Merry Christmas and Newsletter from Plaigne by Sarah Pritchard

Merry Christmas from Sarah Pritchard par Sarah_Pritchard

Christmas 2011 Newsletter from Plaigne

Hello,

I made a little vlog for those of you who are looking at my newsletter online. Thank you for the gifts, cards and greetings. I hope this letter finds you all in good health.

The year seems to have flown by. I’ll give you a brief tour through time from last Christmas to this one.

In March David and Johnathan went to stay with Sue and Ken and did their bathroom for them. I kicked myself later on in the year when I visited Sue and Ken because I forgot to have a look at the bathroom. I guess I was too engrossed in the family history research with Sue.

David and I went to Bordeaux at the end of May. Verity had just completed her work experience in a hotel there. At the same time as collecting Verity I wanted to explore Bordeaux as I hadn’t been there before. The hotel offered free room, breakfast and drinks in the bar for the weekend. It was very close to our 25^th wedding anniversary so that was a lovely treat for us. We enjoyed wonderful weather (I got sunburnt) and Bordeaux is a beautiful city to explore. Here’s a photo I took. I had to wait for the moment the spectrum appeared. I was sure it would, with all that sun and water, and I was not let down.

Later in the year David and Johnathan went to help Nigel in the Alps with some work on the house. Verity, Raymonde, Isabelle and I joined them for the second half of August, along with Deb and Zoe. We had a great time as per usual despite the house being a building site this time. Raymonde and Isabelle always love to see their cousin Zoe. Verity and Johnathan left a day earlier than us and we did a slow journey home, stopping overnight and exploring Montélimar, which is another city well worth discovering.

In September David and I drove to Girona in Spain where I had rented a riverside apartment. We stayed there one night on our own and then the next day we collected Steph and Tom from the airport. The apartment was in the old town; right on the river and we had great views up and down. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. On the return journey David and I visited the Dali Museum and then Collioure, once we got back in France. We like Collioure. We sat on a bench with the old people, looking at the sea and didn’t move til the sun started going down. Then we thought we’d better eat before going home. We had the best pizza I’ve ever eaten, in a restaurant in Argèles. It made an excellent ending to a great long weekend break.

David spent most of October at his mum’s. Raymonde, Isabelle and I flew over and visited for a week, catching up with family and friends, which was rather lovely, and then we visited Ann and Bert’s in London (thank you to Enid, Ann and Bert). Raymonde and Isabelle enjoyed being tourists. The Tower Bridge exhibition was their favourite. We had a bit of an experience on the underground when Isabelle and I got on the train and then turned round to see the train door shut on Raymonde’s fingers, the train starting to move, and David and Raymonde still on the platform. Raymonde pulled her hand out and we eventually met up again at Baker Street.

Everyone was here on Christmas Day and for the New Year celebrations, David, Raymonde, Isabelle and I are going to Bordeaux to spend the long weekend at Verity’s. We’re taking the trailer with some furniture in for her.

We still often have a full house especially at the weekend. I love it when they are all here so that’s fine by me.

Raymonde is still mad about Polly and horses in general. She has made plans for a stable complex and has asked David when he will be finished at the chateau so that he can start on her project! Isabelle is still a fairy and makes lots of fairyland encampments, no matter where she is, indoors or outside.

Demelza is home and works at the clinic and is doing a correspondence course at the same time, to work with small children. In October, she used two weeks of her holidays to do work experience at Belpech School. Raymonde and Isabelle loved having their big sister at school with them. Verity completed her course and was presented with her diploma. We went to the presentation. Demelza came too and confused everyone at first. She had fun telling everyone that she was not Verity. The hotel where Verity did her work experience offered her a contract which she accepted. She has now found an apartment in Bordeaux. She comes to visit when she can and is in contact very often with her twin.

Johnathan decided to upgrade his qualifications. He works for EDF and is also doing a higher apprenticeship and is working towards a professional Bac. He spends some of his time during the week in Bordeaux and some in Pau. At the weekends he is here, along with his washing!

Benjamin is here. He took on a contract with the logistics company where he has worked on and off for the past few years. He travels to Toulouse.

Geoffrey is here or with Alice. He has just completed a course and received an attestation for driving the biggest engine (sounds like Thomas the Tank Engine doesn’t it?) At the moment he is doing the experience part of the training to eventually receive his certificate. This should open up opportunities for him in logistics.

It has been very mild here which pleases me but does not please Raymonde, David and Benjamin who want some snow on the Pyrenees for their skiing and snowboarding.

I have focused on using my writing skills, this year, doing more ghostwriting and I have recently started my own PLR store, but there isn’t much there yet. I am making plans to create the PLR every week of next year to boost up my stock and form a thorough service for my clients. I’m also planning on creating a lot more of my own products. In writing this down I am committing myself.

I will love you and leave you and wish you all the best for the coming year with much success and abundance in every form. Have you made your plans yet? Oh! Don’t forget to find me on Facebook and find my cause, Pritchard family in aid of UNICEF UEP vortex. We did complete a whole vortex this year and I was able to send a cheque to UNICEF, so I would like to say thank you to those of you who participated. Together we make a great difference.

Angel cuddles,

Sarah (& co.)

Newsletter from Plaigne, December 2008

Entertainment at the banquet, Bunratty Castle

Plaigne Newsletter, December 2008

Hello and I hope this finds you all well. We’re all well, including the 3 cats and Polly and Loupio. Thank you to all who’ve sent cards, letters, emails and presies.

We have projects for our house. We are continuing with the Grange rental (and have bookings for next year already), but the apartment is going to become the main entrance to our house. David has almost completed the new bathroom in there. It’s looking really good. Next step will be to knock through into my cave so that we can get into the apartment without going outside. We’ll then use that bathroom while D does the family bathroom upstairs. So it is ongoing work.

This year, David and I decided to have some adventures and discover a bit of the world we live in. In February, we took the four girls to England. On the way up we stayed in Paris, surprised them by going to EuroDisney and then stayed the night in Paris again.

When we arrived in England we found it cold and misty. As we approached Caister, the freezing mist was very worrying and made us lose our way a little. We rang John and he came to find us. We had a very nice stay with John and Jane. We went to the sea front at Great Yarmouth (which brought back memories for me of our family hol there). John and Jane treated us to chips in the market place and ice creams down by the sea front. Yum Yum! Thanks John and Jane; we enjoyed our little stay in Caister.

Next stage was to drive to D’s parents, leave the car there and take the train to London where we stayed for 3 nights in a hotel. We did a lot of walking and sight seeing and were all exhausted in the evenings!

Next stage was to stay at D’s sister’s in Maidstone. We thank Sue and Ken for their hospitality. Much appreciated. We were able to visit family and take Mum to Broadstairs. It’s a place that D and I have always liked and the girls seem to like it too. Mum treated us to fish and chips so we had our fix. When asked what they liked best about their hol, the twins said that it was seeing the family. They were certainly very happy at D’s parent’s and enjoyed Nanny’s cooking.

In July, I suddenly decided to visit Rome. I offered to take the girls, but the twins told me to just take Daddy and they’d look after the little ones for me. I think they knew that I wasn’t going to Rome to relax. I’d write out an itinerary every evening and then make sure that we did everything on the list. D still managed to go swimming every day. I joined him once. It was very hot in Rome, more than 40°. We went to Italy on a cruise ship from Barcelona. That was a great start to the hol. We stayed one night in a hotel right in Rome. Driving in Rome is rather hazardous. They are mad! Walking across the road is taking your life in your hands. I was limping due to a cricket injury, so I used the zebra crossings. Do they take any notice of them? No, not even with red lights. They even bib you to get off the crossing and out of their way!

The rest of our stay in Rome was in a bungalow in Village Roma. We left the car parked at the bungalow and used the shuttle to the Vaticun every day. We loved Rome and intend to return. We took the cruise ship back to Barcelona again. D didn’t want to get off! That is someone who doesn’t like to travel by water. Ha Ha! It certainly makes us want to go on a longer cruise.

Also in July, we took the girls camping at St Nazaire on the Med. We all had a great, relaxing time. We visited Colioure. We all like it there. At the beginning of September, we took the two little ones back to St Nazaire again. I got a virus in my puter which actually slowly killed it off. GC brought life back to it, but I lost many of your email addresses. I haven’t managed to find them all, so forgive me if I haven’t contacted you.

Later in September, D and I flew to London and took the train to Sittingbourne to stay a few nights with Den and Enid (thank you), and then we returned to London. We went to the theatre twice, to see Mama Mia and The 39 Steps. Buckingham Palace was great, of course. We got in for free which was a bonus. There was a state banquet set up. It was a wonderful sight. I still think the Queen needs to sort some of her net curtains!

In October, D and I went to Bunratty, Ireland. It rained nearly all the time we were there, but it was beautiful, all the same. I took lots of photos with my new camera and a couple of them won in the photo fun competition at Adlandpro. We went to a medieval banquet in Bunratty Castle, one evening and were greeted by the butler, as My Lord and My Lady. I could get very used to that, so you know how to address me from now on!

We plan on exploring more and taking our discoveries further afield as and when we are able (as much as poss).

For Xmas, us females all sang in a concert at Orsans. Ray and Isa joined in with “Away in a Manger.” On 20^th Dec, some of us villagers put on an Xmas meal for friends of Plaigne. We had a Father Christmas for the kids. Chris, who played FC, was almost melted to tears by Isa, who gave him a big cuddle. He had a large lump in his throat and could hardly speak.

On Xmas Eve, at 6 pm, I was asked to lead carol singing in the village, down by the mairie. It was cold but we had mulled wine to warm us up. At 8 pm, we had some friends, Karen and Adrian and their kids here for a meal. All the Pritchards were present (which doesn’t happen very often these days). We had to add an extra table and chairs. It was a lovely evening and we saw in Xmas Day. Xmas Day was spent as a family day and I didn’t go anywhere near my puter (which can’t be said for GC, but he did hold out til 10 pm).

I’m finding it very difficult with only an extra slow dial-up connection, but my Internet business is progressing and Angel Cuddle Publishing is official. I have an office in London and am registered in England. This complicates matters sometimes when I’m filling in electronic forms. I’m living in France, but have a business address in England and the forms can’t always cope with me. Ooooh la la. I’m putting my best foot forward and overcoming all obstacles.

Well, dear people, here’s to an abundant 2009 and beyond for us all, full of love and joy and peace. Please sign our peace petition: http://angelcuddlesforpeace.com

Many blessings and of course, angel cuddles (my signature),

Sarah & co

Ps weather report: 26^th woke up to land covered in white stuff and kids used sledge. 27^th no white stuff anywhere and sun shining, but windy.