Allez Callum et Les Petits Tangos

Couldn't resist putting this photo on the blog. Great action shot of Cal with the ball en route to scoring a try against Dijon.

Man jumps off mountain

Fitted in some great skiing days this winter at Les Rousses in the Jura. However this year we invested in day passes for both the French and the Swiss sides of the resort. The boys thought it was cool to start the day in France and ski over to Switzerland for hot chocolate before skiing back to France for lunch! However the cool factor was even higher when we saw this guy jump off the top of the mountain...

It took a lot of reinforced persuasion to convince Callum that it was not a good idea to copy him!

Dessert Victory

Dan decreed that the next River Rats' Pudding Club theme would promote healthier eating, especially as he knew that many (if not all) of the Rats had enjoyed too much wine and rich food over Christmas. The competition theme was to produce a cake containing a vegetable.
Plenty of entries : parsnip scones with cream and honey, beetroot chocolate brownies, beetroot banana loaf and many many unusual others!
Dan was bowled over when it was announced that he had won with his delicious sweet potato and vanilla sponge. Well done Dan.

The Judges announce the winner.

Christmas on Lobelia

Andy arrived home on the 16th in a car laden with Christmas gifts and goodies which are on the hard-to-find and can't-be-without list... Christmas crackers, mince pies, English sausages, cheddar cheese and seedless grapes.
Then the Tucker grandparents arrived on the 23rd in another gift and grub waggon with an exceedingly boozy Christmas cake.
We had a gourmet holiday and visited the Christmas markets in Dole and Besancon where the vin chaud was the true redeeming feature.
Also took a trip to the Cassisium at Nuits St George where we learned how the blackcurrant had become an important part of viniculture. The guided visit was ok but the highlight was the tasting session in the bar. There was even a taste test for the children and Callum's character shone through for all to see!

Andy rather fancied testing the taste in these enormous barrels...

but saved himself for the Christmas Day sporting ritual of Champagne cork catching...

and Mimi has never ever spilled a drop...

And everyone seemed happy with their presents.