Before we do anything else I think we need to empty the recycling and get the rubbish put out before all the bins are full. Here in France we don’t have our own bins, we have to take our rubbish to special bins located around the area… but of course the recycling ones are nowhere near the general rubbish ones.

On the way home we buy a new microwave – it’s going to be handy for boxing day etc. Matt didn’t buy it yesterday as the only one left had a broken box so he wanted me to ensure that it would be fully covered if it didn’t work. A chap stopped us worried about it but then spoke as though he worked there, assuring us that we could get a special receipt as a guarantee. GCSE French win! We have a special receipt and doesn’t look as though there are any problems, it’s just the box and on Christmas eve it’s not like we have a lot of other options nearby.

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Following yesterday’s shopping trip we have a fancy new mop so time for me to put it together. There are no instructions but at least there’s only a few pieces so reckon I’ve got this.

One incredibly important job for the day is ‘hot wiring’ our new oven in. I’m not sure how long she had it before she redid her kitchen but it’s in fantastic condition and super clean, it even has the manuals inside. The boy is very confident, good job too as our shopping trip last night relies on us being able to use it.

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Thankfully he’s a bloody genius and in no time we’ve got it in a wired up (in a way that won’t burn the house down)!

Since we’re having an easier time for the holidays Tonia and Matt are making the most of the weather and pottering about in the garden. I pop out to take some photos but get on with a little work while the going is good and the house quiet.

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Once it starts to get dark it’s time to finish the Christmas prep. Now I have all the bits from the forage yesterday I can finish my wreath. The inspiration is the holly and the ivy but using it to give a sense of a corona – seems only right and in keeping with the rest of the year. The pukeko is just an added bonus as it sits on a bell so jingles when the door is opened and closed.

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Next up is dinner prep. Rub is on the pork and it’s back in the fridge for a bit.

I think ‘we’ may have gone a little overboard with the potatoes – 4kg may be a little much for 3 people. In my defence we are having roast and fondant!

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We’re using the scaffolding as extra prep space as we are rather limited with the table in the living room currently. Matt is making Christmas spiced red cabbage – bleurgh, and doing the beef marinade. I’m now working on the marinade for the pork.

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Once the food prep is done it is time for leftover spaghetti bolognese and to relax into Christmas. Seems that I caught my favourite trousers while we were out on the walk so while I fix those Tonia… well, I’m not really sure… I think it was maybe her rendition of Frozen (but in French)?!

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In true French tradition, I proffered gifts as we decide to have one present each. Kudos to Matt for winning the ‘most excited of the night’. To be fair, we all think that the duck is awesome!

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Since it’s Christmas eve we clearly have to watch Die Hard and have some random pictures.

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Along with some rather good group pictures I seemed to do the Grinch…

Blue steel…

And then, out of nowhere, I turned left and got Magnum!

The randomness ensued for a bit before it was time to check out and go to bed!

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