La Galette des Rois - King's cake features large in January in France. I tasted it five times this month and very yummy it was too.
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| An almond based galette |
The first time was with friends when we met up to have King's cake and champagne together - a chance to catch up after the holiday season when we were all busy with family. We also wanted to talk about a trip to the mountains but more of that later. La galette comes in two forms and people do have their favourites. I love them both. In the galette a fève, favour, is hidden and whoever finds it is king or queen of the occasion and given a paper crown. No luck for me this time.
The second time was with our Kiwanis friends. Good wishes for the New Year exchanged, a delightful meal enjoyed and une galette to finish. This time I was lucky and found a fève - I hope that means a good 2015 for me.
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| A fève peeping out from a slice of cake |
The third time was with Le Club des Ainés ( the old folk's club). I support their events in my role as councillor and if I can I go to the 'loto' (bingo). The petit loto is held the first Tuesday in every month and at the January event we were served galette and cider at the end of the afternoon. The fève I won at the Kiwanis dinner must have brought me luck as I won a joint of pork and some chicken thighs (the prizes are always food!)
| Here in the SW the brioche version is more common |
The fourth time was at the annual Voeux du Maire where the mayor and his councillors invite the whole village in order to wish them Happy New Year. The maire makes a speech about what we have been up to as a council, visiting dignitaries say a few words and the we all eat King's cake and drink cider. This year we were honoured to have Miss Lot et Garonne at the event as she lives in the village. I did get a fève in my cake but I gave it to one of the children,Agathe, as she had also found a fève but the dropped it on the floor and it had broken - don't want any tears to start the New Year.
The cake is served to mark Epiphany and the fève originally represented the baby Jesus who the king's searched for. Now they come in many forms - my first find this year was an Asterix character and the second was in the form of a chocolate eclair!
Galette number five was eaten in the Pyrenees. Same group of friends as the first galette with a couple of additions and this time in the pyrenees after a day in the snow. No fève for me this time but I didn't need one to feel lucky having such great friends to share a few days away with.
I wasn't able to have the champagne or cider with my cake as it has been a dry month for me. I signed up to the Cancer Research initiative 'driathlon'. I find it helps to have an objective and this fit well with our decision to give more to charity in 2015. I know giving up alcohol for a month seems a small thing compared to some of the adventurous, dangerous and brave things that are done for charity but lots of people doing a small thing can add up to a worthwhile contribution to helping others. I wasn't expecting anyone else to join my fundraising effort but a couple of friends have done so nonetheless so thanks to them.
The weather has been quite kind to us this January, ending with a cold snap but as yet no snow. We are warm and cosy in side our very well insulated house and Kevin loves cooking on his Esse wood burning stove. We have had to have some modifications done to our heating system (first time and we have used an English workman - and the last!) and now it is all working as it was meant to - just needed someone who knows what they are doing to regulate it and make sure the pipework meets french regulations.
We are planning for our work in the garden this year and have ordered a new greenhouse and planned out the area to put along with some new raised beds. Our brilliant gardener/odd job man,Christian, has been clearing all the wood from the area and cutting and stacking it ready for next winter!
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| Not a polytunnel this time |
We've also been thinking about holidays and booking trips to the UK to see family. I am going in February to help prepare for a new granddaughter and again in April to meet her. We are both looking forward to seeing two of our grandsons in Birmingham at Easter time. My daughter tells me she us turning 40 this year (I don't know how as I'm not nearly old enough to have a 40 year old child) and we are taking a Norwegian cruise in July to celebrate. I come back to France after that holiday with my daughter in law and three grandchildren for fun in the sun chez nous and then on October we go to New Zealand for a month.
So that's our 2015 so far. What are your plans for the year? Whatever they are we both wish you all every happiness
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