Le 10 décembre – notre cérémonie de naturalisation. Our naturalisation ceremony

On December 10 we attended the Ceremonie de Naturalisation for those of us who had recently become French citizens. Although the official part had taken place in early May, and we now have French identity cards (very important!) and passports, this was the ceremonial side.  We were welcomed into French citizenship and made aware of the honour of being French.

We live in the Département of the Dordogne, where there are around 415 000 residents.  In the last two years 334 of us have become citizens. Normally we would have gone to Perigueux, the capital of the Departement, but with various lockdowns over the last two years, no ceremonies have taken place.  And now, for the first time, they were decentralized, and we were invited to the very large lycée(high school) in Sarlat.

We were 26 at the ceremony, welcomed by la Sous-Préfete, Mme Monteil. Several speeches, a film, the Marseillaise, and the ceremonial presentation of letters from the President, etc.  No champagne, as once again there were restrictions regarding gatherings.

Here we are, being presented, along with our friend, Michel Lemasson, deputy Mayor of Carlux.

Et dans le bulletin de Carlux.  In the Carlux annual newsletter. 

 

 

Noel, encore une fois chez nous. Christmas, once again at home

 Even those who said they didn't want/need a present seem to have had a visit from Santa. And thank you to Vancouver, home of the super-duper Espro French Press. Même ceux qui n’avait pas besoin de cadeaux ont reçu une visite du Père Noel.

Le repas de Noel.  Christmas dinner

La moitie d’une pintade – j’ai oublié de faire une photo avant de manger !

Half a guinea fowl I forgot to take the photo before we ate!

Le 10 novembre. L’automne chez nous. Autumn here

  

Le 28 octobre. La Belle Etoile, La Roque Gageac. Il fait beau et nous sortons – encore. The weather’s nice and we’re out again!

 Avec nos amis, Carol et Michael, nous sommes alles a La Roque Gageac, l’une des plus beaux villages de France.  It was beautiful weather, and so we went with our friends Carol and Michael to La Roque Gageac, one of ‘The most beautiful villages of France.’

Sur la route.  On the road.

Vitrac

La Roque Gageac

La Belle Etoile a droite.  Restaurant on the right

 

Les amuses bouche - lotte avec pommes Granny Smith, une petite soupe de potiron

to start, sea bass with Granny smith apples, and squash soup

first course - for Harry, foie gras

Pour Susan, des huitres pochés. poached oysters.  Superbe!

et des ris de veau comme plat principal.  Sweetbreads for main course.

Le souffle termine sa cuisson avec l’aide du cognac flambant.  The souffle finishes cooking with the help of some flaming cognac.

Et pourquois pas, encore du chocolat.  A little more chocolate, just in case.

La terrace

La route de retour. On the way home

Et Chez nous