Frogs

Not just the people kind. This area is overflowing with frogs. I mean, there was one in the swimming pool the day I arrived, which stayed in there for a few days at least. Or I think it did, the next time we went back to look, it wasn't there. I got quite a fright, because the first time I saw it, I thought it was dead. Then all of a sudden sploosh and it had disappeared. I was contemplating frogs as I walked home last night (it was pretty much all I could hear, croak, croak), in the pitch black after the 10th Cello Festival opening concert.

The concert was in the church in Callian and the festival lasts all weekend, but I just bought a ticket for that concert, don't want to overwhelm myself! They started (of course) late, but with one of my favourite pieces "Adagio for strings" by Barber. As a result of that, I was pretty much mesmerised by the entire lot. Although it dragged on a bit, and before I bought my ticket I was told it would finish about 11, which would get me back to the house (walking) at 11.30 ish. There was a guy who played a 10 minute piece without any music (on the piano) and the atmosphere was great. Not a lot of Frogs there. The French kind. All around me were English speakers, which was a slight disappointment, but I did feel highly cultured, as not many people my age would actively choose to go to a classical music concert. Lots would, but not in France. (I thought I might meet some people, had a pen in my bag, just in case! Alas, no.)

Before the concert, I had a rushed dinner in the restaurant next to the church. We were originally going to go tonight, but given that I was going to the concert, we swapped nights (Anne has meals planned out weeks in advance) and went last night. I quickly ordered, and kind of rushed through my dinner, which was a tuna pizza. It was enormous, but very delicious. And compensated for the yoga class that was attended in the afternoon, and the tomato and mozarella salad for lunch.

So - yoga. As you can see we are working backwards here! Anne had asked on approximately Wednesday if I fancied going to a yoga class on Friday. Having never done yoga before and thinking it an opportunity to meet people, I agreed, so Anne emailed the instructor, who (eventually) said yes. There were six women, doubtfully any under 30. And yoga isn't really about talking anyway. The positions weren't too difficult, but I struggled with the breathing issue. Try kneeling with your toes perpendicular to the ground - that hurts! The instructor was nice and she was pleased that I didn't try something I didn't think I could do (when in fact, I just didn't want to!) - apparently that is very yoga.

And Thursday, of course - the French class! Again, a potential opportunity to meet people, but no. There were 3 people there I didn't know, the teacher, a Danish woman and her granddaughter. Sheila, the neighbour, was there. The Danish woman brought tea, coffee and cakes. I burnt my mouth on the tea. Anyway. I have arranged with the teacher that her daughter will teach me French. She charges less. And she also likes going to the cinema, and has friends in Cannes, so maybe she will be my friend. Of course, she doesn't know this yet. Or at least, she didn't at the time, she probably does now. Anyway, hopefully I will be meeting her this week, which should be nice. I don't know though.

What I do know is that an English au pair girl will be arriving soon in a family in the village. I am going to the creche's festival this afternoon where I will be meeting (I hope) the parents of the family so we can organise being in touch. Puis voilà, c'est tout !

untitled

Well, I lied. The next update is not going to be about Callian, what I have been doing and French lessons. It's just going to be a little titbit of information. On Sunday afternoon, after the rain and storms had subsided, Anne took me to see the horses that reside in the far end of the garden (words cannot describe how massive this garden is, I will post some pictures soon) and after we went to see if the English neighbour, Sheila, was around. She was. Her daughter answered the door, spoke to Anne in French and switched over to English once she found out that I was the English au pair girl! Sheila invited us in, and we chatted about all sorts of things, French lessons included - mainly the fact that round here, the French lessons stop once the school year does - ideal for someone like me, who is here for the summer! Not. So anyway, she suggested that as this Thursday was the last conversation class of the year, I come along (amongst a couple of other things, which weren't so useful). Obviously, we wanted to check this was OK with the teacher, so on Tuesday morning, when Anne wasn't working, we phoned her up. It all sounds a bit complicated, as she is away from the 20th July I do believe, and doesn't have internet, but anyway in about twenty mins, I am off to a conversation class. Not ideal, as I can converse in French sans problème, but at least I get to meet a) people (which I am very very excited about, so far it's not been the most sociable of places, having said that, it is a B&B and I've only been here 5 days!) and b) a French teacher, with whom I can hopefully arrange something to help with my written French over the summer.

So that's the "titbit" of information to keep you going!

Enjoy your afternoon

family life

After spending an hour or two unloading and tidying the car, trying not to wake the sleeping two-year-old, we were introduced. The poor thing looked absolutely petrified. So I unpacked some more, went downstairs to see if she wanted to play, which she didn't, so I carried on unpacking and tried to slowly get her used to me being there. She eventually did, which is good news. I find myself singing her songs in English, which she likes. Anyway. The family, the hours, etc.

So there is dad, Olivier, who is who I was in touch with to get the job in the first place. He runs Carpe Diem, the chambre d'hôtes which is essentially a guesthouse as an extension of the house. Or a bed and breakfast, to be more precise. And that's his full time job. Mum, Anne, is a part time pharmacist. She works on Mondays, Tuesday afternoons, sometimes Thursdays and sometimes Saturdays. There are 2 kids, a girl called Amélie, who is two and a boy called Gilles who is 5, but he is away until the 10th July, in Brittany with his grandparents. So at the moment, my job is to look after Amélie. She goes to the creche on the days her mum is at work, but apparently that is going to change because of me (as in on Tuesdays she won't go to the creche anymore as both Anne and I are around in the mornings).

Anyway, I start work at 8.30 and work til 11. Things I do involve: clearing up the guests' breakfast (as in putting things in the dishwasher), emptying the dishwasher from the previous night, hanging up washing, folding things, getting Amélie out of bed, dressed and breakfasted, taking her to the creche if necessary, and I know for a fact that on Thursday morning I will be driving the lawn mower...eek! Then I am free til 5.30pm (in the meantime, I have lunch with the family (with/without Amélie)) when I go and get Amélie from the creche (if necessary), bathe her (again, if necc. bath days are Tuesday, Thursday and Sat/Sun) - if not just put her in her PJs and keep her occupied til Anne gets home. Check in for the guest rooms is usually between 5 and 7pm, but it can be whenever they are here after 5. I work six days a week, and my current day off is Sunday, but that can change, as Anne doesn't always work on Thursdays. Any day that Anne doesn't work I can take off, but I'm happy with my Sunday. Food is all included, as is swimming pool. I meant to take my camera down to the garden for my sunbathing session this afternoon, but I forgot.

I think I'm settling in quite well, have been given permission to tutoie which makes me a happy Helen.

Tomorrow's post will have information on a few things I have done, Callian and language lessons.
Check back!

Promises?

I just noticed that most of my posts so far are of photos and not writing. I mean, it's not a problem, photos are nice to look at, but I didn't start a blog to just post photos. So this is just a post to say I promise to write more and that I will integrate photos and postings. As it so happens, I've only taken two photos since my arrival here in Callian, and that makes up part two of the promise - I will try to take more photos. Nothing can be guaranteed, I don't know how the family feel about me snapping away! Anyway, I'm going to make the most of the sunshine and hopefully tonight I will get you all up to speed on goings on at Carpe Diem.

Have a nice afternoon!

Second leg photos

Camarague national park, Arles (none of Aix-en-Provence apparently), St-Maximin-la-Ste-Baume.

Montpellier

You'd have thunk I'd have taken pictures of people I hung out with....