The fields are blanketed in mist when we wake but soon the sun comes up and the temperature rises steadily to 15 deg.

We unpack the stockings Nick and Grete gave us last night, lovely little gifts like fig jam, truffle paste, trivia card game and traditional apple and tangerine.

We have salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast then start preparing our dinner. Cooking in both vans turns out a full Christmas dinner of turkey crown with stuffing and pigs-in-blankets, roast potatoes, sprouts, parsnips, carrots and swede, followed by Christmas pudding with cream and brandy butter.

The sun shines brightly all day giving us a very pretty view over the fields. During the day we exchange a few texts and make a few phone calls.

After dinner we unwrap a few more presents and have a short sleep.

In the evening Claudie joined us and we had an enjoyable time swapping stories over drinks and nibbles.

When we planned this trip we wondered how we would actually get on with Christmas away from home, doing the full works with dinner and so on, but it really could not have gone better in any way.

'Twas Christmas Day in the campers, On a farm near the River Garonne

Sunshine poured over the landscape, The sprouts and potatoes were on

Salmon and eggs cooked for breakfast, Spritzers to wash them all down

Presents unwrapped from our stockings, Friendship and laughter all round

Turkey was put in the oven, Parsnips and stuffing and all

The table with tinsel and crackers, We travellers are having a ball

We savoured our full Christmas dinner The pud was all set up to steam

And served up with small coins of silver, plus rich brandy butter and cream

A short kip to aid our digestion, The sun going down in the west

Our Christmas Day spent in the campers, Turned out to be one of the best.