Blowout

We were invited out for two splendid meals this weekend.

Number one: David is a footballing friend of Herne's, a lively little chap who never stops talking, and his parents wanted to treat us all to some French new year's specialities. So we had salade de gésiers, smoked salmon, foie gras, oysters, and galette des rois. Yummee. David's dad Patrick wore a special protective glove for opening the oysters, which was made of chain mail and looked like something from a suit of armour. Very professional. Herne and David enjoyed themselves watching Real Madrid TV. Staggered home late and got up late on Sunday morning in time for...

Number two: a superb slap-up lunch with local British friends. Charcuterie, lasagne, cheese with genuine English cream crackers, chocolate cake and fruit salad, followed by an DVD for the children. There's something very reassuring about having a good old chat in English about home affairs, and it helps to reinforce the sense of English roots for the children. Very enjoyable too. Somehow we didn't feel the need for any supper in the evening.

I saw today that Natalie Wheen from Classic FM has chosen the Chuckerbutty Ocarina Quartet as one of her favourite CDs from 2006. Thanks Natalie!

The children have already memorised the complete Fawlty Towers which I brought back from England last week.

It's a charango, but not as we know it

Home again, somewhat exhausted after playing six concerts and driving 750 miles in four days.

This picture shows one of the weirdest instruments I have ever seen. This is Ernesto Cavour playing his 'Little Star' charango. It provides a little light relief in a largely incomprehensible academic article on The Charango as Transcultural Icon of Andean Music. Maybe when I grow up I will understand what 'mental syncretism' means.

On the road

I'm travelling to UK tomorrow for a busy few days of concerts:

Wednesday 17 January 1.05pm
The Chuckerbutty Ocarina Quartet - FREE Lunchtime concert in City of London Festival Winter Series
St Lawrence Jewry, Gresham Street, London, EC2V 5AA
http://www.colf.org/events_details.cfm?e=255

Friday 19 January 8.45 pm
Sambuca at Islwyn Acoustic Guitar Club, Crosskeys Hotel, near Newport
http://www.geocities.com/jenks436/nextevent.html

Saturday 20 January 1pm
Sambuca - Foyer concert, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
http://www.wmc.org.uk/index.cfm?UUID=EBF45918-E3B2-6B63-F45209BD0D902ACD

Also Saturday 20 January 7.30 pm
Sambuca at Dorset Guitar Society at Kinson Community Centre, Pelhams Park, Millhams Road, Kinson, Bournemouth, BH10 7LH.
http://www.dorsetguitarsociety.org.uk/

See both groups at http://www.seaview.dial.pipex.com/video.html

TOTP

The children's favourite French pop songs at the moment are Fous ta cagoule, a rap ditty about getting too cold in winter, and Coup de Boule, a cheerful song celebrating Zidane's headbutt against that Italian in the World Cup.

Bang

Out across the fields we can hear the guns and dogs of the Sunday afternoon hunt. There are no foxes being shot here: the preferred game is boar and deer. Cars with dog cages park in clusters along country roads and signs are erected, warning of "Chasse au Grand Gibier" (big game hunting!). Men in bright orange jackets carrying rifles line the edges of the woods, waiting for something to emerge. Last winter a passer-by brought a lost dog to our house. It had been gashed in the side by a boar. We gave it a blanket and a bowl of water while he tracked down the owner.

As ever, administration rules, and only those capable of hacking through a thicket of formalities are allowed to hunt.

Overstuffed

Our friends Brigitte and Bernard hosted a wonderful Reveillon de Saint Silvestre last night to welcome in the new year. Over the course of five hours we ate:

Champagne and canapés
Oysters
Foie gras
Barbecued beef with potato gratin and vegetables

--- break for fireworks at midnight, but no Auld Lang Syne ---

Salad
Cheese
Les Treize Desserts
Coffee

This is apparently a 'typical' French new year's meal. Well, it was fantastic and neither of us has had room to eat more than a couple of morsels today.