I know there has been a cold snap in a lot of places but it must have been cold here because when I got up this morning I was greeted with this site:

The swimming pool had frozen over. I had never seen that before – not once last winter as far as I’m aware.

Ignore the leaves at the bottom of the pool, I hadn’t got round to cleaning it.

To see how thick it was I prodded it with a stick. I don’t think it would hold my weight but it was certainly a full covering of ice.

Apparently I need to run the pump a bit more to stop it from breaking.

At least someone was enjoying the ice.

Our regular grey wagtail a fait un peu de patin à glace.

While having breakfast this morning I heard an ominous thud. It could only mean one thing. Another bird had flown into the window.

Sure enough when I went over to the window I saw this.

Last time it was a smaller bird – un roitelet triple-bandeau – a fire-crest.

As before, I kept watch in case the neighbour’s cat put in an appearance until the robin had recovered and flown off.

To celebrate the new year Cath and I went for a meal at L’Incontournable in Aix-en-Provence.

There was a set menu for St Sylvestre and we kicked things off with une coupe de champagne.

After a couple of starters we had a palate cleanser – a granite. I liked the way the French for palate cleanser is une parenthèse glacée.

The desert was based on the famous local sweet un calisson.

A lovely evening. We will be back.