New Year's eve

I spent the last few days doing some applications for a job and a conference scholarship. Much of a long shot really.

New Year's eve was the deadline for both. However I had to get ready for the New Year's eve festivities with Marie Laure and other friends. I went out earlier to get champagne. Dominique, Veronique were there as well as Claude and Marie and ML's Kenyan lodger (whose name escaped me). We played pictionary in two teams. I hate board games and especially when I have to do it in French. The food was great though. We had two different kinds of foie gras and salmon. I do not eat foie gras normally -out of principle. I do not like the idea of forcefeeding the poor animals. I made an exception for the night. Anyway, foie gras is so expensive I dont get offered it that often! Apparently there are differences between that of the Perigord and that of Alsace. So I tried both. When it came to the cheese - I couldnt eat any more. It was too rich! There was some lovely cheese too...oozing with goodness. There was one called 'tete des moines" which looked like fat pencil shavings but it was unctuous. And ML did us proud by offering us home made choux pastry stuffed with cold cream - very very light and delicious! When it came to the time for opening the champagne I was so full. We also had a great view of the fireworks.

End of 2004. It was a mixed year - one of the most difficult in my life that I can remember. Let's hope 2005 will be better!