Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Good morning Ros!

Thank you for enquiring - Yes, my back is finally much better; it still gets tired and achy as the day progresses, but all in all, I can't complain! Just got to be careful not to do too much lest severe
pain comes back! I did overdo it slightly the other day and was soon
reminded that I was not quite up to it

I love your little tale about the Sardinians! I reckon the key to a
healthy diet is 'eat everything within reason' - nothing in excess,
just a bit of everything. But that's my philosophy!

Are you going to have family around you for New Year, or are you
visiting?

Hope you have a good time anyway - I will not offer my good
wishes now as it is too early (and reckoned on being bad luck!)

Hello Elle!

Yes, New Year is definitely a celebratory time here! Don't know so
much what people do nowadays as I live in such a small village, but
even here, people do get together, there is usually a lot of dancing
in every household (or used to be anyway) and also folks in town
do tend to go out to a show (Lido, Moulin Rouge etc in Paris for exemple) where just before the show, you can enjoy a dinner-dance
before the show itself. Grand parents are usually called upon for
baby-sitting! Christmas is much more a family celebration.

and Yes, there will be (official) firework displays, but only at
Midnight and a little after. Well, this is how it used to be!

My English friend and I are going to have NY's lunch tomorrow
with my other English friends who also have a house here (they
live in Luxembourg, and others live in Jersey) So it will be a nice
British get together I think!!!

Any news from the family and their health?

Hello Rusty,

How are you? Are you doing anything this evening? First footing with
the young ones, or are you waiting for them to come to you?

I have always considered that New Year celebration in Scotland had more in common with France than England did. Not necessarily
celebrating in the same way, but celebrating nonetheless! My
first NY's eve in England was dismal and I was very VERY disappointed and swore I would always take a holiday in France for the following
New Years!!!

Good morning, Elle!
It has turned into a lovely morning here, and very mild!
I was at ASDA at 7.30 today, me and quite a few more!
I had a bit of a walk just now and the store is busy by the look of the car park.
It gets busy from 10 onwards, as that is when the law says they can sell drink from.
Though you get the odd chancer who tries to buy alcohol before 10, but the checkout tills are programmed not to allow it.
Nothing organised here.
New Year is not a time for planning, I have always found.
Out you go and see what happens!

Good morning, Pigale!
I am great, thank you!
How are you getting on?
Still taking it easy?
I have no plans this evening, but I am ready for whatever turns up!
The boots are polished etc in the event that I go out, though it's the young ones who will be out mostly.
I had one New Year in England when I was young and it was nothing like I was used to!
Just different cultures.
New Year was our big event, and England's was Christmas.
Though Christmas is quite an occasion up here nowadays.
Times have changed!

Hello Rusty,

I am still taking it 'reasonably' easy but am looking forward to the
time when I am totally painless! Basically, I am 'bored' with being
careful!

In France, I have always known both Christmas and New Year to
be celebrated - just in different ways, that's all; Christmass = family
New Year = family and/or friends, like a big party at home or in a
cabaret - Most folks want to dance on New Year's Eve.
We danced both Christmas and New Year!!! Great dancing
family. I learnt to dance the tango and the Paso Doble at 7years old, perched (bare feet) on my father's feet - Soon after, I could dance both on my own! I miss it!

I so wish I could dance, pigale. I have a dream, and a partner in mind, but it will never happen.

Hello, Pigale!
I like your story about learning to dance on your father's feet!
I have taught each of my granddaughters how to jive.
And just occasionally, if we were at a function or a party, one of the girls will pull me on to the floor for a jive!
It makes my day!

Hi, Rusty!
How is your day going?
I am sorry to have taken so long to reply!
I had only just sent my last post to you, when my daughter and family arrived.
I was not expecting them so early!
It was a lovely surprise, and I was glad to see that everyone seemed... and sounded.... in much better health today!
We have just had lunch.....and now we are about to play some new games that the boys got for Christmas!
( I hope I can understand them! )
Still dull and grey here.

Great stuff, elle. Tell us about the games later. I bought my grandson a badminton set, complete with net. Delayed gratification!