14th December 2017 - 31st January 2018. Bridge Christmas dinner at Charlieu. Shannon has a friend to stay for Christmas. New Year celebrations on Eendracht, followed by a trip to England.

This year our Bridge club Christmas dinner was at L'Auberge de L'Abbaye at Charlieu. There were 40 of us there and we all enjoyed a five course French meal.

Escot came to stay on Christmas day, so we went for a walk further along the river Loire, round by the lakes. We think that these were created in the old sand pits.

Shannon and Escot co-exist quite happily, although both still prefer to be top dog!

We all enjoyed New Year's Eve celebrations on Eendracht.

Our normal route along the path beside the river Loire was blocked today, with the stepping stones hidden under the water. The river Loire, to the right, is very full too.

We went to England in the second week in January, although Sally fell over a rope in the port, which delayed our visit by a couple of days. 7 stitches in my chin, after a 3 hour wait in casualty, was not what had been planned!

The cliffs of Dover look really white when the sun shines, but are quite dull at close quarters.

After a visit to Norfolk, we drove cross country via Aynho, on the Oxford canal. There are more narrowboats here than we have seen in three years in France!

Once back in the UK, this is the headroom to be expected at bridges.

Beyond the bridge at Aynho, the residential boaters “stretch in never ending line”.

We had a lovely time in Cheltenham, with Debbie, Matt and Toad.

Back in Roanne, there was a pretty sunset to greet us.

By the end of January, our logpile is much smaller, but it still keeps its shape, having used the French style of wood stacking.