WELCOME

Yee hi! Merry Christmas and welcome to Les Soeurs Anglaises blog. Hopefully you have reached this through our new website (www.lessoeuranglaises.com) , designed and uploaded by the wonderful Ben Anstey, and full of all our forthcoming workshops for 2010. We are really excited about adding several writing courses to our calender (including the brilliant and delightful poet, Roger McGough) as well as welcoming back the lovely Julie Arkell, Bianca and Claire Montgomerie amongst others. Do take a peek at it if you aren't up-to-date.

Like most of the UK, Verteillac has been snowed in for most of the past week and it's hard to remember how green and full of blooms the garden was even two months ago. Nevertheless we have been working hard on the renovation of our barn on the hill, and, fingers crossed it will be up and running for our first workshop in May (Claire's "Knitting Your Own Fashion"). There should then be plenty of extra accommodation as well as another large, light studio space. We are very, very excited about the project and hope everyone will love the new space as much as we do.

Just arrived from the UK is my elder son, Joshua. Caught up in the fiasco that was St Pancras over the weekend, he finally managed, after twelve hours of train travel to reach Angouleme, late last night and only three days late. He travelled the last leg of the journey in a double-decker TGV train - I can't wait to try one, they look amazing and such a good idea.

We have been feeding the little birds in the garden and finding ourselves spending ages just watching them come and go, and bicker and chase, and nibble and gorge. Who needs TV? Unfortunately our new member of the family, Miss Daisy, has turned out to be a huntress suprema and we are constantly rescuing little creatures from here claws.

Whilst she and our other cat, Monsieur Perdu, might look cosy and comfortable, this is a rare moment as M.P has concluded that he is not at all happy about this young interloper and sits around in the hall most of the day snarling at whoever passes his way. Of course, daisy thinks this a fine lark and constantly provokes him - in an attractive, kittenish sort of way. Will things improve in 2010, we ask ourselves?