Marine Engineers (photos)

Le Secrétaire d'Etat auprès du Ministre de la Défense et des Anciens Combattants, au  6ème Régiment du Génie au Caserne VERNEAU (Sapeurs de Marine.)

A surprise gouter was laid on for the children

You can just see Louis' crutches in the middle of his class

Louis teacher has kindly passed on some photos of the class outing to see the military ceremonies at the barracks. They were very privileged to be invited, and in his speech the Minister gave a congratulatory mention to the school. The children now have an idea of the important work that the French Marine Engineers are doing in different parts of the world.

Friends to tea

We took both cars to fetch the children from school this evening, as Hugo and Adrien came to tea. In the olden days, the four children would have squashed up together on the back seat of one car, but you can't do that any more.

I had made a batch of flapjacks yesterday, but I know what French children expect, so I also supplied soft baguette viennoise, chocolate, N..ella, jam, and apricot compôte. They were all pleasingly appreciative, Louis especially. 

They had a good play, and I was very pleased to hear Louis AND SACHA talking in French to their guests. Adrien and Hugo didn't seem at all worried to be in this strange bilingual house.

Sacha's turn

Shopping with Louis and Sacha is never an easy ride, so I was glad to have François to hand as we had a whizz round our local supermarket after school last night.. Louis is a dead weight to heave up into the shopping trolley, and he doesn't help himself very much. The Christmas goodies are already out on display and we had to drag the boys away from the tempting frozen puddings. Later, later.

After Sacha's swimming lesson this morning, we returned home and the boys spent the rest of the morning making dens with blankets and bathroom mats.

Sacha was invited to play with Wandrille, so I dropped him off just after half past three. When I returned to fetch him at around six, I found him not at all ready to leave.

Wandrille has two sisters and a gorgeous labrador. They all spent a wonderful afternoon, playing with playmobiles and other toys, making telescopes from cardboard tubes, and running around the big garden. Wandrille's Maman says that Sacha can go and play again, whenever he likes. Sacha told me that now would be good.

It has been so good for him to be invited without Louis, and to find that he can communicate on his own. Louis meanwhile spent some time with François: they did a hard puzzle,  and they worked on the map together. No English spoken at all.

If Sacha hadn't got a fleck of toothpaste in his eye just at bedtime, it would have been a perfect day.

Nantes

 

When he came back to Angers this evening, Sacha asked why we couldn't live in Nantes. And next door to Joséphine.

They had a wonderful weekend.

We collected them from the station at 15h30, but Caroline's train back to England was only two hours later. She just had time for a cup of tea, and a quick chat with Martine and Pierre, who had called in to see her on their way home from a visit to Le Croisic.

Wandrille's mother has lent us some "Tintin" DVDs :  just what you need when you have spent an exciting weekend and there is still an hour to go before bedtime..

Invitations and lisping

Yesterday, the children were invited to lunch with Hugo and Adrien. I was especially pleased for Louis, as Thursday afternoon should normally have been a sports day. It is hard for him to sit out while the class runs around. Apparently the four of them had a good play together after lunch and it was "too soon"  when Gaëlle had to take them back to school.

In the evening, I had some errands to do at the shops down the road, and so we gave Louis' wheelchair an outing. They were allowed to choose their own "goûters" at the baker's shop, which involved much weighing up of pros and cons, and changing of minds. The boulangère was very patient. People look with great pity on this angelic little sufferer. I feel like carrying a placard saying "Fortunately, it is only a broken middle toe."

 Caroline arrived today, and has taken them to Nantes to stay with Joséphine.

Sacha lost TWO MORE top teeth last night. Caroline is a little sorry, as she intends taking some Christmas card photos this weekend. His smile is still charming - but different.

Stars

 Sacha went swimming without his brother yesterday. He had to listen to the instructor without watching Louis for his cues. In fact he managed perfectly.

Sacha being a whale

There was a  frame placed in the pool, and the children had to swim over and under the bars. Then they had to make a large detour to swim to the side.  Sacha can do this very easily. He was one of the few to be refused a float for the swim back.


Louis watched from the balcony with me for a while, then practised drawing cartoons from the Rolf Harris book.


In the afternoon, Louis went to play with Timothée and Sacha helped Papy to water the garden. Sacha has been invited to play with Wandrille next week : this will be his first invitation to play without Louis. He is pleased but a little apprehensive.


There was a class photo taken on the Monday morning that Louis missed because of the late return from Jersey. Mme Bonnot kindly offered to let me come and photograph the class this morning, so that he would have a record of his stay in the school and of his classmates.

CE1  Ecole Primaire St Agnès.  Professeur : Mme Hélène Bonnot

I was able to enjoy a little assembly in the corridor before entering the classroom. The teacher had lit a candle in the shape of a star and the children gathered around the table and sang an Advent hymn which they had prepared in their catechism class.


At the end, it was Louis who was chosen to blow out the candles and I was invited to photograph the ceremony. I asked if Hugo and Timothée could help, which they did very well.

All-Stars

Military and medals

Of course the projected visit to the swimming pool on Sunday morning was out of the question. Matthew and Lolita came to lunch  and gave moral support.

The boys were hoping  to see the new Tintin film in the afternoon, but there were no seats left, so with Nick and Giles, they caught a tram to the town centre and had a wander.  Louis was very amused by Sacha's order in the café : "a hot chocolate with cream, or something else."

School on Monday was hard work for Louis. He hopped into the playground at a tremendous pace, then had to be reminded that a fall wouldn't be a good idea.



I think that he is finding that the crutches slip easily on polished surfaces, and has to accept that he won't be able to keep up with the others for a while.

In the afternoon, his class were taken to see a "Prise d'Armes" at the local barracks. It was by special invitation. The children saw the French flag raised, and heard the Marseillaise (the French National Anthem.) The soldiers honoured those who had returned from military service overseas, in Libya, Afghanistan and other postings, not only in the front line, but also on peace-keeping missions.  Medals were presented.

.A Minister was present, and in his speech he thanked Louis' teacher for bringing the children. They were given a special "goûter" before leaving. All the children received a  "medal" to commemorate the occasion. 

  I have been promised some photos of the ceremony, and will post them here as soon as I receive them!