![2018 in pictures 2018 in pictures](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1bunY4DscUSuKqHxNA3Ljh_Ew702BeyiM4yM0o6fJj8yipOAH35YSObzvhWKz9GP8uRCbKTsj8S6GqsQ74KYgbklaiECwKdPc_pBDeJRwiI7opLQbDqZG3Byo-MlBCtV5gOIDt7vuwE/?imgmax=800)
Late to the party as so often these days……my round up of pictures to show what we did in 2018.
Finding ourselves back in the UK in January, we enjoyed walks with our puppy Hugo who was then just six months old.
![2018 in pictures2 2018 in pictures2](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxJ0mADX9gm3aaEyr_IQcV9oYRVMy_eR9MIvU3r1MOlsQHjk8ACh_dpXWea0m1pB9OwNXU6d2aS4J_5c8Butn66cfwBptI3piXUX2KgEN6I8pv_Stai5-aHpspB1KKa-qNA7ssNFM4AzE/?imgmax=800)
The house was still undergoing renovation when the time came for his “little operation”. One of Nick’s old t-shirts served to prevent him from biting the stitches in his tummy.
![2018 in pictures3 2018 in pictures3](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVSG0G0zUA6K9rraNfJ_7PP717fms2PuPK_IDZmaGCEM1zWMCM7oxmPYpFAdX0gMH7510ab5WogWq0XiVQRCNQkM4-YAs7Ocmsud0jnvOUmWJ6JHmDDnLPngOyjFPZ3_1L6td-Oi0Mqs/?imgmax=800)
February was a dreary month. Hugo and Daisy enjoyed their first experience of playing in the snow and we toiled away with the house decorating.
![2018 in pictures3a 2018 in pictures3a](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_w2A9Eo5D0vDDF1UMwpHfxS1GTxSIacEoHUxPvAG5gz8v1VpX4DM0xVL1pTP5yS4YiHUKq4DGDbawG2leh-dgHr7WUoE-m_c8yiDeLV0AsIimIDpSAIhw5RnadEYH6L8aLgl01qFEbKY/?imgmax=800)
![2018 in pictures4 2018 in pictures4](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHWK0kieK2xQqmANnv91JzgmM4Ct0MuuSSYCRGJkHejUVEe6bK6omTA-htSWaqYSmX5BUySIOERR3X32e0iIfuvtrG9zPVEP4bRxkJ0lPngPMlU7Y0wMUyjNpcgO-b5VgpVfG_Y6llqA/?imgmax=800)
In March we returned to France where Hugo soon settled into his new garden and new routine. We went out and about, visiting old haunts and settling back into our French way of life.
![2018 in pictures4e 2018 in pictures4e](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPH4qVkfgYAA6xcL7bh4HSBHcWnv1k3CEvjSRn1xkVKyuijwXoouWfyzjBkShhTP-uv2lUXkFcVJmoSJheuTTQnQNRJjMXK2g_5kHkxP9qPt37N18g5T5YEyMm_9CpQjqnOzy9IjeTO0/?imgmax=800)
Daisy just took up where she left off six months before.
![2018 in pictures4a 2018 in pictures4a](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijT9Z669OHu-pTrN4O4MwA7bkH8E07XGpw4yt0hLVp4KBoSoAGMQ0tiwaLPDbmX1gpaCV1MisEjHPOwoaPGwM8VM7wU-yflpSgCMJ9hnh7H-2YLi4rb7xHv54cY65wxJ_vUSsH7pRoe5Q/?imgmax=800)
In April we caught up with friends in the village.
![2018 in pictures4c 2018 in pictures4c](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtPEOJh5-znXIqra8oVAbKs8_fyRfMEFGIvj5qe5dLSBv8reMW9vaqjagVYtChaIhh6Ryqvv_Up9E8EC6NRuxmnbDdgviz-KDFI30iS_vlVt6OE5u98kj0S2v3D3mEzLb2R-Swvc97hk/?imgmax=800)
Hugo made a new friend, Dora the English setter.
![2018 in pictures4d 2018 in pictures4d](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiof_Ma1QtoqRh0c5Wkz_wWPVmmZ0181Mznu4KmCYjatMYX1VAGTLIJZ7o7MFsPCGAi3QpUrSekX0tqPlcN3YvFplcMIGFbmSMB99vhuqx2vQsvGK0oPweOVBhd0esk5QE1PBY7mQ2OJhE/?imgmax=800)
The garden burst into flower.
![2018 in pictures4f 2018 in pictures4f](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPEmHZo9a4dwbEt6X2kuDX1Z0FvprMldepz1_gQNonX0MmqJf2fX_iYVgiOYwsEDqyO_DuwjcHWB0zMyYOrdby10NUIgw-QbRXuRPH9HVlXuom-F9fniOPvTKOBtuPtNhdYg6bPdIlWM/?imgmax=800)
![2018 in pictures4g 2018 in pictures4g](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqUeSaRG3k9RVaE6ynU6Mz1AWawrkQyGRW7YlNgtE9mohgdGYIteVZu1nK_l-7Ki8aOHLPDi50hjZnjxunSMGhMWkHgi-chNLv4Ex7eMmn0ybStlB-ZzaMlZc-cZuSXH29GNVfRAQ_-Y/?imgmax=800)
Special visitors came to stay.
![2018 in pictures5a 2018 in pictures5a](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvHUXcO8210y7DmP6OEkws7zeQCTotMwWFaEOPAOpdVg74XT3QtAU5ADlxWysGpE6Iw8HzpmGK7U7UbpCWomebdUUe78X1vk_D1nuFfFCYBzdE_luJktTNN-I9_Knf9jo68rmw07LLRU/?imgmax=800)
With the visitors came the opportunity for becoming tourists all over again.
![2018 in pictures5b 2018 in pictures5b](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJ0PxLz7fsy-KLdpnl9IHqOVtOFPjthRF5Rq70XBRy1RMYjkPN4P1Xv3IPJMzhsvzF5li-s3NCTYB3f9nB219wTecQM7qsVEjYV2-AU4034tB8aNbHyNSlgLZeeHT75p8odKHExNQrOA/?imgmax=800)
In May Hugo loved the warm weather but was in need of a haircut.
![2018 in pictures5D 2018 in pictures5D](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw8RpxgHtBC5TxdHtaPEWV-iUsOp8QOLtmI2SLHkBjDpVVIQ0IjPStJIxuIWL8RTGIk_S_MrC_0afMDPytdyH7UYXoO4ZeOsXgOayilBnr6VJAVRLiM4nhmXGQq87qefagBILI4z02zsE/?imgmax=800)
Nick taught himself the art of dog grooming.
![2018 in pictures5e 2018 in pictures5e](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1W_U19nZUBfoBHuRMP6HWr9Hi_bxI3VlH-lIm4xoegFz2K4RyZCHeog8D1FQRjeejD0lS5iLzsGI_0yXufqHJAVIerF9ver103Hw_IUMOxrkIv6D20LFFjar_zt6wCzO-W-pVEfYlz8/?imgmax=800)
We went on holiday – Daisy to the cattery and the rest of us to the Dordogne.
![2018 in pictures6 2018 in pictures6](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfqZNmHrD7uca70tObVvmAuKIuvXdGXoIcLTpKBmsSNF0V53ig54Y0R58kOq1wTlNfZH-0xa-JBT6GNGw1n4fXRrtE9NNQLuZ0irFp0JpyI137oJO1iyGT3gruzCZdM6HfJRbijN8QJQ/?imgmax=800)
![2018 in pictures6a 2018 in pictures6a](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7K0mcJXBC6K_XH5D-ZJfTKDatig9tbSKxAe42spdouthS6XsTgL72EHAbxfuRvlzk1y3RwKFvu60XicAgCSnKeJQk4CRowrx79bFXCCI7ylvEHo6RNLKX5wBW2h4uMpIQW-gqhAsIzk/?imgmax=800)
June was hot. The garden flourished.
![2018 in pictures6b 2018 in pictures6b](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_4tVlff9Wa1aMwflWa4IOKVc41lU_Sh0wYP3cFhYQVskVbR2Nr_pW9lNJEazZIM7swTfyoMUNWD7tBzw3PrWxNUvZnufWKZ-K5iCfXu9Qi6ho8GjQIoFe9a_Hu_OkqzasbMI2TNZsjE/?imgmax=800)
Dora came to play.
![2018 in pictures7 2018 in pictures7](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNlgVbgn81iaxdYncZkH9g8ePw1xlCOFWWlAKdyHtKN7t3aNu88QXG6SD2OUZFPsUGuHm_xVOqxlsuU19PNIdh8OW8CT1LNO7vMyivHlB-mpl7Poe8R-m7DZbLS0XCpFp8OwL6BU581p4/?imgmax=800)
More visitors in July and more châteaux to visit.
![2018 in pictures7a 2018 in pictures7a](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfb7lbSRAowZk3ZiZdTelz2SOYgqfYsm55VJCA_QQSrJLSKXLzpGE-ZyWmS2_mmEGwzAkSFW332rlx-Yqgfqc0bKZreWra3Z5B3JE2Svq5Kx9uxHD1gkhNfJEkCXtaN9LQByx9k_iF8w/?imgmax=800)
![2018 in pictures7b 2018 in pictures7b](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIf6jS6fYKPj_GUpfBjwdbhgLRDB6eqGbMuBmptIq2893IOkDY_sc5e9AdkVd4P3EPOXBivQM03NtUwVxYgO827xWIjRvdAFFQ7z6ouOXLNTIpU2bru8a_MBHOZbrEMA0dTsInYk84ZM/?imgmax=800)
The fields were full of sunflowers and the rapeseed was harvested.
![2018 in pictures8 2018 in pictures8](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ1oBYRLFNUK9G858lf4EVd-I53SLvXug3ddH5nPaWAlQ3aGyuq0iD3wk582_3DT7HD1RNSfVumhgqJ2U-DYzybWKaBdCcna8LQEG8C85XH6iSHj8yJiVp8m_uvfXWLnnFg4U-CBO9Oq0/?imgmax=800)
For the whole of August we all returned to the UK to supervise the garden work.
![2018 in pictures9 2018 in pictures9](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTH-yNs4HSv8sfembXsVWuoUuWoLYH8WsTQQIb0ePcHWejttiHHmhMWQwg7j_ZL0wketU2jaEsgOGqpPDFJgC3rMjgoe-sFJZ5Zgl8kiHbIuxLw0RY-IbLxhMI7aNozw021yp72Oo3DQo/?imgmax=800)
Back to France in September with another special guest and more châteax to visit.
![2018 in pictures9b 2018 in pictures9b](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaOLgeccEeawg6WiG_QJmzR8Ho48pLgSTGBFH7jZ2u-QwyO3e0zUbLNhyphenhyphenw_Dz-ULHX3Kt3u2eRNVmV9K1RxSa9eHNyp6ki3edmyHckG9Xq_qIcOAHUpeiBz8Wb3zw5HX0qsdb6iOLdlg/?imgmax=800)
![2018 in pictures9e 2018 in pictures9e](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzWBp6Cfz165CNae082nE6F5l80FUYLuFOYMFIfVsmakN9mMbRpYonOmbra5C2nKs_iKcepnBFQpiR7QAEnpJf7v5PraJCxRFGjQFTy3qrqktpk6XRnc0MEQBnMFlLkAJLdwbt8PlreY/?imgmax=800)
![2018 in pictures9d 2018 in pictures9d](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVj35hORrmEPNwOOEKq2wuD_irddF1HtFCAS0ePlZY6MHQsyIZw3dbd2jJcpDSAHsg39D-wMTnicr4Ouu3BPpVXdYEIwTIxpf4bKdAjxAEPyxDyKIsqxftA090SkCswoSTAo-kEpHyyxE/?imgmax=800)
The weather remained HOT and our Indian summer began.
![2018 in pictures10a 2018 in pictures10a](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dvkXcTkB_5x-H_RPKXMKjCyCfkTt9V_GJrCLhL8QVoUtKdM47iMzISCWBWpYytLrbPvedCsS_PnLYO7EwWkP788Y2jgVZ_MS_UxcLX_nEzjgEkin43DKVnTyh6KZvRc20a1hhU2T_xQ/?imgmax=800)
October was glorious. Long, lazy and warm days and many long walks around all our old favourite places.
![2018 in pictures10 2018 in pictures10](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZFcyKPCAoJFS42x5KPIsd8ZIB1figMb7bh7sXsNpVzXW7V3S-VQY2BlqRX9EHQu07q-Fi1H1H3a7ChH7ivEp4OkksiTcW7qWMYssn2LnfdFaPAlQp2mUnnf-cq5_3tx32BmaYhhwNKE/?imgmax=800)
The annual food and art festival in the next village was brilliant as always, all the better for amazing weather.
![2018 in pictures11 2018 in pictures11](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZA8CZ-wUloCqwegqhQIR0BiSGDYGAXDkK8cLAUEnNyG3ziGi9Tjl5dubEjb2P4UxiTg7mpcSt_o5T1vbymLDMxr8EFFHRpo3dy_qB0iXHMurfHtzxSfIl0UILueKZ8U0B4a1HccwR6P8/?imgmax=800)
Back to the UK for the winter, kicking off in November with Dad’s birthday.
![2018 in pictures11a 2018 in pictures11a](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypmYz8M7XQYqZq_ZYwPYQubGVUum4G5YneNu2xnaY_0eOjJHxi6JhxGTiCtBd119Ab6Lb6Pk6reZsCmxE9tDNVwSj3MXnTpuH_WslOiPGZ8qMKi4VUEjzg6jRmZUvpDH-9VuylL-uHpQ/?imgmax=800)
A last few days in France to put the garden to bed and leave the house ready for winter.
![2018 in pictures12 2018 in pictures12](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaYLHGyDQ4lRch4RLkhqmQQJBGwNUefV-dWSd0es1-KNUiwXDqIbagix7NOisEAeto1nuVdH7chntlZ5YJjYKAqe2ctpbYxca6k49rjVW8tymJHRt90mGJEdZu2bKdL748n0q6mNNhx4Y/?imgmax=800)
![2018 in pictures12a 2018 in pictures12a](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDQ80gOhI-1Ip5ESA8um9WG_otINAQZ1bUVxSqOpzj4t1mYTGmQGE04QghisBZwcdBwFwAW4EGYczros7Oo8FKNbgpu2C0QDsuyDskCIOXkKs5V5iGdkaUz3Xfi_qIrJiQNCohtBu_Fk/?imgmax=800)
In December we became tourists at home, visiting Hardwick Hall to see the Christmas decorations. Then decorating our own Christmas cake.
![sticky pear upside down cake4 sticky pear upside down cake4](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBFoCwyBR9dRXlpkCy2nzot9m2ktRQRMpAtHQwi9auyoL5YErmZVKRzebWfXFp8eouw-ef3d8UKunjC_zWIG98pcSCs6TGKKs5mkcuSF8Zk_P9ro8KvU836kyfq6TRsdQwXaAOFLT8u8/?imgmax=800)
We saw the old year out and let the new year in with dinner at home.
So that was that! It’s 2019 already and we’re busy planning our trips to France for the year ahead. In the meantime, while we’re biding our time in the UK there will be some posts to catch up on!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!