Charlie had a bit of a fever on Tuesday but brave Lola decided to go to school all day, staying over for lunch and music in the afternoon. Poor Lo has been crying most of the afternoon thinking she'd stay in school forever... On the bright side she also told that the teacher have been very very very nice to her.
It's Thursday now and they're both coughing and sniffing and not feeling well. Although... since we rang school to tell them C&L will stay at home I haven't heard one cough!?
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
School report
A quick update... All going well at Collorec!! C&L have had their first week and seem to really like it, Lola is really keen to go full time! (the older kids seem to be quite sweet and caring of the little ones, nice thought)..Friday they stayed for lunch and I turned up to go to the pool on the bus... all the little ones chatting away and me just smiling and nodding, they probably went home and spoke of this curious chap on the bus who did not say anything!! Tuesdays is music/drama so this will be another full day, so two mornings and to full days sound like a good start for all of us.
The teacher wants me to take a water test next Friday so I can get in the water to help...could be hilarious, she knows my French is very limited, jumping in the deep end..LOL..
A big relief for Heleen and I, we shall have to pray the Marie is not too vengeful!
The teacher wants me to take a water test next Friday so I can get in the water to help...could be hilarious, she knows my French is very limited, jumping in the deep end..LOL..
A big relief for Heleen and I, we shall have to pray the Marie is not too vengeful!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
2011...Here's hoping!
I imagine this is typical Brittany weather, about 10 degrees, light around 9am and very wet! Infact, this reminds me of West Wales, all those camping holidays..driving there, putting up the tent, sitting there and packing up in the rain (that and camp coffee and smash..boy what fond memories!!)
The great news for 2011 is that Charlie and Lola have started in Collorec school and so far love it...the teacher does not shout and they seem to do more age appropriate activities and less of the rigid, 'in the lines' stuff...phew...a big relief for all around as the cabin fever was building fast.
Have found my old mate Simon and he is heading up here in a month or so, it will be great to see him as well as being perfect timing as I am aiming to rip the roof off then and who better to have here than the old roofer himself. No doubt there will be a few roof shouts along the way. I have stripped the old plaster board and rat shit filled insulation of the old roof so we shall get stuck in very soon...
Chickens are still laying around 40 eggs a day so the markets are still a must each week, bleak afairs in such weather yet the people do still venture out, especially in Carhaix where I could often sell many more if I had them.
I am ready for the bees having found a space far enough away from the chemical farming neighbours yet not too close to be hassled or hassling. I shall go over to Duncan's this week to pick them up and beginning the lessons! I often get asked if I have Honey on the market so I do think it will sell well, I don't know if will come under our organic certification (when we get it!)..it is never that clear here.
January is the month for cutting firewood for the next few winters, I have started already by coppicing various woods by the river and dropping a few trees that were on their way out. I reckon I shall be able to have at least two years worth by tidying up the hedgrows and thinning out some coppice clumps. There are some old oak trees overhanging the big barn and I need to trim the boughs that are damaging the roof, a helicopter would be handy but I think I shall use Simon instead!
Ah well, I shall sign off and make some biscuits for the kids in between batches of jam (Casis and Frambois) for the market tomorrow...
The great news for 2011 is that Charlie and Lola have started in Collorec school and so far love it...the teacher does not shout and they seem to do more age appropriate activities and less of the rigid, 'in the lines' stuff...phew...a big relief for all around as the cabin fever was building fast.
Have found my old mate Simon and he is heading up here in a month or so, it will be great to see him as well as being perfect timing as I am aiming to rip the roof off then and who better to have here than the old roofer himself. No doubt there will be a few roof shouts along the way. I have stripped the old plaster board and rat shit filled insulation of the old roof so we shall get stuck in very soon...
Chickens are still laying around 40 eggs a day so the markets are still a must each week, bleak afairs in such weather yet the people do still venture out, especially in Carhaix where I could often sell many more if I had them.
I am ready for the bees having found a space far enough away from the chemical farming neighbours yet not too close to be hassled or hassling. I shall go over to Duncan's this week to pick them up and beginning the lessons! I often get asked if I have Honey on the market so I do think it will sell well, I don't know if will come under our organic certification (when we get it!)..it is never that clear here.
January is the month for cutting firewood for the next few winters, I have started already by coppicing various woods by the river and dropping a few trees that were on their way out. I reckon I shall be able to have at least two years worth by tidying up the hedgrows and thinning out some coppice clumps. There are some old oak trees overhanging the big barn and I need to trim the boughs that are damaging the roof, a helicopter would be handy but I think I shall use Simon instead!
Ah well, I shall sign off and make some biscuits for the kids in between batches of jam (Casis and Frambois) for the market tomorrow...
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Christmas in a stone caravan...
The annual Samaritans YouGov poll of 2,000 adults found that 2010 was considered a bad year or the worst year ever by 30% of the population – a rise from 24% in 2009.
An interesting result from the UK, perhaps illustrating that 2010 has been a difficult year for many...it certainly feels there is some truth in this for me...the silver lining of course being that 2011 maybe not so!! The soothing relief of the collective suffering is a curious thing, knowing others got caught by the dogdy chicken takeaway somehow reduces the dispair...either the pull to community or a more Freudian position of the dark forces within wanting the other sibling(s) to suffer too...
Having had a week in the UK, introducing C&L to the rigors of urban life, catching up with that lovely 21 year old before she battled her way through the masses of Heathrow (and managed to fly out! to the warmth of NZ), enjoying the latest arrival of the Davies tribe, young Saffir...a lovely happy n healthy baby...testing the in snow driving skills (very thankful for the old Landrover..especially this side early Saturday am, snow, ice, no grit (in France) and so driving on a skating rink from the port to home)...C&L were great to travel with and so all in all a great trip..
Have just finished the sand/lime render in the kitchen and so a milestone of sorts...January is the month for cutting wood out there so when dry I shall be on the end of my chainsaw and when wet beginning the floor base...aiming to replace the roof in February so I won't put a nice wooden floor in before that...
So this is Christmas...with the cold keeping much of the activity indoors the cabin fever begins to develop...adults, twins, dogs and all the associated stuff that goes with life crammed into our one room does have it's moments..certainly sufficient motivation to ensure next door will be ready for next winter!! For me, it is the lack of space, be it psychic, physical, emotional..after last week's intensity I am aware of a need for some space...A friend Duncan suggests building a cabin down by the river, not sure what the Marie will make of that!
C&L have caught on to the descent of Santa and so await with the usual anticipation for his arrival...we have people coming in the farm house gite over Christmas so a mid winter clean has happened, Heleen has put some lovely decorations above the fire so hopefully they remembered to send a redirection order to Santa...
Seeing that we are soon to be in a new year here is a tentative wish list...
* A neurological breakthrough enabling language downloads whilst sleeping..
* All Blacks to beat Australia in the RWC final...
* A new Marie for Plouyé (a nice one please!)
* Biologique certification
* A whole house!
* Being happy, healthy, wealthy & wise
* World peace (if you don't ask...)
Nadolig Llawen a'r holl bethau da i un a phob yn 2011...
Joyeux Noël et toutes les bonnes choses à toutes et à tous en 2011...
Happy Christmas and all good things to one and all in 2011...
Be thankful
Rxx
Friday, December 17, 2010
Home alone
To celebrate Siany's 21th birthday Rod and kids have gone to the UK. I've stayed behind to (finally) get some work done, look after the animals and maybe even do something with the horses.
I must say, I had to get used to the quiet for a day or two. But overall it's been a great week, got LOADS of work done, gone completely back into my single person lifestyle for a week when it comes to housekeeping: lovely.
Without my big warm snoring bear in bed I haven't been sleeping very well. During the day I'm getting used to the cold, but I don't like a cold bed...
The ground was frozen and sometimes slippery so not really good for a ride but have gone for two really big walks with the horses. Conclusion: Milo will not become an endurance horse, I had to drag him up the hill on the way back. My old mate Harry walking in the front, ears pricked in the air, loving every minute of it, especially on the tracks where he can walk of the lead. He's still going strong at 22 and loves the wintery cold.
While Rod and C&L are boarding on the ferry home I'm going for a big shop to fill our very empty fridge. Looking very much forward to hear the little twittery voices of my lovely kiddies tomorrow and to give them long a warm snuggles.
Hope Rod will write a nice post of his adventures in Bristol. With pictures...
I must say, I had to get used to the quiet for a day or two. But overall it's been a great week, got LOADS of work done, gone completely back into my single person lifestyle for a week when it comes to housekeeping: lovely.
Without my big warm snoring bear in bed I haven't been sleeping very well. During the day I'm getting used to the cold, but I don't like a cold bed...
The ground was frozen and sometimes slippery so not really good for a ride but have gone for two really big walks with the horses. Conclusion: Milo will not become an endurance horse, I had to drag him up the hill on the way back. My old mate Harry walking in the front, ears pricked in the air, loving every minute of it, especially on the tracks where he can walk of the lead. He's still going strong at 22 and loves the wintery cold.
While Rod and C&L are boarding on the ferry home I'm going for a big shop to fill our very empty fridge. Looking very much forward to hear the little twittery voices of my lovely kiddies tomorrow and to give them long a warm snuggles.
Hope Rod will write a nice post of his adventures in Bristol. With pictures...
Friday, December 3, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)