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..