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| Chateau Fontainbleau |
The word chandelier is French in origin and is derived from the word chandelle for candle.
Chandeliers were traditionally hung in hallways to create a grand entrance and welcome guests into the home.
Originally a wooden candle which evolved into elaborate creations of faceted crystals and displayed in the grand halls or over the dining tables of French chateaux.
Let some sparkle into your home.
Keep your eyes open at markets, antique fairs and brocantes for old droppers, or anything that sparkles. Long diamante earrings attached to candle holders and light fittings will catch the light and dance it around the room.
When my daughter said this to me last night, it made me shed a few private tears. You see, GG has a medical condition and lives in assisted living accommodation in the UK. We have had a lovely family Christmas here in France and now it's time to take her and her brother (BB), who is at university back.
See you in the morning is bitter sweet because I can't see them in the morning.... every morning.
I try and console myself with the fact that if I still lived in the UK I wouldn't see my grown up kids every morning ....empty nest syndrome is even harder across the miles.
I feel sadness mixed with excitement when we take the Christmas decorations down.
All the planning and fun of Christmas is over and the house looks bare.
The decorations are packed away for another year. Revealing that the house needs a good clean and an opportunity to do a bit of decluttering, dusting and tidying.
When things are put back into place and some order is resumed....I am ready and the house is ready for 2013.
Bring it on!
Do you listen to the radio while you work, read the newspapers, tweet, and Facebook..probably all at the same time? Many a time I've wondered why a report or an article has taken me so long to write..and realised that I am distracted by the background chatter of the radio and the urge to check Facebook for messages.
Well...no more busyness for me. There's just too much clutter and noise all around, especially from the media.
So here's my plan for de-cluttering my head.
Avoid reading or watching the news and instantly feel happier and more positive without being bombarded by all the doom and gloom.
Read local news and listen to local radio - learn about what directly affects my own neighbourhood.
Check-in to social media at certain times only and stick to it!
Unsubscribe from email newsletters and blogs that just don't resonate anymore.
Not being scared to say no before volunteering for anything and everything.
Stop watching depressing soaps or reality TV ...we have our OWN lives to live and don't need to live vicariously.
Have you any suggestions to add? I'd love to hear them!
Bonnes resolutions du Nouvel An, New Year's resolutions....I could make so many...this year I am going to focus on five tips to help me feel more alive and will fire me up to reach my goal of being healthier and working smarter.
Drink more herb teas, green teas, mint teas - easy to do here in France, there's a great choice of teas, fruit and herbal tissanes. And I can pick mint fresh from my garden.
Cut down on the amount of sugar I consume. Maybe substitue honey whenever I can. No more sugar rush!
Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables. I have just got lazy and overdosed on party food. We grow our own vegetables and I have a freezer full of fruit and veg. So it should be easy to do.
More exercise..take more breaks away from the computer screen...and go and grab some fresh air. A walk round the block or a park is great thinking and planning time. I am very lucky as I can walk out of my front door in any direction and find beautiful countryside and forests.
Live in the moment and enjoy everyday.
It's been a while but I wanted to drop by and say a little hello, "petit coucou" and
wish you all happiness, health, love and happiness for 2013.
J'espere que celui ci vous apportera bonheur, sante, amour et amities.
We have had a lovely, lazy family Christmas with GG and BB here with us in Le Morvan for the holidays. Plenty of parties, eating and drinking! We celebrated New Year's Eve in style with friends .....twice .....toasting la Saint-Sylvestre first and then an hour later British New Year's Eve complete with the "bongs" from Big Ben and singing Auld Lang Syne.
Now for the bonne resolution and the start of the regime!
What did you do on New Year's Eve? And are you fired up ready for 2013?
