Days 168-170, 27-29 November 2014, Lussac-les-eglises & Le Marché de Noël - my first of 2014. It's been a festive day and I'm patiently waiting for a phonecall to say I've won the raffle (known in French as the tombola). Fingers crossed. For a small village (pop: 600 odd), the Christmas Market was lovely - lots of very crafty individuals in the neighbourhood. Quite a few good with handicrafts too. Fabulous cakes (sampled the clafoutis) and also freshly...

Day 152, 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. 96 years ago today saw the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front and the armistice signed in Compiegne, France. Some new friends picked me up on the way past and we headed to the local village of Lussac-les-eglises - population about 600. Which compared to my hamlet of 18 houses, two thirds of which are empty, is pretty big in a little smoke kind of way. The ceremony was short - only 13 minutes. But...