The leaves are snowing outside! There’s a storm brewing off the Atlantic Coast of France right now and people have been warned to stay inside. Here in Ramonville St-Agne, the almost bare trees are dropping their leaves in a swirling mess; actually a really beautiful swirling mess. It's time for a walk, after sitting at the computer for too long. I hope I make it back.
Autumn here in France is just gorgeous, and this year it was particularly wonderful with weeks and weeks of summery temperatures and still, long days. The colours on the trees made me gasp, and the leaves stayed firmly attached to their branches, willing you to look at them and admire their beauty before they became compost.
The tall plane trees that line many of the main streets here drop their leaves like you wouldn’t believe. The council works very hard to sweep them up, and teams of men with a little truck with circling brushes tidy things up nicely. I prefer the scattered leaves to stay where they are - they look so lovely and it’s so much fun to kick your way through them on the way home from school with the kids. (Just watch out for doggie calling cards though - that can be a bit messy.)
But now, autumn is over and it’s almost Christmas Day and the shortest day of the year (the darkest depths of winter in Europe). It’s very hard to get moving in the morning when there’s no light, but after school in the late afternoon the kids like nothing better that to gear themselves up to go rollerblading down our driveway, with only the light from the outside bulb and their dynamo torches. It’s mad fun, and they come inside buzzing and gleaming (with cold and excitement), ready for a big, warm meal.
It hasn't snowed yet, but it probably will before winter is over. During our first year here it snowed three times - good, proud dumps. Last year it was only a measley scattering on Christmas Day. We are going to visit a ski town after Christmas, called Luchon, nestled in the Pyrenees mountains. The ski lift leaves the town of Luchon and goes straight up to the ski slopes which is perfect for lovely husband and the boys who like skiing. Olivia and I will be soaking in the Luchon thermal pools instead. Aaaah.
