Joyeux Noel

Well I survived Christmas with the French-in-laws, the biggest survival technique you need is being able to eat, lots.

Mr. C's family has only been in France since the 1950's. His mother's family hail from Sicily and his father's family from Spain. Both families moved to North Africa, Tunisia and Algeria respectively, and when the countries became independent the families moved to France where his parents met and married. Most of the brothers and sisters have remained living in Provence with only Mr. C's family moving to the Alps. With such a varied family history "traditional" can mean almost anything.

The family celebrate on both Christmas Eve and Christmas day, so we had two Christmas dinners. Last night was asparagus souffle followed by crevettes with truffle rissotto. Not at all traditional but delicious. After salad and cheese the puddings were presented. In Provence it is traditional to have 13 deserts on the side, this can include fruits so isn't as unhealthy as you might think.
Along with dates and walnuts stuffed with marzipan there were oriellettes, which are my favourite. These are deep fried sweet pastry sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. (That's them in the picture) The same pastry is used for canelles, which are tubes of pastry filled with an orange cream. The English were also represented with a Christmas pudding, thanks mum, though my brandy butter became whisky butter, well it was that or cinzano butter.

After the children were in bed we put out the presents. When I was growing up presents from family and friends went under the tree and Santa just filled your stocking. Here though Papa Noel brings all the presents so they have to be hidden from view until Christmas morning.

Mr. C nearly disillusioned several small children this week as he kept talking about putting out the presents or how he realised that Papa Noel wasn't real infront of small people. Fortunately crisis was averted and all the small children here still believe.

We did the very grown up "presents just for the children" this year. But even then we still managed to forget to buy a present for our 9 month old niece. I thought Mr. C might have a plan so didn't mention anything but when he arrived home from work yesterday he realised and panicked. So no plan there then. Fortunately we had brought Baby C a very cute teddy bear so that went to our neice instead. So our baby had no gift from us, but seeing as she is only four months I am assured that this does not make us bad parents and she won't be adopted away form us.

Today was presents and more food with a survival nap in the afternoon. One of the benefits of having a small child is that you can take them off for a nap and catch one yourself with no-one thinking any the worse.

Sadly the French-in-laws don't have satelite so I missed out on the Queen "my husband and I-ing" Ah well there is always next year.

Merry Christmas