Expect the unexpected II

Yesterday evening, the doorbell rang at about 8 pm and I opened the door to be confronted by a man proffering a bottle of champagne. How unexpected is that? It turned out to be a British couple we met very briefly last summer, when they had just bought a house in the village. They are here for New Year and thought we might like a bottle for our own celebrations. What a lovely surprise :)

We had a very low key New Year's Eve, at home on our own. I did a bit of shopping this morning, and a bit of cooking this afternoon, so we had smoked salmon and home-made blinis (again), then a slab of steak with marchand de vin sauce made by S, and fried potatoes, and then mince pies with cream. And champagne of course. Mystère partook of the salmon, the steak, and the cream, and appeared satisfied with all of them. Now he's looking alarmed because someone is letting off rather premature fireworks in the square. We'll be in bed well before midnight!

It's considered bad luck in France to wish people a happy new year before midnight. So I won't, you'll have to wait till tomorrow. S's plan for tomorrow is to yomp up a mountain for the first time in months. Mine is to have a lie in and do some baking. A l'année prochaine !