The second blip of Christmas - la table

Art de table. A typically French thing, wherein one knows how to set a table in such a way that people feel welcome and special when they come for dinner. Madame spends much time getting it just right, wheras my role is more one of le grafteur.

Utterly freezing, horribly cold, I would not be a bird (please put out food!), homeless (I hope there are plenty of beds in shelters) or elderly and fearful of spending too much heating a house (check your neighbours). My dear neighbour slept with a cardigan on last night, so it must be 'expletive' cold.

We are having (they wait patiently for the desert!) people tonight for a pre-Xmas Xmas meal.

Wandered round getting sticks and twigs to start the fire, thankfully.

Bitterly cold when putting the car again into the garage, it said

-7°