Félicatations Céline!!!

..and another little Frenchie joins the world!

Congratulations to our little Céline and hubby Dennis!!

Some of you will have met my little colleague on your visits here. 

(Unforgettable little tornado, whizzing past with a quick 'Ello!)

 Bienvenue Romane!!

Not expensive!!!!

And not a good idea  to try to put advertising boards up after the office Xmas lunch - especially after a few glasses of champagne!!!!

Here are Florence (accounts) and Laetitia trying to put the board up!

Florence - FOR SALE !!!!!

Canoeing on the river Dordogne at the weekend!

My colleague Francis, is without doubt, the most earthy, real French individual you could ever meet!  Expert in all local knowledge, fisher man extra-ordinaire, finder of wild mushrooms and wild snails!!

Francis proposed a day on the river...  I was unable to make it, however colleagues Celine with her husband Denis, Valerie and her son and my daughter were taken out for day.

The day started in Souillac, just near to the great Quercyland park.  A bus took them all to Meyronne to start the  journey.

Francis, on the bus with my daughter Mimi

There was a little snag along the way.....   Everyone fills water proof tubs with all their belongings so that they are protected.  These were stashed under the bus in the luggage space for the journey.  However, some bright spark forgot to close the door!!!!   During the winding decent down to the starting point - the tubs all rolled down the hill next to the road.  Everyone had to get off the bus and collect them!!!!  

Getting ready for the off with the life jackets!

Denis, Francis and Valerie

And a walk in the river...

Passing under Chateau de le Treyne

Messing about on the river!

Passing by Chateau du Bastit

Dennis, Mimi, Francis, Victor and Valerie!

Passing by the Chateau at Lansac

The finish line with Valerie and Victor!

With the transport on the bus to Meyronne and a free ticket to Quercyland after...  it cost 14€ per person!!  This is a 'must do' when you come to Souillac!!

It was my birthday - see the team out of work hours!!!

So...  I had a little celebration at my house for my birthday.  (25yrs old of course!)  We started with a cocktail made famous by the film Sex in the City, a Cosmopolitan...  I highly recommend it if you would like to get your party to start with a bang!!

Marie, Laetitia, Martyn, Lionel, Florence, Me, Celine, Valarie, Jose and Bernard.

Valerie, Celine, Bernard (Flo's hubby) Florence and Martyn (my hubby) and more cocktails!

Now the evening started off gently and quietly, everyone enjoying the apero cocktail and some delicious slices of sanglier (wild boar) and duck with walnut saucission and a few other delectable offerings bought from the market that morning.

Florence and Celine with Francis being the man in the mirror!

Francis and Valarie - yes the cocktail is taking effect!

Of course, being in France and being surrounded by the French, you cannot avoid a certain amount of Frenchness to creep into the evening....  Francis had been out during his lunch hour (two hours!) and collected an assortment of wild mushrooms.  A bucket full of cepes and girolles which he lovingly prepared in my kitchen and what is so amazing is that everyone took a turn in tending to these mushrooms as if they were the most important thing ever!!  We BBQ'd aiguillette de canard (strips of duck breast) and I had thrown together a couple of salads.

Francis and my son (who is at chef school)

Lionel with the mushrooms!

Ooohhh it's my birthday!  with Laetitia

Once the meal was over which was rather late, as in true French style we stayed at the table for most of the evening, the tables were moved, music volume vamped up and whoo hoo....  off they all went into dancing mode!  These Frenchies dance Rock 'n' roll to anything!!  Now, there are many photo's which I couldn't possibly put here on my blog as I want you to still think that we are a professional bunch but here are a few of the carefully selected ones.  Your team from Century 21!!!!

Laeititia and Francis!

Francis at the Six nations rugby. Wales v France

As some of you know, rugby is a huge pastime here in the South West of France.  Our colleague Francis, is a ruby trainer and of course an avid fan.

Francis arranged a little trip for himself and nine very French friends to go to the six nations championship game between Wales and France at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.

I have been in fits of laughter ever since his return as he recalls the antics of the group.  Apparently the first  episode, (how typically French????)  was when they arrived at the airport, decided they are hungry and proceed to get out the saucisson!!  No lager louts here...  they actually open a bottle or two of wine also!!!!

The second dramatic episode was getting into the hire car and setting off from London "on the wrong side of the road" to Cardiff.  They are not all sure how they arrived in one piece and going around the wrong way on round-a-bouts sent them into panic mode!!  It also has to be remembered that our dear lovely Francis has the best English out of all of them which slightly worried me as he only knows "Yes, I'm fine" and "Anozzer one pleaze"!!

Mixing with the locals!

Trying to impress French Cheese on the advertising!

Trying out local pubs seemed bit of a pastime!

A very good game apparently.  Celebrations of course continued after France won 26 -20!!

Congratulations Céline!

Our little Céline has just completed a booster course in Century21 head office.  Of course she passed with flying colours!!  What else would we expect from our own fiesty little colleague???

Yep - there she is - the little one right at the front.  Yes the one with the new white boots!!

Congratulations Céline!

Party time - the photo's!!!!

So as I reported last week - off we went to Toulouse for the 'Soirée fin d'année 2009'.  Now you are going to see the real Century21 team from Souillac!!!

Please note, I have not asked permission from anyone to post photo's!!  It's funny isn't it how you forget the camera after a few glasses of champagne?!

The outing started in the early afternoon.  I was in the car with Céline driving, Florence and Marie.  We were all suitable excitable and really looking forward to the evening.

Us girls went to buy a few essentials for the evening, such as new lipstick etc!   It was threatening to snow so we were a little worried for Laetitia who was at that moment on a course in Paris.  She was due to fly down to Toulouse and be there around 9.30pm....  Lionel (the boss) had already set off with Nadine (manager from our sister office in Gourdon) and Francis was also 'en route'.

Marie!!

We had a fabulous meal.  Followed by a 'spectacle' of Brazilian dancers and then a disco.

The menu

Ready Céline??

Go spock!!  (Our Francis taking advantage of the dancers!!)  What a mover!

Our Céline and Florence

Spock, myself and Céline

The very elegant Nadine from Gourdon office!

Ok, the evening is well underway!

Florence, Marie, me, Céline!

Nadine and Lionel.  Manager from Gourdon and our boss!

How many glasses???!!

Florence, Céline and me.

Have I got these photo's out of order here as we still don't look as if the effects of the champagne have set in!

Another bottle of champagne Marie?

Marie and Florence!

Just eat it Marie!  (With Lionel)

We stayed in a hotel, as is usual with Xmas parties and in particular, French parties - they finish late so we stayed nearby.

The morning after with Florence!

And we were rather surprised to find snow when we eventually left the hotel!

Marie, me, Florence and Céline.

Sadly, Laetitia didn' make it for the evening.  All flights were cancelled because of the snow and she didn't arrive until the next morning!

I can tell you, I was a little tired the next day!