People often ask me if I've had trouble adjusting to life in Chalabre. I always tell them no. However, there is one thing that is difficult for this ex-Californian, and it has been more noticeable this holiday season: smoking!

We Californians forget that there are plenty of places where smoking is still a large part of the social fabric. And, although I have met many non and ex smokers here in France, there are still many, many more smokers than we ever ran into in California, even when it was easier to be a smoker there. And, in fairness I should point out that as many of our British acquaintances smoke as our French friends. Thus it is not as much a U.S. vs. French cultural question, as truly a matter of California vs. the rest of the world.

Of course, even a California winter is mild in comparison to what we are currently experiencing right now. So, it's no big deal for the occasional smoker to slip outside for a few puffs. When the temps are in the teens and low twenties (fahrenheit), it's a much less appealing prospect. Certainly, you are not going to ask people not to smoke in their own homes!

Thus, these holiday times when we are out visiting and going to parties, it is just one of those inescapable facts of life. I will say that after coming home from two back-to-back events over the weekend, where JM and I seemed to be the only two people (other than a couple of babies!) who weren't smoking, I felt as if I had inhaled an entire pack myself. At one party in Leran, we would have stayed longer, but I found I was no longer able to breathe.

When we did get home, our clothes were so imbibed with tobacco, that I was unable to wear my winter jacket for two days. Luckily, I was finally able to buy some Febreze, which got the last of the odor out. Everything else was immediately consigned to the garage to await a good laundering. For myself, I had to take a long hot shower, to get my hair to feel clean again.

There really is no answer for this. Unless one is willing to stop socializing entirely, the problem remains. I don't let people smoke in our home and never will. But, you can't stay in your own home 100% of the time. And, when there are people whom you truly like and with whom you want to spend time, you need to make a choice. So, I will visit the smokers and wash my clothes and hair more often to compensate.

A small cultural difference for this Wednesday afternoon.

Ciao for now!

R
(see pictures on my personal site.)

Christmas in Chalabre was understated but festive nevertheless.

You can always tell that there’s a holiday in the air, because, suddenly, a host of cars bearing “outside” license plates (tags from different departments!) appear; they’re a sure sign that family and friends have descended to visit.

Even our Saturday market was livelier than usual. We now seem to have a much larger fruit and vegetable dealer who comes every week. He has things that we don’t normally find in the village, such as luscious Victoria pineapple from Reunion, as well as mangoes and other exotic items. Also, the tablecloth/home products seller seems to be a regular fixture now as well. I like having them here, even if it does mean Beanie gets blocked in until afternoon. I think it’s good for the village to have a larger, more varied market. The more people selling goods, the more shoppers will come to buy. That’s the theory, anyway!

I picked up of Bûche de Noel on Saturday morning, then our dinner roast and a nice chicken in the afternoon. Visions of a scrumptious dinner danced in our heads all afternoon. JM has been pining for a good Bûche for many years, as the ones we were able to find in L.A. were never quite what he was looking for. Philippe’s was just perfect. Tender, delicate cake rolled around a rich, Grand Marnier flavored butter cream, with pale pink butter cream frosting to boot. JM was in heaven.

As always, the filet roast from Didier and Mireille’s butcher shop was so tender you could cut it with a butter knife. Okay, not the kind of meal you want to eat every day, but a real Christmas treat nevertheless.

After a post dinner walk around the village, we came in to open presents. To be honest, Maggie was really the only one getting presents this year. Her secret Santa, Nisi from Kentucky, sent her a load of fabulous presents. JM and I enjoyed opening them as much as if they had been for us! Sitting in front of the fire with soft music playing in the background and the Christmas tree twinkling in the corner; it was just about the best Christmas ever for us.

Yesterday, on Christmas day, we had fun going around and visiting friends to wish them a merry Christmas as well. Then, after a dinner of my carrot-leek-potato soup to compensate for what we’d eaten the night before, we snuggled do to watch the special Christmas episode of DOCTOR WHO on BBC1.

Pretty much the ideal weekend, I’d have to say.

Ciao for now!

R
(see pictures on my personal site.)