Christmas Eve

Bonjour tout le monde!

Wriitng this as preparations go on downstairs for the Christmas feast that we're going to have tomorrow. Don't worry, I've already asked if I can help and I've been shunned, so I'm not being impolite (neither are they; perhaps "shunned" isn't the right word - more like assured that everything is being taken care of by Christine and Marie-Charlotte). This will probably be my last entry for a while because tomorrow we leave for ROME ROME ROME and we don't get back until the 30th. Hooray!

Hugh Jackman speaks French.

Today was another hideous instance of bludging around until three in the afternoon, just as I was getting ready to do some of my own exercise. Claire came and told me that we were going to go for a walk in the forest to collect twigs (had to look that up in the dictionary) for the decorations. We set off into the late afternoon sun, and I felt very much like Little Red Riding Hood or Gretel or someone like that. We went through the forest for a bit and collected some holly and other miscellaneous plants, and then Claire took me around the fields and vineyards for a bit. It was all breathtakingly pretty and country-like, and looking over the valley that inspired Balzac to write something famous (I missed a few key words in that conversation) made me think of how lucky I am and thank god I asked to go to the country and not Paris. I took some beautiful photos which you can see when I get home. By the way, yesterday marked the middle of my trip! So now I'm more than halfway: After Rome, I only have eight days until I leave. This makes me feel happy and sad at the same time.

Yesterday was decidedly more action-packed. I spent the majority of the day at the golf course (baaaah) watching Claire and Hortense play a bit, as well as hitting a few balls myself on the practise ground. Martin was there too but he went off to play his Dad so I didn't have to put up with any more soft porn. Then at 7:30pm Claire, Hortense and I went off to see "AUSTRALIA" with HUGH JACKMAN who is THE SEXIEST MAN ALIVE according to that survey. But it was in French!! I so wanted to hear the Australian accent! Still, it was a magnificent movie, and I couldn't help crying when the little kid said "C'est mon pays ... notre pays" which means "It's my country ..  our country". WAAAAAAAH. And then there was that bit where Hugh Jackman was in the bar and he thought that Nicole Kidman was dead, and then the piano in the background started playing Walzing Matilda, which was very emotional. And, Em, the closing credits! When it was just a picture of Australia with the word AUSTRALIA emblazoned across it, and everyone started leaving the cinema because it was the end but I didn't want to leave because I was feeling all teary and patriotic. Hugh Jackman was, by the way, sex on a horse, and everyone in the cinema sighed collectively when he appeared all clean-shaven in his tux. Claire is in love with him, and so is Hortense, and they both loved the film as well so the whole evening was a huge success. When I came home I had to listen to "I still call Australia home" on my iPod.

So, that's it for now. By the way, those of you who threatened to call me on Christmas: Don't bother, because my phone has run out of batteries and it refuses to charge with the transformer.

MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL!! May you all get lovely presents and have a wonderful day, I will be thinking of you! Especially Isy when I open your card!!

xx Munch xx