photobucket link...photos!

won't bore you with tiny details

quick summary (i know i say this often, but i'm too lazy right now.)

this week i have:

• been to the lake twice with ursula, one time we rented a pedalo (that was the time laura was supposed to come)
• visited seillans and mons (two beautiful villages on hills - mons you can see all the way to the sea! it is about 814m up and apparently on a clear day you can see all the way to corsica - bull imo)
  
• been waiting for a parcel from dad (interdental tooth brushes - exciting times!)
  
• received an email from the family of french guests who were really nice (german teacher mum)
  
• breathed a sigh of relief when the annoying belgian family left. another annoying belgian family arrived today. great. excellent news. they are here 11 days!
  
• taken paracetamol for toothache (wisdom tooth) with a diet coke
• bought a new pair of flip flops
• nearly flooded the house
• missed amélie vomiting twice all over anne (tummy bug), but had to change several nappies
• not caught said stomach bug
• been bitten alive (probably swimming in the lake)
• salsa-d the night away. unfortunately little-no alcohol was consumed due to driving. since when have i been designated driver? (i am the only person with a car, that's why...)
• been submitted to a contrôle des papiers by the gendarmes on the way back from the lake. my first ever. and hopefully my last!!!
  

That's all I can think of for the time being! Am going to try and update more often (and make a photobucket album for you all to have a look at - takes just too long on here to load!).

it's been a while...

so, the last week. it all goes so so quickly, can't believe i've already been here a month! highlights of last week:

tuesday 13th july - fireworks at the aérodrome for the fête nationale (14th july, bastille day). they were nice :-) although, as ever at that time of night, there were mosquitos everywhere! but anyway, poor amélie was petrified, and sat during the fireworks with her head buried in anne's shoulder, fingers in ears, eyes shut, whilst anne told her what colour the fireworks were. it was hilarious. and they were my first ever 14th july fireworks, here's hoping there are many more to come!

wednesday 14th july - i had arranged with anne and olivier that i would have the afternoon off to go and see laura in juan les pins and the jazz festival! after lunch, i headed off with gloria to juan les pins. i picked laura up from her house and we had an eventful search for a carpark! to say the least. we eventually parked up, and headed into the town. it was easier to go straight to juan les pins, as that was where we would be that evening for the jazz (i should note, this was a very last minute arrangement, and i was grateful for the free ticket! thank you laura, friend of laura!) we went to the tourist information office where laura works to say hello, then headed to the beach. unfortunately, pedalos were a tiny bit extortionate (20€ for half an hour!!!!) so we sat on the beach for a while, before heading to the car to dump our stuff and head back for the jazz. there was this group from the us (new orleans) called soul rebels, who played in the streets, which was great. laura and i danced away like loonies and acted like groupies, taking pictures with the band etc etc and yes, we did follow them into their hotel (to use the loo - honestly) and got invited to party with them, which we didn't. because we went to the main festival opener. the second group are the only ones writing home about, the jazz à juan sextet, which was a group of two trios, if i remember correctly. during their performance, we saw the fireworks which were going on in cannes, and we left before the end - it was already 23.45 and i had to get back. photos to follow.

thursday 15th july - day out in the mountains. i started work earlier, and we headed off from the creche at 9. if i remember correctly! we went to an organic oil distillery (the views were great) and a farm. then we had a picnic by a lake. the roads were insane, luckily i slept most of the way - the only time i had to get out of the car was when olivier slammed on the brakes and we turned up a rocky road to find out where the farm was! i was right in the boot and me being me with my travelling in cars issue, i did pretty well! after the picnic, we played frisbee (not for long - i accidentally threw it into the lake! luckily i have warned olivier and anne that i am a slight catastrophe - i may have exaggerated the extent, but better to exaggerate, that way they expect worse than what will actually happen.) then we went back to the house.

friday 16th july - table d'hôtes with the french family. they are so lovely and the mum is a german teacher.

saturday 17th july - the other au pair girl arrived on the friday so i arranged to meet her - originally in the afternoon but she was going to a family friend's swimming pool in the afternoon so we went and had lunch in montauroux, in the cafe which sprays water on you. ursula found this very cool! it was nice and refreshing, given the heat! i had a bit of a headache, so drank lots of water, and the food portions were huge! we then trundled off to the family friend's house. except it had "disappeared". as in, ursula had forgotten where it was. in a black car, lots of u-turns, the headache turned to a full blown migrane. i wasn't sure if i was going to be able to last the drive back to the house, but luckily the family friends were a pharmacist and a nurse. so i was given paracetamol and unlimited access to the fridge, with cold water and ice cubes! i also plunged into the pool, which was lovely. and splashed around with the kids. came back, sat in the dark, and went to the pool here!

sunday 18th july - ursula and i went to cannes. although in the morning i worked an hour. and in the evening i worked one and a half hours for a table d'hôtes with the belgians. which kind of annoyed me and i was kind of fed up and exhausted by about 7pm. but cannes was nice, we went for lunch, wandered round, went on the beach and then came back here to use the pool. i was a tiny bit sunburnt..oops.

that's all for now!

A few things I forgot

On Friday I went shopping to Cap 3000, a shopping centre by Nice airport with Anne. We had a lovely day, I bought sunglasses, earrings and a beautiful bag. It was very tiring though!

There was a goat/deer like thing that was in the garden, it was trying to get out, it eventually did and promptly got stuck in the neighbour's fence. Which made for an interesting evening. I don't know what the word is in English, but in French it is chevret, so maybe a kid. But bambi wasn't a goat, and that's what Anne used to describe what it was that was in the garden. I got a few pictures, but not really. The neighbour was in her pyjamas - sight for sore eyes, and very rude about her husband. Pretty much the first thing she said to me was mon mari, le connard (my husband, the...). In all due fairness the poor Bambi was scared out of its wits and very stuck and the husband goes and starts the engine of the car. Which scared it even more. Lots of people later, the thing was put in a van and released into the forest. Here is a picture of it in the garden:

All Change!

As I write this, the family are probably almost back from their trip to Nice airport to pick up Gilles from his holiday in Brittany. The three weeks I have been here have whizzed by! Apparently, the house has been relatively calm, I can expect that to change! After all, Gilles is a five year old boy. I am going to have to find things to do to keep him occupied. If anyone has ideas, I welcome them!

It's been over a week since my last blog entry and lots of things have happened, notably a trip to Antibes to see Laura and the Opera, it was a great day, I had such a lovely time and laughed lots. And it was great to see Laura, and make the most of the fact that she knows what is going on and gets free tickets to see things! Looking forward to seeing her again and the waterpark and Jazz à Juan. There is loads of cultural stuff going on here in the south of France and I plan on making almost the most of it :) (if it's not too expensive...)

On Wednesday I received a letter from Montpellier confirming my acceptance to the masters I applied to, which was great news! I was told two weeks it would take, and it had been two and a half (I mean, I know this is France) but I was starting to think if I hadn't got on it, I was going to need to get sorted for another place to do my masters, and was going to re-open the search. Anyway, all that was not necessary (phew) and the following day I printed off the necessary documents to apply for the university accommodation equivalent and sent them off tout de suite. I also "cashed in" my 30 free photo prints won at the creche tombola. I visted Fayence, one of the neighbouring villages. And informed the Réctorat de Lyon that I won't be returning to Painlevé to teach in October, along with my contact teacher, Yvon, who was great during my year there.

Yesterday, I printed off flyers advertising English lessons and distributed them all over the place, which took up a good part of my afternoon. Upon my return, I locked the keys in the car, which I was less than impressed by. But hey-ho, my car is easy to break into and Olivier recuperated them for me. The car is now unlocked in the garden, under the olive tree, which is what I had originally intended to do! Leave it unlocked. Its not like there isn't a gate or anything. Actually thinking about it, I am probably paying way too much for my insurance now. Ah well. Will get on that tomorrow.

Today is my day off, I have cycled to Montauroux for the book festival - l'été se livre (boom) and walked into Callian for the Fête des Terroirs, both of which were crap. Quite honestly. I then sunbathed by the pool and I am contemplating going to another village called Tourrettes, to another thing, but I am quite epuisée. All that sun, sport and swim! (I literally dived in then got out)

Time to go...will let you know how it goes!

Edit: Just met Gilles, lovely kid, off to play in the swimming pool :D
Second Edit: I am going to require a lot of energy for this one!

The vocabulary of "NiNi"

Starting with the obvious:
(A)Nini = Amélie (who is currently in the swimming pool with Maman and Papa).
Geeeeeeeee (the eeeee continues for a while, particularly when looking at pictures) = Gilles.
Toh! = Depending on context, either encore (again), or tiens (here, take this - kind of thing).
Baaaaapo (if sung, and followed by l'eau l'eau) = Bateau sur l'eau (boat on the water).
Baaaaapo = Gateau (cake).
Baaaaapo = Chapeau (hat).
L'eau = any form of liquid, not just water.
L'eauuu = L'autre (usually used when putting shoes on, that sort of thing - the other foot).
Ahpiiiiiii = ça pique (it stings, or in the case of fizzy water, I'm not quite sure what).
Poh! = Porte (carry me).
Peur = in this case, there is usually something that scares her, like an insect or a motorbike on the road outside. From time to time, it's the cat -> Mimiiii (it's very entertaining, she tries to stroke the cat by screaming with her arms wide in the air and running after it - very low success rate!).
Pahpuuuuuu = il n'y en a plus (all gone!).
BimbIM = trampoline.

That's all I can think of for the moment, but thought I would share that with you, oui and non are also included in her vocabulary, but I'm not sure she knows when to use which one! It's funny. As more come up, I will add them to the list!

Insect Bites

Now, I'm not one for complaining (much), but was recently reminded of a family holiday we took a few years ago to Portugal (I am informed it is Portugal, but I am not 100% sure). Not just because of the mosquito bite that, day by day, gets bigger and bigger, and is threatening to take over my leg (I have been taking antihistamines every day due to an extreme reaction, and am scarred on my ankle), but also because of the fact I see Amélie every morning with more bites on her face, and all over the place really. This year there has been a lot of rain, and thus, lots of mosquitos - moustiques. In French, the word for bite is piqure - sting, which is more apt (in my opinion).

Anyway, I did take a picture of the bite that is threatening to take over my leg, but I haven't uploaded it yet. It really is that big.

So the holiday, in Portugal (or Mallorca, or wherever) a few years ago. Poor Louise, like me has an enormous reaction to bites and had to spend 2 days in the bath filled with cold water. In theory I could do that, but instead, I go and sit in the sun for an hour or two, and blog when I am supposed to be working!

That's all :)

a pinch and a punch for the...oh.

Ah well, we have entered July so quickly, I hadn't even noticed! At least the time is flying. This time a year ago I was learning how to be a lady, and one year on, I am changing nappies and living with a French family! It's already going pretty quickly, which is good - a week tomorrow I will be meeting the final member of the family - Gilles! Anyway, this post is really just to add some photos, which I have been promising for ages and haven't got round to putting up. (Just an afterthought, I should be making the most of the sun, but before 11 it was already 29, so I am hiding in my room with the blinds closed, I may go outside this afternoon).

Ohhh...I started writing this over an hour ago, photos are taking FOREVER to upload, will try again later!


Success!!! (For your information, I did go outside this afternoon, in the pool, twice!) Here are some pictures of Callian in all it's glory. The first and last pictures are taken from the plaine, the second is the church where the cello concert was held. The third is a view of the streets, obvious I know, and the fourth is the view of the chapel from the castle.









Now for some photos of my day off, at the lake! I didn't take many, mind..(Lac de Saint-Cassien)


And finally, the one you have all been waiting for, the food. It has to be mentioned that the tower thing was Anne's idea, but it was my execution. And the veg kebabs were fully my idea.
Yum!

to sum up

I keep saying to myself I will blog, and I just can't seem to find the time to do it! Here is a "quick summary" of what has happened since Saturday:

Saturday: went to creche party, unfortunately did not meet parents of family where there will be an English au pair girl. However, I did enter a raffle and win 6€ voucher for a hallal butchers..and 30 free photo prints, which is exciting. As Louise gave me a hangy-photo thing for my birthday last year, I will finally, almost a year later, have something to put in it! And it will go up on my wall, wherever I will be come September (no news on that by the way).

Sunday: was my day off! I took my cooler box, went to the shop, bought picnicky stuff, and went to sit by the lake on a beach. I was informed that it was a quiet beach, but when I arrived at about 11.30 it was positively buzzing, there was no shade anywhere and it was noisy. But I imagine less so than the other beaches! Anyway, as I was parking up, a policeman/gendarme came to tell me there are a lot of thefts, keep your valuables with you. It's annoying being on your own with all your valuables - I couldn't go for a swim in the lake or anything. Not that I had remembered my swimstuff! I stayed there for about 3 hours and given there wasn't any shade (and the fact that I was on my own), I headed back to the house for a quick dip in the pool. The quick dip wasn't so quick however, as despite having been by the pool before, I had never had to open the gate before! Luckily when I was getting out of the car, I saw one of the guests in the pool, she had since disappeared, but I found her sitting on her patio and asked how to open the gate. She told me she would show me, and then explain how to deactivate the pool alarm (which I already knew, having helped Olivier with the translation of how to do it!). It was actually quite easy to do, I was having a slow day... then I watched (and was suitably disgusted) by the England game. I said to Anne (at 2-0 to Germany), I don't know why I haven't switched off yet...should have!

Monday: I can't seem to remember anything exciting happening on Monday. Aside from the usual!

Tuesday: In the morning, I received a phone call from Isabelle, the French teacher who offered her daughter's services as a French teacher (as she is younger, not qualified = cheaper) asking if i wanted to meet up with Naïs that afternoon for a coffee, in front of the church in Montauroux (which is the village next door, population a bit more than Callian). I knew Naïs was shy, so in a way I was glad Isabelle called (because I had met her!). So I spoke to Olivier, and decided to go by bike. Having left the house, it very quickly became clear that I hadn't ridden a bike for a very long time. And I knew there was a massive hill to go down. As I was cycling along (I also wasn't 100% sure where I was going), I was envisaging a hospital trip, or blood pouring everywhere. Obviously I braked heavily when going down the hill and survived to tell the tale. I met Naïs and we chatted over a (very) cold drink (whilst I recovered from my 3km bike ride) and discussed my written French (very little). Then Isabelle came and joined us and we arranged that I would speak to Becky (Sheila the neighbour's daughter) for Thursday afternoon or Friday. We walked up to the cinema, Naïs and I, so that I wouldn't have to "cycle" back up the "hill" and she showed me the way back (that way was a bit longer, but at least I didn't have to "cycle" back up the "hill"). Of course, I messed up, ended up going down the hill and having to do the big climb anyway!!!

Wednesday: was the day I met the former nanny. Another shy one. Anyway, I had been put "in charge" of the starter and whatever goes with lamb chops. I had ideas in mind, and in the afternoon, after a quick dip in the pool (I think my computer makes my room way too hot, it's hot enough as it is without it, I'm sure) and having been to the shops in the morning, I prepared a tomato and mozarella salad, vegetable kebabs and rice. The next post is going to be photos of said food (amongst several other photos). The salad was put in the fridge, the rice was prepared and the kebabs were, well, kebabed up and ready for the BBQ. The idea of vegetable kebabs was novel for the family and they were a roaring success. Anyway, the former nanny, Marine, turned out to be lovely, very quiet to start with, but I think I'm like that too. And I can probably be intimidating as well (I don't think I was, but if she thought I was, I understand. Completely.). So as they (her mum came too) left, I took her number, miscalled her and said if she wanted to do anything, I'm around! Although I do believe she is going on holiday on July 14th. I don't know how long for, but there you go. Wednesday night was exciting because I was told I could have a lie-in the following morning (this morning)!! Because the guests eat breakfast late, and Amélie wakes up late - I sit around doing nothing waiting for Amélie to wake up/the guests to finish their breakfast. So understandable really.

Thursday, today: I woke up a bit later, having gone to sleep a lot later. And Amélie woke up surprisingly early. So for once, we weren't so late at the creche! Monday next week the creche is closed, so Anne arranged to put her in on Friday so we can go shopping!!! The sales start on Wednesday. Apparently that's a bit later than the majority of France. Probably will then be making my first visit to Cannes. Back to today - I had agreed with Becky and Naïs that we would go to Naïs' for 2ish, and it was difficult to find, so Becky would direct me. So we arrived just after 2 and I had an excellent French lesson! I learnt some new stuff, and we did some translation, which will hopefully come in useful!!! I thoroughly enjoyed it, anyway. I then took Becky out for an icecream to thank her for coming with me - I don't think I would have found it without her, the house doesn't exist on Sat Nav or GoogleMaps!! I also bought a sunscreen for the car, as I burnt my thumb on the wheel and the car hadn't been in the sun for that long (I don't think) and bought some petrol for my trip to Antibes on Sunday (I am going to see The Barber of Seville (for free) at Eilen Roc - yes, that is where Madonna stays - with Laura (a girl I know from uni). My next French lesson is arranged for Monday. I was going to write up my notes this evening before bed, but have decided blogging is much more pressing!

Quick update over!