Saturday afternoon: One last Thanksgiving with Craig & Doug and their gang. This was in Cannes at their flat - the villa has changed hands officially, and the flat sale will be signed off on in about 2 weeks or so.
Below: on the left, a Dutch friend Michel, on the right a Dutch boy from a different family, Stayne. When I met Stayne he was 4 1/2 and peed his pants at the first Thanksgiving. This is when you realize 10+ years have gone by. Now he golfs and drives a scooter.
Please note the Elton John video in the background. There's Stayne's dad pilot Harry explaining something important to Curtis.
Below: Ian and Mark, Scottish and British. Live in London, have a place for holidays in Nice. Mark and I discovered that we lived in DC at the same time - usually there are so many people at C & D's villa events that you can't really talk to people. With a reduced crowd (14 adults), I really got to visit with some people - like Mark, who lived close to where my niece Sara lives now. Mark is a big biker and is preparing to bike from Land's End in England to someplace in Scotland whose name I've forgotten - John Dows?
Craig, Curtis (American) and Claudia, Stayne's Dutch Mom.
The Lonely Doll decided to come to Thanksgiving with us. It seemed like a Dare Wright kind of day.
Lizzy & Barry, old friends from London who moved here about 8 years ago. I'll miss seeing them.
Here's Craig's piece de resistance: Phillipino Sheila and Bonita that he hired to be in the kitchen and deal with dishes and serving and clean-up. We love them. They have seen my girls grow up at each event. Sad to not see them anymore! Thomas told me after that they asked him if he knew of any French guys looking to marry a Phillipino friend of theirs so she could have her papers. Cracked me up. You can see the terrace off the kitchen.
Doug attack. Behind you can see all the gifts for our Yankee Swap game.
Yes that is still Elton John.
Brigitte (French wife of Sylvain, their handyman for the past 11 years) discusses dogs with Lizzy.
The boys. No Mark cause he was too busy with Estelle....
Mark and Estelle played games for an hour in front of the fire.
Watching the game, waiting for our #'s to come up. Note the pocket doors that had been closed. Behind those doors those Philippino ladies turned that kitchen from post-buffet disaster into a dessert showcase (showcasing my desserts, of course - cheesecakse with berry coulis and lemon curd plus oatmeal chocolate chip pumpkin bars).
Léna wanted to bring everyone their gift. All the time. There's Stayne's sister Emma sitting on the couch. Those kids flipped between English, French and Dutch every other sentence. Wild.
Claudia gets help.
I found out Sunday that later that evening after everyone had left, Doug bought a Jaguar. Literally. On-line. Doesn't he look like he has something up his sleeve here?
They were, as always, great hosts. I still can't believe they are leaving. Like my only family here and they are leaving. Such a bummer, but such a great new opportunity for them! Very exciting.
Below: on the left, a Dutch friend Michel, on the right a Dutch boy from a different family, Stayne. When I met Stayne he was 4 1/2 and peed his pants at the first Thanksgiving. This is when you realize 10+ years have gone by. Now he golfs and drives a scooter.
Please note the Elton John video in the background. There's Stayne's dad pilot Harry explaining something important to Curtis.
Below: Ian and Mark, Scottish and British. Live in London, have a place for holidays in Nice. Mark and I discovered that we lived in DC at the same time - usually there are so many people at C & D's villa events that you can't really talk to people. With a reduced crowd (14 adults), I really got to visit with some people - like Mark, who lived close to where my niece Sara lives now. Mark is a big biker and is preparing to bike from Land's End in England to someplace in Scotland whose name I've forgotten - John Dows?
Craig, Curtis (American) and Claudia, Stayne's Dutch Mom.
The Lonely Doll decided to come to Thanksgiving with us. It seemed like a Dare Wright kind of day.
Lizzy & Barry, old friends from London who moved here about 8 years ago. I'll miss seeing them.
Here's Craig's piece de resistance: Phillipino Sheila and Bonita that he hired to be in the kitchen and deal with dishes and serving and clean-up. We love them. They have seen my girls grow up at each event. Sad to not see them anymore! Thomas told me after that they asked him if he knew of any French guys looking to marry a Phillipino friend of theirs so she could have her papers. Cracked me up. You can see the terrace off the kitchen.
Doug attack. Behind you can see all the gifts for our Yankee Swap game.
Yes that is still Elton John.
Brigitte (French wife of Sylvain, their handyman for the past 11 years) discusses dogs with Lizzy.
The boys. No Mark cause he was too busy with Estelle....
Mark and Estelle played games for an hour in front of the fire.
Watching the game, waiting for our #'s to come up. Note the pocket doors that had been closed. Behind those doors those Philippino ladies turned that kitchen from post-buffet disaster into a dessert showcase (showcasing my desserts, of course - cheesecakse with berry coulis and lemon curd plus oatmeal chocolate chip pumpkin bars).
Léna wanted to bring everyone their gift. All the time. There's Stayne's sister Emma sitting on the couch. Those kids flipped between English, French and Dutch every other sentence. Wild.
Claudia gets help.
I found out Sunday that later that evening after everyone had left, Doug bought a Jaguar. Literally. On-line. Doesn't he look like he has something up his sleeve here?
They were, as always, great hosts. I still can't believe they are leaving. Like my only family here and they are leaving. Such a bummer, but such a great new opportunity for them! Very exciting.
3 comments:
We will all miss Craig and Doug. Now that they are coming to America maybe we will get to see them more?
Sorry to see Craig and Doug leave, as I know they meant so much to you and your family, and they were your connection to America!! What a nice Thanksgiving party is must have been! Was expecting a photo of your great desserts! The girls must've liked all the attention!
It has been so wondeful for you to have Craig and Doug's friendship and support all these years...all because Craig's sister lives in Derby Line and teaches with Jeanne!!!
You will probably get to see them in Vermont now, I hope!!
SAM
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