This Christmas we have started our own crèche featuring santons made in Aix-en-Provence.

All the usual figures are there – meme si les trois rois sont un peu tôt.

But there a couple of extra, more local, visitors.

One of our local wild boars has joined the animals in the stable.

And of course..

Emile Zola.

While in London I also saw my first ever bécasse.

However this woodland bird, normally seen at dusk, was not in an ideal setting. Rather he was in the bright lights of Liverpool Street station in the middle of the day and the Christmas rush.

Not an ideal location for a Woodcock.

I hope the little bird found its way to safety.

What does this remind you of?

I spotted it during a Christmas visit to London, near Tottenham Court Road.

And it reminded me of my former workplace.

And just like at Confluence there is an orange cube to keep it company.

A little bit of Lyon à Londres.

As part of Christmas celebrations chez mon père we brought along une bûche de Noël from the French pâtisserie Aux Merveilleux de Fred.

After a traditional Turkey dinner we forewent the Christmas pudding for a white chocolate bûche.

It went down very well.

Joyeux Noël à tous.

There was a storm last night rattling round the house and when we woke up this morning it was to the sight of another fallen tree in the garden.

This one had been blown down by the wind but the slight problem was we were flying to London for Christmas in a couple of hours.

As Cath pointed out, if it had come down a few weeks earlier we could have dragged it inside and draped it with lights and tinsel.

I didn’t want to leave it as it was so dashed out with my trusty saw and cut in into a few smaller pieces to deal with on our return.

Comment va notre blé de la Ste Barbe par rapport à l’année dernière?

Je dirais beaucoup mieux de l’année dernière.

As I’ve said before, Aix-en-Provence is even more beautiful at Christmas time.

This year is no exception.

We’ll be in the UK for Nöel this year but seeing the new year in in Aix.

Another Christmas tradition is making les biscuits des sables – shortbread biscuits. So when we visited Hanna and her two girls we – well Cath at least – helped out.

First it was rolling out the dough, then cutting it into shapes.

And we got a little bag to take home.

It is the time of year for Christmas markets so this weekend we went to two.

On Saturday it was our local one at Puyricard.

It wasn’t the best to be honest so it was with a bit of trepidation that we headed to Vaugines – former home of Peter Mayle.

This one had a bit more pizazz.

We bought some Christmas baubles and a Christmas present.

The sun may be shining but it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas en Provence.

No, not from the actual office dealing with my request to change my visa – 14 months and counting without a reply.

This was rather from Le Palais Bourbon where a vote by MPs was passed to say that long-term visas should be automatically renewed.

You can read more about it here.

Although the vote was overwhelmingly in favour it still has to pass through the Senate so I’m not holding my breath.