two lips

Avery orange Sunday

jump

alps

going green

Global warming... not convinced. Where it was supposed to be cold and white, it wasn't, and yet it was snowing in the north of France. Go figure! So it was a green Christmas in the forests in the Jura hills. Luckily, Santa's reindeer still had a thin layer of white stuff to use; so spoilt as usual.

No it isn't some expired film or magic mushrooms, it is a foggy lens. It was cold out, so as soon as we piled back into the car everything fogged up, including the lens. I like it, think I will try breathing on the lens in future.

This was a recce, in France it is hunting season. Which means that all manly men go out a find boar. Much like Obelix really. I kind of don't mind, it tastes darn good. In order to go get yourself a boar you need to know where to go, so here is the morning scout for the afternoon action. In some ways this makes boar hunting twice as efficient as fishing. With fishing you only really get to escape your family once.

In Paris there is also a hunting season, it is 3 or 4 weeks starting the 6 January, and then again in summer. It's called Les Soldes. Today is the perfect RTT day, snowing in Paris and second day of the soldes. RTT is one of those strange French things that is kind of like a day of leave but isn't. It exists to make you feel better about working longer hours than one should, when you are one of those that doesn't actually clock their hours. Make sense? Thought not. So skip the commute in the snow and take that RTT. Head to the shops where you can do battle with the masses and tread over people and clothes to pay half the normal price. It is that crazy time of year when everything is hugely marked down. Maybe it is too much glass half empty, but sales irritate me when I realise that the rest of the year we're thoroughly ripped off! So grit your teeth and elbow the other shoppers to ensure you're not getting ripped off when the season closes.

It does make one realise that strolling in the forests is a really good way to spend a holiday. All that fresh air, and not too many worries, apart from getting the boots dirty.

Looking forward to the next big meal, bound to be some 'sanglier' on the menu. Not from here, it was too wet to find any spoor. A few were found across the valley though.

It was a pity not to have serious snow, but I like the green. I chilled getaway once again.

Hope you have a wonderful 2010.

Septmoncel to Saint Claude