The Farewell Dinner

Morning all

Thought I would share some pics from the Farewell Dinner with the gang last night at Chateau Mentone (so re-named in honor of the French theme).

It was great to have John & Ro, Andrew & Kathy, Geoff & Coralie join us!!! Great company, great food, great wines and of course, lots of laughs.  Thanks everyone for the goodies that you bought along to share.

As many of you know, we have a talented artist in the gang, and Joyce is now the proud owner of a "Coralie Original".  This was a very generous 80th birthday present from the artist herself, and Team Watson.

There certainly was some fine wine around the table, and subsequently, in our bellies - thanks all for a great night.

 BON VOYAGE!!!

This time next week .........

Summer Days .......................

Just checked the forecast for Provence - good news travellers - Saturday 1st Sunny 26 deg,

Sunday Sunny 30 deg, Monday Sunny 32 deg, Tuesday Sunny 31 deg, Wednesday Sunny 30 deg, Thursday Sunny 29 deg, and so on until the end of the week.

Ahhhhh, happy days - cannot wait for that first crisp Sancere by the pool next Saturday afternoon.

The Travellers have arrived .....................

Joyce and Cliff have arrived from Queensland, getting settled and sorting through their travelling luggage, the winter clothes for Melbourne, and the summer clothes for France, and every thing else they have packed from Queensland!!!!  Didn't take long, Bronnie has already taken Dad for a drive to Dan Murphys in preparation for the farewell party tonight.


Our first French Adventure ........................

I admit, there was a little disappointment when we got the news that Peter and Margie would not be joining us in Provence, but of course, family comes first.  Simply, we need to make the most of the one night we have together in Paris.  The venue was an easy choice, an initial Paris "must-do" on Jon's list, was then recommended by Margie, and so the decision was made.

It was upon the occasion of the Universal Exhibition in 1900 that the Paris-Lyon-Mediterranean (PLM) Company built the restaurant.

It was renamed “Le Train Bleu”

in 1963 and granted historical monument status in 1972. 

The establishment also owes its renown to the forty-one paintings on its walls and ceilings - the most famous amongst them represent the landscapes traversed by the trains of the french railway, and a menu to delight that attracts over 500 guests to this magnificent venue everyday.

Well followers, I am off to cook farewell dinner for the gang - will keep you posted on the Joie De Vivre Jubilee Tour!!!

The Jubilee Begins

Joie de Vivre...... a french phrase..... the joy of conversation, joy of eating, joy of anything one might do, a joy of everything.... the cheerful enjoyment of life. 

And so the Jubilee journey begins.  It's hard to believe there are only 10 more sleeps until we are Paris bound.

Yep, it all started with a bottle of
Chateauneuf du Pape


Someone planted a seed, well...... probably more accurately, a grape, becoming a bottle of fine french red which founded the inspiration for the Joie De Vivre Jubilee Tour.





I thank my gorgeous Mum - very fondly christened in this, her 80th year, Her Joyceness.  Her continued love of life is to be celebrated, so I ask you Joy (short for Joyce) = Joy of living = ahhhhh, of course......... a Joie De Vivre Jubilee!!!!  No adventure would be complete, or possible, without her darling Cliff.  Hervey Bay is now a distant spec in the rear view mirror, they are Melbourne bound and ready for adventure.

And then there was 9..........

When I think of sipping vin blanc or rouge in Provence, accompanied by a crusty baguette smothered with french roquefort, the image in my mind would not be complete without the company of friends and loved ones.  Joining us on the Jubilee Tour is darlin' Jon, and representing Team Watson - Geoff & Coralie, Daniel, Marcia and Hunter.


Our humble abode........

Welcome to Mas la Monaque - our home for the first week in September, located just a few minutes drive from the picturesque village of Les Baux-de-Provence, in the spectacular Alpilles Mountains.  It is surrounded by olive groves and vineyards and the local market is renowned for it's trade in the local produce of the region - mmmmm, yummy!!!! 


So, watch this space, join in the blog and follow the adventures of the Joie Ve Vivre Jubilee.