Football

This morning's trip to the swimming pool was much less serene :  there was a swimming gala going on, and all the pools were very full.

After lunch, a quick game of football in the garden ended abruptly when the ball took upon itself to go sailing over the back wall. A new family moved into that house in the summer (replacing the owners of our dear visiting cat,) and so the football team didn't know how they would be received. But all was well. Nick identified the house, Louis did the explaining, without any previous coaching, and the ball was recovered. To their surprise, the lady knew them by sight, as her  little girl, Clara, is in Sacha's class. (I had no idea.) The boys returned with a packet of sweets each as well as the ball, so they agreed that  it was Certainly A Lucky Thing that the ball had gone over.

We went to the Parc de la Garenne to play some more serious football, but were sidetracked by Vietnamese pigs, and TWO playgrounds.


It was nearly home time and the light was failing when they remembered the football. However, it was a tremendous game. I think that it was a draw.

Tanks, and a milestone.

This morning Nick and the boys went to the swimming pool. There were very few swimmers in the smaller pool,  so they were able to play water games without getting into anybody's way.

After lunch we took off for Saumur, in the direction of the Musée des Blindées - the Tank Museum. The guide at the aeroplane museum had said that the children would enjoy it, and it was a visit to remember.

The major 20th century conflicts were related through the development of the armoured vehicle.


There were more than 200 tanks, troop carriers, and artillery vehicles from more than 17 different countries.

There were 12 exhibition halls :  the France 1940 Hall, the German Hall, the Allies Hall, the Warsaw Pact Hall...and of course the children's area where the children were invited to climb aboard.

This evening, in the restaurant, Louis suddenly remembered to tell me that the little orange nightlight next to the door in his bedroom was broken. "Tell Papy what has happened, and he'll mend it for you," I said. Louis turned to François and gave a beautiful translation into French.

We were so impressed. Louis, unaware of our delight,  went on eating his caramel pancake.

Back to school

It wasn't too difficult getting back into the swing of school yesterday, especially knowing that there were only two days to go before the weekend and Papa's visit. At last we have had a chance to tidy away the last vestiges of the birthday. Little containers of unclaimed Lego pieces, unclassified wheels and spindles, and instructions are placed at strategic points.. Not a single piece must find its way into the vacuum cleaner or worse, into the rubbish bin.

Nick arrived in time to collect the children from school. It is raclette weather here. The boys loved it, even Sacha who normally turns his nose up at cheese.

Flying

It was the last day of the half-term holiday. François and I took Louis and Sacha to the "Musée Régional de l'Air"  (Aviation Museum) at the tiny Angers airport. It was very accessible to young visitors.

The aeroplanes on show were completely restored, and many were ready for immediate take-off.

A flight-simulator was very much appreciated. They are both excellent pilots, apparently.

There were some enormous motors on show, (3,500 hp,)  but also some models. We were able to read about some of the pioneers of aviation and their planes, including the René Gasnier, the first aeroplane to fly in the Anjou region. A kind enthusiast allowed the boys to try out the cockpit.

 

Update

I had forgotten an important update. Do you remember :

Now the picture is :

Dad sent me a message from Disneyland to share the news. There are already three more wobbly teeth to keep small fingers busy.

Louis wrote in his policeman's notebook that what he wanted to do today was to get up late, read books, and play.

                                                             That is exactly what we all did today. 

Halloween

This morning we all visited the park at the Château de Pignerolles, about 6 km away from us. It was a sunny Autumn day, and there was hardly anyone else to be seen.
.

 There was a good playground.

There was a "parcours de santé," a route with notices telling us to run very fast for 300 metres, or to do 20 press-ups, or to do a few dozen lunges. I pretended not to see them, but Louis and Sacha took them very seriously.

In the afternoon, we were invited to Valérie's house in Baugé for Halloween tea. Adèle and James (yes, that really is James,)  helped the boys to find some suitable costumes from Valérie's dressing-up chest. Then they went round to frighten the neighbours,  with Caroline following at a discreet distance. Father Christmas in particular came back with his pumpkin bag overflowing.  

Louis is 7!

They are back! What a weekend this has been. Caroline and the boys arrived in time for a late lunch with my sister Ann Marie and brother Mark, who had driven from the Vendée region to see them. The visitors stoutly kept up the conversation in French. Matthew and Lolita called in to say bonjour.

 Today, Sunday, was Louis' 7th Birthday! He spent the morning discovering his many presents, and chatting to his absent dear ones on the phone.

Joséphine came from Nantes, with her Maman Agnès, and Timothée from Louis' class and Martin, a friend of Sacha's age, came for a birthday party.

Timothée lives just around the corner from us. We were lucky that he had come back from holiday. Hugo and Adrien are unfortunately still away. But I found that seven adults and five children was an excellent number.


This has been the birthday of the beyblades.(Glorified spinning tops.)  How they enjoyed them.

There were more traditional birthday games as well. Pass the parcel, musical bumps, Hunt the Thimble, Musical Statues, and a version of "Pin the tail on the donkey" which took the form of "who can place France the nearest to its true position on a magnetic map of the world."

 Then it was time for the birthday tea. Jelly, (2 flavours,) was very much appreciated by Joséphine, Louis, and Sacha. Less so by the little French guests.




There were 2 cakes, a beautiful bought one, and a hastily baked last-minute lemon tray bake. The children preferred the other offerings (the carrot sticks went down well. ) The adults all went for the lemon cake. Does anyone fancy some very gooey, creamy chocolate cake, before I scrape it all away?