November in Port

Being November we did our annual trip up to Beaujolais for the release of the Beaujolais noveau. As usual after a 'tasting' of the new vintage we enjoy a generous repast of 'raclette'......a very traditional winter meal here in France. Little trays, these days on elec cookers, hold a special cheese that melts at low temperatures, you then pour it over your plate of cold meats and hot potatoes...delicious.

Cordelia came out for a weeks relaxation.  We did a trip up to Emmaus [a local charity sale room...huge, people travel for miles to get to the regular sales]  Naturally she found a very pre-loved fur coat....and yes it did shed..profusely....in fact the car seat had a whole new look by the end of her visit. Then off to the chateau St Roche which had almost no water around it.We make regular visits to these charming little Chateau...it;s position in the middle of the Loire gives it an ever changing landscape due to the flucations in the water levels....currently after a very dry summer it was high and dry and we could see the foundations clearly.

 The walkway over to the Chateau.....it is very, very cold. And that hug left me very 'furry'

 This shows just how they were able to build in the middle of the river, it was on a solid rock base.

Both small and interesting. Below shows just how long the water level had been low.

Of course we did a trip to a vide grenier, stopping at La Clayette on the way back. This town has a stunning 'castle' built at the end of pretty manmade lake.

 Although Andrew is looking rather 'French' he is in fact taking a closeup of the gardens.

 This Chateau is still in private hands and not open for visits. Thats what it says Cordelia..:Not open".

Then off to the Charolais market at St Christophe en Brionnais. This cattle auction site has been used for hundreds of years, but has recently been modernised...touch tablets for bids, electronic gates for cattle to come on to the display stage....and very prettily they pose indeed. The main interest was the bidding...it took us a few minutes to work out that these cows were indeed the gold standard for the district.  Now when we see a field we think of the 1200 euros per cow!

 Enter stage right, exit stage left...mooing and bowing all the way.

 Forget about standing about in mud to bid...these guys all have little electronic bid pads, the price starts at the farmers best hopes and then goes down until somebody bids...its all nerves of steel if you want a particular lot....first bidder gets the deal. The ladies all tagged, tied and ready to go.

After a fairly busy month we packed up ready for our trip back to Australia for Xmas. On the way we stopped in Paris overnight and visited the magnificent Paris Opera house.

Designed primarily as a place for the famous and beautiful to strut their stuff.... it was stunning....long, wide corridors designed to show off the fashions of the day. No surface was left ungilded....and staircases allow the guests to make entrances and exits with a flourish.

Then off to the airport for the long haul to Melbourne.