250. Christmas here we come!

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31st December. First thing this morning, I nipped out to the fish shop to pick up our order for this evening. Luckily, it's only a 5 minute walk from here. While waiting my turn, I was eyeing up the oysters and I thought - why not..? I added a dozen Spéciales de Claires N°3 to the list. These are fairly small - I find the bigger ones test my imagination too much! (There are some about the size of a horse's hoof.. ugh!) I just squirt some lemon juice on them and voilà.. Perhaps a piece of buttered brown granary bread as well.. and a glass of Chablis.

Last night, we watched the final of "Prodiges" - a programme on France2 that featured young musical talent. There were 3 finalists - each of them having won one of the following three categories: Instrumental, Song or Dance. In the instrumental category there was Maxime, a gifted 10 year old cellist. Here he is playing the Theme from Schindler's List:
 And here's 16 year old Roxane with her interpretation of Alfredo Catalani's "La Wally"..

Finally, there was 11 year old Jasmine with Maurice Jarre's "Lawrence of Arabia":Watch the videos and decide who you think should have won. The result is at the end of this post.

After suffering a succession of shoes bought here that claimed to have been manufactured in my size, all I can say is that there must be a mismatch in equivalence between UK, US and Euro sizes. The other day I bought a pair of Timberland casual boots from Amazon (France) and by adding a Euro size and a half to what I normally take, I've finally managed to find a pair that fit me.  What a relief..! Without being too specific, my feet are "generously proportioned" - they are beyond the standard size range stocked by mainstream shops here (they generally top out at 45). At the seaside, shoes in my size usually come equipped with an outboard motor!    

I was able to take my ebike out yesterday for only the second time over the Christmas period as for once it wasn't raining. It was a cloudless sunny day and the temperature was up to 19°! I rode out along the banks of the Adour before turning south to follow the coast down to Biarritz. Beachfront cafés at the curiously named Chambre d'Amour* (just outside Biarritz here) were packed to the gills with people taking advantage of the break in the weather. It was high tide too with a strong sea running - and so the waves and the surf were pretty spectacular.  

* Bedroom of lurve!

There's a low stone wall outside the house topped with a rusting metal fence. As it's more or less only the paint that's holding the fence together, it's about to be replaced with a low maintenance aluminium one in a few days and so it was a good opportunity to clean the wall prior to its arrival. Earlier yesterday we rented a Kärcher pressure washer and I have to say I was astonished at how easily it removed the accumulated grime of decades. It was akin to one of those adverts for a liquid cleaner for tackling problem work surfaces in the kitchen.. that, with a magic sponge, cut a swathe through baked-on grease in one pass. It now looks like we have a new wall.

Christmas 2017 wouldn't be complete without a photo of Nutty in festive mood..! (an admirer sent him the tie!)

29th December. Off to Biarritz in a few minutes to see the lights (more here) and have a drink.. (though perhaps not in that order!) Short of time? Fast forward to 2:04..

Bernard Laporte, president of the FFR announced a couple of days ago that Guy Novès would be replaced by Jacques Brunel (right) as coach of Les Bleus - the XV de France. It doesn't give him much time to influence matters ahead of the upcoming NatWest 6 Nations tournament. However, I'm sure that the FFR's sights are fixed further ahead on the RWC 2019 in Japan - where France and England are matched up in Pool C! I wish him well.

28th December. Here's another beautifully photographed slideshow from local photographer Alain Miranda - this time it shows a wintry Pays Basque as it was on 1st December:

27th December. It was a wild, wild night out there last night.. I awoke at 4am to the sound of the roaring west wind as it blew straight in from the Bay of Biscay, thrumming and shuddering over and around the house. I went downstairs and let Nutty out as he'd been woken up by the wind as well. Normally, he's reluctant to return indoors until he's good and ready (unless there's food on offer) but today he was at the kitchen door after no more than a minute outside. The beach should be a sight to behold later on! 

I took him down there later on in the morning to be greeted by a continuous mighty roar from the sea (reminiscent of a civil jet taking off!). There were very few walkers on the seafront path.. as there was much wind-blown sand interspersed with the occasional showers. The sea was a mass of boiling white foam, maddened surf and crashing waves out as far as the eye could see - which wasn't very far. For once, there were no surfers in evidence. After 15-20 minutes, honour was deemed to have been satisfied and we headed back to the car.     

26th December. In about 10 minutes, we'll be interviewing another serving of Monsieur Montauzer's famous truffled boudins blancs..

If there's any justice in this world, someone one day will offer me a Bentley Mk VI on a week's trial.. (I think I'd sleep in it in my pyjamas!)

24th December. That creak you might just be able to hear is the fridge door opening.. Inside, there's all manner of good things (Food Porn Alert!): coquilles Saint-Jacques, boudins blancs, Brillat-Savarin cheese and more besides (I'll be changing into some elasticated waist trousers shortly).

So, before the fun starts, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish my faithful reader(s) a very merry Christmas and above all else, a happy and healthy 2018.. Thanks for reading!

23rd December. "Echappées Belles" is a travel programme produced by France 5. Here, they take a protracted look at the Pyrenees-Atlantic - the western half of which is, you've guessed it, the Pays Basque.. <George Clooney voice> "What else!".. ("Quoi d'autre!"). If your French isn't up to following the presenter, just enjoy the view:
I've previously mentioned here the "Jacobite" steam passenger train that runs between Fort William and Mallaig on the west coast of Scotland through some of Britain's most stunning scenery.. Don't just take my word for it - but I think calling it the greatest railway journey in the world is stretching artistic licence a bit too far. (Here's another look at it):

I was out on my ebike yesterday and what a pleasure it was to be able to sail up hills with an ease that might previously have had my heart pumping into the red zone! You would never guess that the bike weighs about 25kg. The whole point to an ebike isn't that the bike does all the work - it's that you can go further & faster with one.

Throughout the ride, I kept adapting the degree of assistance provided by the Bosch motor. It has 5 settings: OFF - zero assistance mode; ECO - it adds 30% to the rider's input; TOUR - this setting doubles the rider's effort; SPORT - adds 180% to the rider's effort; TURBO - adds 250% to the rider's effort. Clearly, the use of the higher power settings reduces the overall range and there's a neat computer display that indicates what the effective range is at the selected power level.

I got home knowing I'd been on a bike ride. Great fun! I was sceptical prior to trying one - but I'd would say that a quick demo ride changed my view of ebikes completely. Go out and try one - and keep an open mind.

19th December. This is the ebike that I have on a week's trial. (Yes, I know it's a far cry from a Bentley Mk VI!☺) I hope the weather stays dry over the Christmas period.

This illustration reminded me that in the mid 90s I was once that close to buying an old Bentley. I'd spotted a 1950 Bentley Mk VI (similar to this: right) sitting in the corner of a country garage and it appeared - to me at least - to be in immaculate condition. I made the mistake of sitting in it - a move with only one possible outcome (on a par with going to look at puppies!). The car spoke to me through its leather seats, Wilton carpet, solid burr walnut dashboard and door caps. Everything about it breathed quality like no car I'd ever owned previously.

The garage owner lifted the louvred bonnet (hood) to reveal the long straight six engine that wouldn't have been out of place in a Spitfire. It looked purposeful with its massive cylinder block, copper oil pipes and shiny brass fittings. He started it and after it had warmed up, he reduced the rpm to a barely audible rustle via a hand throttle mounted on the steering wheel. There was no visible rust on the car.. It had belonged to a local doctor.

I had it all worked out on the drive home - we'd drive the Bentley at weekends for pleasure at zero depreciation (at worst), and buy a used Golf (or similar) for everyday driving. Once home, I mentioned to Madame that I'd seen a car in a local garage that I thought we should look at.. so off we went. As we neared the garage, I was more specific and I started to outline the plan to her. At this point she started shaking her head.. and the shaking intensified as we neared the garage. And no - she didn't want to even get out and look at it. I realised then that I was flogging a dead horse and that some things are worth far more than an old Bentley. (sigh...!)            

15th December. I heard this song on the radio earlier. I was never a fan of Elvis but I think this song of his from 1956 has (just about) stood the test of time:

I forgot to add that the French govt will reimburse Madame to the tune of 200€ (one of my favourite tunes!) for purchasing a new electric bike. This is a measure designed to stimulate the development of electric vehicles in the Hexagon (as they love to call France here). We're squeezing in under the wire as this largesse will be discontinued as of 1st January 2018.

The bike shop man is bringing the second hand one around to the house this afternoon for me to try for a week. Should I end up buying this "pre-owned" e-bike, it won't qualify for a partial refund. Needless to say! 

13th December. Madame's electric bike arrived earlier.. so once it stops raining, we can launch her off down the road. I'm considering getting one as well. The man in the shop had a second hand one in his workshops that he was selling on behalf of a customer - it's been checked over and serviced - and it looks as good as new.

Off to Spain today for lunch with some friends - they know a Chinese restaurant there that apparently is the biz.. (I doubt that figgy pudding will be on the menu!)

Nutty
aka 'Bulldozaire'

We weighed Nutty yesterday, our 6 month old cocker pup (known as "Bulldozaire" by Madame!) - and it's difficult to be accurate as he wouldn't stand still on our bathroom scales for more than a second - so I weighed myself with and without him and even then he was wriggling for England, but I'd say he's somewhere in the region of 13-14kg.. I suspect he's not fully grown yet. I think he enjoys being known as 'the destroyer of worlds' - as he's an inveterate sniffer, licker, nibbler, chewer, biter of anything he can find.. He has one or two other unsavoury habits - but as this is a family show, I'll draw a veil over those..☺

My interest in, and understanding of, modern consumer electronic products took a fatal hit a minute or two ago. I was flicking through ebay's deals and I came across this item: "Sphero Star Wars BB-9E App-Enabled Droid with Trainer Droid". (and only £150 too!) If I knew what any of it meant, I might want one too - but I doubt it! No doubt there are millions 'out there' who'd welcome the thrill ("Wow.. a BB-9E!! Thanks Santa!") of finding one of these electronic gizmos in their Christmas stocking.. but not me. I can still remember the thrill of waking up on Christmas morn to find that Santa had left an electric train set at the bottom of my bed. Ah well..

Launched in 2010, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory has been recording images of the Sun in astonishing close-up detail. The spacecraft is in Earth orbit at an altitude of some 22,000 miles (35,000 km) and presented here (below) are the highlights of 5 years-worth of solar activity - as you've never seen it before.. NASA link here. Best in full screen.

12th December. The Leningrad Cowboys.. what can I say...? This act would have been unthinkable in the good old, bad old days of the Cold War - but this shows us that they are just as capable as we are of doing something totally bonkers.. <John Wayne voice> "Put that M16 down nice and easy, Pilgrim, and set a spell..". This is a Finnish rock group!

11th December. Madame found a source for mince pies the other day.. and I'm hoping that they'll soon emerge from hiding! For me, memories of Christmasses past are often conjured up by tastes or smells that I grew up with. What are the triggers that do it for me? The smell of a roasting turkey in the late morning, the taste of a warm mince pie, a glass of sherry at midday, the rich taste of a Christmas pudding (oh yes!).. In talking about food that they've encountered on the other side of the English Channel, many French people curiously recoil in horror at the memory of jelly.. As a child, I often enjoyed it with fruit and I don't recall anyone disliking it. What's to dislike?   

Living here, I've acquired some new triggers - such as the taste of Vacherin Mont d'Or cheese.. or the smell of boudin blanc (from Montauzer in Bayonne) frying gently, and served with sauté'd apple. There are more but I'll stop there as I'm starting to drool..

8th December. I read somewhere earlier that someone called Ed Sheeran was recently awarded the MBE for services to music and charity. I've got no idea who he is - and there's something about his photograph that makes me want to keep it that way. (If that means I'm very shallow - so be it.) I remember a popular music combo in the sixties known as The Beatles being awarded the MBE. Does that mean Ed Sheeran and his music is right up there with them? <Tin hat on - awaiting incoming!>   

Caves des Pyrénées,
Bayonne

Just back from a flying visit into town to buy a nice bottle of wine for some friends for tomorrow lunchtime - and also one for us for Christmas at an excellent little shop - Caves des Pyrénées - in Bayonne.

In talking to Mme Rabillon, the charming owner, we somehow drifted off onto the subject of whisky - and she scurried off into the back of the shop and came back with a miniature of "Bastille" malt whisky (no prizes for guessing where that's made!) that she insisted on giving to me for me to try.. Now, the question du jour - where else would that happen? Answers on a postcard please.. Highly recommended. (the shop, that is..)

Well, I've just interviewed the miniature of "Bastille" Single Malt. There was an initial hint of Islay malts with it (presumably the French company bought some old Scottish fishermen's socks and steeped them in the mash) but after that faded away, there was nothing left. No honeyed heathery tastes, no complexity, no length - just an anonymous watery finish. Don't just take my word for it - read this review (it's far more circumspect than mine but it essentially says the same thing). 

I don't like having to write this - given that Mme Rabillon was kind enough to offer it to me - but I have to say I won't be rushing out to buy a bottle - especially not at 60+€ a bottle. This is 12 year old Balvenie money - except the Balvenie would bring with it the added bonus of 20€ change! (enough for the down payment on a second one!) For 60€, I'd want to be looking at a litre of Highland Park from Orkney. Now that's a real Single Malt..

(By the way, Balvenie and/or Highland Park would make an ideal Christmas present. Just saying!) 

We were at the e-bike shop this morning - looking at one for Madame. While we were there, a gentleman pulled into the large forecourt in a large black car with a slippery-looking shape that I'd not seen anywhere before. It was a Tesla Modèle X (it's marketed as a Model X in the UK) and it's a 4x4 SUV. The driver pressed a button to open the rear passenger doors and - whoosh! - they disappeared skywards in a manner reminiscent of the legendary Mercedes 300SL "Gullwing". After showing us a few other features of this technological tour-de-force (such as adjustable ride height and the engine compartment), he got back in and in a startling demonstration of acceleration, he shot across the forecourt in almost total mechanical silence (the only sound came from the tyres). I almost jumped at how fast it was.. Spooky!

My concern with 100% electric cars has always been based on range - and the time taken to recharge the batteries. His answers: 560 km or 350 miles and 20 minutes! ("What Car" review here; road test in English here and en français ici)        

7th December. France is in mourning following the death of Johnny Hallyday, who died yesterday aged 74. He was a true showbiz phenomenon and he bestrode popular music in France for over 50 years - while at the same time remaining true to himself and his roots. A simple man from humble origins - he'd been abandoned as a baby - and yet he had succeeded in life beyond his wildest expectations. He'd learnt his trade coming up the hard way - for him there was no shortcut to instant stardom, like winning a TV talent show for example. He understood stagecraft like few others before or since. I remember watching his performance (below) from 2003 when he was a mere youngster of 60. Ever the showman, he made a spectacularly dramatic entrance looking like nothing less than a latter day Darth Vader - and he had the crowd eating out of his hand before he even sang a note. He never put less than 100% into his act and his followers came from all ages and backgrounds.. he had a universal appeal in France.

Of course, France being France, the politicised media chatterati were quick to point out that he was a man of the political right (as if that was of any relevance!). In fact, one journalist said that "Johnny didn't hide the fact that he supported the political Right".. Why should he have done?

Anyway, moving right along, enjoy this video as Johnny gives "Que je t'aime" - one of his best songs - the full "treatment"! (English lyrics here..) I only have one question - where does he keep his house keys in that suit?! (apologies for the lo-res video)

Here's an unlikely fact you can drop into conversation if it all goes quiet in the snug over Christmas.. Did you know that the parents of Johnny Hallyday's lead guitarist - Robin - were John Le Mesurier and Hattie Jacques..? (where's Michael Caine when you need him!)

3rd December. There was frost all over the car this morning for the first time as we took Nutty down to the beach for his Sunday run.. The alerts were chiming in the car: 2°C! And when we got down to the sea front, there were about half a dozen surfers out there. It was probably warmer in the water than out of it though. The air was crisp, the skies were blue and the grass was white with frost. Fortunately there was no wind. 

The winner was Roxane! (Me? Last night I thought Maxime should have won.. but having listened to Roxane again today with her voice like crystal, I think the judges got it right.)