm but it was clouding over and the sky at times looked very dramatic. We walked around the cemetry.

Cormatin walk

When we got home we chilled out and Grandma and Grampa were pupils in Agnès's school.

School pupils

In the evening we cooked using the top of the Godin which Dad was very keen on. Before going to bed Agnès spelled out a word using scrabble pieces that was quite ambitious. The grown-ups then played two rounds of scrabble both of which were won by Grandma even though we had to keep her in check as she almost invented a new rule whereby you could go over the edge of the board to spell a word.

Cooking on the Godin and Agnès's scrabble word

On Sunday morning it was the traditional New Year's wishes of the Maire. Since we were at the house we decided that we should attend. Grampa went off for a walk whilst we went to the Salle Rurale. The note had said it would take place between 10h30 and 11h00 but in fact that period is for all the kisssing that has to happen before the main event can start. Of course we were there on time and it was nice that everyone was coming up to us to wish us a happy New Year. Agnès even made a new friend called Jeanne. The Maire eventually started his speech at 11h10 and the good news is that they have selected a new baker so hopefully in a few months it will be open again. I hope it works out this time as it seems as though this will be the final try for a baker as it is a lot of work and money. He also said that they are going to do something to slow traffic down at both entrances of the village which was timely as when we finished Dad said that they way people were driving down the main road was crazy. After the speech we went over to say hello to M. and Mme Gosset which was nice. I have decided to switch off the bolier totally as it is so warm and also get a top up of fioul that should last us until after next winter too. M. Gosset said he would switch it back on if it got cold again (let us hope it's the end but sometimes Feb is cold).

I saw the little old lady who is not doing very well and seems to be on morphine for her pain. I told her that although we were not there often if she saw that we were and needed help to carry her fire logs up to the house to ask us. She said that was nice of us.

We then went back to the house and none of the Rouches really wanted to leave - this stay was the cosiest time ever at the house outside of summer. Not sure when we will be back but it won't be long.

Second home sweet home