Xmas, done and dusted

My hope that Christmas Eve at Le Beaujolais would be 'low key' and not too achingly festive were were dealt a first blow when I saw that the usual red-and.white checked table cloths had been replaced by red.

So let me concentrate on the positive. I was told that huge quantities of oysters would be arriving daily during the holiday season and so I enjoyed a dozen Speciales No.2 in the knowledge that I could look forward to repeating the pleasure several times before the twelve days of Christmas roll to an end.

Turkey with all the trimmings was absolutely excellent, profiteroles a fitting (in more ways than I can today reveal) dessert. Since there was nobody I was obliged to show off to I remained with my customary Chateau Plonque Ordinaire but ended up with a Poire Williams from Morand (the others I find are awful).

And the odd wish that the floor would open up and swallow me, thus sparing the kind of fabulously well-intended bonhomie which has always made me feel (and look) like a sad old git!