What a difference a week makes...

.

I've just spoken to a friend in Aix en Provence
and they are snowed under..!

I don't think I've ever seen snow in Provence even though
I've lived there and been a regular year-round visitor
ever since.
I took the majorority of the photos below of Aix, Bonnieux, Goult,
Cucuron and Lourmarin only this time
last week...
..

Oh, I almost forgot what I was to post about...
. I was asked by mail by my dear friend, and follower of my blog,

what my New Year's resolutions for 2009 were; so, as

I don't actually make them anymore

(after years of never keeping them, despite my best intentions..!)

I thought the following would pretty much sum up

my feelings about the year ahead,

so, here goes:

."To live content with small means

To seek elegance

rather than luxury

And refinement rather than fashion

To be worthy, not respectable

And wealthy, not rich

To study hard, think quietly,

talk gently, act frankly

To listen to stars and birds,

to babes and sages,

with open heart

To bear all cheerfully, do all bravely,

await occasion, hurry never

In a word,

to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious

grow up through the common

This is to be my symphony"

William Ellery Channing
.
Does anybody out there still make New Year's resolutions..?
More interestingly, what I'd love to know is,

if you do make them, do you actually keep them..?
.