It took us a bit longer than expected to drive back to the Netherlands today. It was a mixed bag of Arctic in the north-west of France today. Snow and ice on the village roads, thick fog, surreal sunrise across fields, and once we got up closer to Belgium the sun broke through.

Winter wonderland today in the garden. North-west France.

We had to head out to the supermarket today and the conditions were less than optimal for driving, but everything looked beautiful covered in snow. North-west France.

Rescue dog Noodle playing with apples up at the apple orchard this morning. North-west France.

Up at the apple orchard this morning. North-west France.

We walked up to the windmills this morning and the tops were barely visible. North-west France.

Morning walk up to the apple orchard at the top of the fields of the estate. North-west France.

We woke up to a winter wonderland this morning. North-west France.

Me, photographed by Raymond. At the beach in Le Tréport, Normandy. North-west France.

We visited the town of Le Tréport today in Normandy, north-west France.

The funicular at Le Tréport takes people from the town below all the way to the top of the cliffs to a recreation and look-out area. Normandy, north-west France.

Spotted this huge mural by street artist Johann Grenier at the beach in Le Tréport, Normandy today. North-west France.

Raymond and rescue dog Noodle on the beach in Le Tréport, Normandy today. North-west France.

The cliffs at Le Tréport in Normandy today. North-west France.

Looking down at the town of Le Tréport from the cliffs in Normandy today. North-west France.

Looking out across the ocean from the top of Le Tréport cliffs in Normandy today. North-west France.

Atop of Le Tréport cliffs in Normandy today. North-west France.

Looking out across the English Channel from the top of Le Tréport cliffs in Normandy today. North-west France.

Photographed by Raymond, at Musée de Picardie in Amiens today. North-west France.

At Musée de Picardie in Amiens today. North-west France. My favourite piece of art was blending in with the scenery 😄

At Musée de Picardie in Amiens today. North-west France. Possibly one of my favourite paintings at the museum is from 1761 by Jean-Jacques Bachelier titled Les Amusements de l'enfance. A kid is riding a goat while playing a drum!

At Musée de Picardie in Amiens today. North-west France.

Raymond. Musée de Picardie, Amiens. North-west France.

At Musée de Picardie in Amiens today. North-west France.

At Musée de Picardie in Amiens today. North-west France.

At Musée de Picardie in Amiens today. North-west France. Incredible archeology section, including Les Vénus de Renancourt. Small statuettes of the female form about 23,000 years old.

At Musée de Picardie in Amiens today. North-west France.

Floor and ceiling at Musée de Picardie in Amiens today. North-west France.

At Musée de Picardie in Amiens today. North-west France.

At Musée de Picardie in Amiens today. North-west France.

We visited the magnificent Musée de Picardie in Amiens today.

Woke up to more snow this morning! North-west France.

Good morning from north-west France! The garden is looking lovely in the sunshine.

Sunset on one side and moon rising on the other. North-west France tonight. On our way back to the house through fields.

Once the morning snow cleared away we took a walk in Forêt d’Eawy! North-west France.

Raymond yesterday evening. Turning a piece of tree into a wooden spoon. North-west France.

Rescue dog Noodle was not quite sure what this white stuff falling from the sky was at first. North-west France.

Live scenes from north-west France this morning.

Snow was falling this morning and now everything looks as if it were covered with icing sugar. North-west France.

At first I thought it was a street lamp when I woke up this morning, but it was the moon just out of view behind one of the front buildings on the estate. North-west France.

Our wonderful host, owner, and lady of the estate where we are currently staying in the north-west of France makes tartiflette every new year’s day and brought one over for us to bake off this evening for dinner! French hospitality with French proportions of cheese!

OMG! New Year’s Concert: Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting for the first time - JOY! PURE JOY! I think he stole everyone’s heart! Magnificent!

Live scenes from the French countryside! The fire is on, tea is made, everyone has their blanket… and will probably be asleep by 10pm 😄

French countryside. On our way home from the market and there was still mist in the valleys. North-west France.

Around the corner from the market in Abbeville is the beautifully ornate and gigantic Collegiate Church of Saint-Vulfran. The building of this church began in 1488. It is difficult to convey the scale of it in a photograph. North-west France.

At the Abbeville market this morning to get bread and baked goods from the wonderful Camion a la Noix, some vegetables for a plantbased cassoulet tomorrow, and we also spotted the cheese they used in every Tom & Jerry cartoon ever!

On our way to the last market of the year this morning! Everything was frosty, but the cows were happily grazing their breakfast in glorious sunlight. North-west France.

Everything was still frosty as we left the house this morning and headed to the last market of the year. North-west France.

Raymond watching the sky at sunrise this morning, out by the back door of the kitchen.

It was a frosty but beautiful morning as the sun was coming up in the country house garden, north-west France.