CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Whilst weaving through the merry throngs, Christmas shopping in Dijon I came across this window display. Didn't seem totally Christmas based, in fact I'm not sure what it is trying to display

Pig intently watching in 3D.

If you have any ideas please submit. Back in Bath now for a month or so. You may be pleased or not to hear that there will be no further posts until our return to Soraya in mid January.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND I TRUST YOU WILL HAVE A FUN 2016. You are always welcome on Soraya.

PAINTING OR KNITTING?

Is there a challenger to Urban Guerilla Knitting? I'll let you make your own mind up.

Bollards in Paris. They were great fun. If not a bit skinny.

Personally I quite like the knitting, as long as I don't have to do any.

I have found recently that there are alternative names for Urban Guerilla Knitting: 'Yarn Bombing, Yarnstorming or Graffiti Knitting'. I prefer UGN.

OLD AND NEW

Two very different takes on architectural decoration, both using the same concept. The first 15th century (origins).

Hospices de Beaune.

The second 21st century.

Telecom college in Dijon.

Interesting, they are both three storey commercial buildings and have geometric decoration using glazed tiles, one polychrome the other monochrome. The Telecom college does have QR codes on the outside so you can find out what they are doing without even knocking at the door. However, despite their 'similarities' in building mass and materials it does not look as if we have moved on very much in terms of aesthetics.

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

We're starting to feel very festive. Lots of Christmas decorations up in Dijon with snowmen, Santas, reindeers, polar bears, ice rink etc. popping up in every open space. We particularly liked this one in support of the Paris attacks.

Beaux Arts, Dijon.

Not to be outdone we've got a petit sapin on Soraya that looks great in the wheelhouse. Mind you it's not up to the Tjalk (type of Dutch barge) near us that is manic with flashing lights everywhere.

Soraya wheelhouse.

RISING LEVELS

Woke up this morning to find we had moved up in the world. The canal really should not be higher than the adjacent quayside. This was not the case. A few hotel barges looking very like they were about to be land based hotel accommodation.

Soraya at an unusually elevated position.

Went for the morning run up the canal and found 3 VNF staff madly playing with sluices, with lots of gesticulating and conversations rectifying the situation. It was no doubt the fault of 'mon collègue'. Good news, by lunchtime we were returned to our normal status in life!

For the observant amongst you, Soraya in now wearing her winter outfit. We had side screen covers made to cover and protect the varnish work of the wheelhouse. (The rear door is not covered whilst we are using it.)

MODERN ART, POP CULTURE, MARKETS AND CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS

A quick weekend in Paris to see friends and enjoy the delights of the city. You haven't to let these terrorists stop you going places as planned. It's only 1.5 hours to Paris by TGV and with the tram in Dijon direct from the port to the station it's only an hour and three quarters from Soraya to the centre of Paris. Quite a bit of walking around + a few galleries. The most interesting was the Hey! Act III 'Modern Art & Pop Culture' no photos permitted, art and installations quite challenging at times. Plus a very interesting Dali exhibition, when he worked with Daum, the glass artists from Nancy. All good.

Margaret emerging from the exhibition. Let's find a café!

A few flowers in the superb Boulevard Edgar Quinet Marché.

The selection, quantity and quality of produce was amazing.

An amazing suspended Christmas tree surrounded by a multitude of other decorations.

Well it's getting closer to Christmas and a visit to Galeries Lafayette to see the Christmas decorations, plus a bit of retail therapy, it had to be done. Great time seeing friends, out for meals and the normal taking in the ambience of Paris. Definitely more police than usual on the streets.

WINTER HAS ARRIVED

We've had some great weather for November. Lunch on the back deck has been the norm every day for the last week. 

Geoff about to break into a baguette.

But today winter arrived and the temperature's plummeted. It's down to 0 degrees!!

However we are nice and warm in Soraya. She has plenty of insulation so it's cosy all the time!!

DINNER AT CASA NOSTRA - DIJON

Went to a great Italian restaurant, well it makes a change. You can only have so much Bourgogne escargot and Chablis. The food was all very interesting. I ordered a Vesuve del Mare. Conversation with the waiting staff did not elude to exactly what it was. It sounded good. It arrived, as shown below. It turned out to be a superb spicy seafood linguine with a very, very thin pizza base topping. It was excellent.

The pasta-pizza or was it the pizza-pasta?

Margaret obviously enjoyed the evening, or was it the Pinot Grigio? Made a change from the Rully Premier Cru.

WAS IT BILL OR WAS IT BEN?

Driving along we came across a familiar face. We don't remember they had fishing rods. Perhaps in the French screening fishing was the thing rather than gardening.

Bill or Ben? No sign of Little Weed (apart from what he standing on).

NEW CAR!

Out and about in Dijon we came across my new car! Great for getting on and off Soraya, and yes that is a winding key I'm holding on the bonnet.

My favourite new car.

I think it was made from washing machine parts. It puts the Sinclair C5 to shame as it is fully equipped with rear view mirror, windscreen wiper, door, washing machine controls on the rear, 3 wheels and a radio. It also does not tell any emissions or mpg lies as the Audi.

There they are the washing machine controls. It even has a washing machine door. Perhaps it multifunctions as a washing machine as you are driving. I know the main door is not a good fit, however, I am sure at the 12,000 miles warranty service interval it will be adjusted to perfection.