Summer Holiday in Brittany (Fourth Week)

On Monday we loaded up some beach stuff and a picnic, and headed (thanks to my co-ordinates in the satnav) to 'the snorkeling beach'. Lucy spent most of the time in the water, and the boys pottered. I seems so easy on beaches here - I am more relaxed, because I can see the kids easily, as the beaches are less crowded, plus they wear life jackets, so I'm not watching them so anxiously every second.
Jack building his fort. Love this one of Jack and Tom! (With Suscinio Chateau in the background.)

On Tuesday we set out to explore part of the wood near our house that we haven't mapped before. We found a new way out the wood that took us through an old abandoned farmyard, and past these horses that the kids liked. Quite a long walk. Harry with our new neighbours' dog.

On Wednesday, Dad got up early and got these pictures of sunrise over Bel-Air.Also on Wednesday, the kids and I set out on another bike exploration. We followed one farm track that was on the map, but it kind of ran out.

We kept thinking the track might open up again, but it totally disappeared, and we were deep in a wood, which was definitely NOT good cycling terrain...

Harry and Tom were crying at some points - trying to push through brambles and over fallen trees etc! We got a bit lost but managed to retrace our steps after a while.

Resting in a glade after fighting our way out the undergrowth.

We carried on for miles after that, feeling very Famous Five-y!
Spot 4 kids!Hmmm... my four year old whizzing past on a motorbike... I was really looking forwards to Wednesday evening - driving on my own to the airport and picking up Scott. It didn't disappoint! I spent a wonderful hour and a half driving through the countryside - the evening was glorious, and I actually felt close to tears at the sheer beauty of some of the scenes I came across - an old church and village nestling in a valley, the flowers and fields, a sparkling lake - all bathed in warm evening sunlight, and later on a gorgeous red sunset.

I got the airport at 10pm, when Scott's flight was due in, and he came through the arrivals door at about 10.05pm! It was so good to see him, and have a kiss in the arrivals hall, followed by catching up on all the news on the drive home. While he had been home, he had been asked by the Governors where he works to do his boss' job when she leaves, as a stand in till a replacement can start. Scott doesn't want to apply for the job himself, but is happy to fill in (and also be on higher wage for that time period!)

Thursday. Harry playing happily... in his cream coloured shorts!Scott bought a bike ramp out to France as well...Harry and Tom were doing great considering they haven't been riding long.Scott was lucky not to have broken anything - he hit the ground pretty hard on one occasion...

The lane, and entrance to the front garden.

Front of ours, and Mum and Dad's bit of the house. Our living room.

The kids helping to move some containers of sand and gravel. Friday. Spot Jack in the tree.On Saturday (24th August) we pottered around in the morning, then decided to go to Mont St. Michel. It's about a 2 hour drive from Bel-Air. It is always a wonderful place to go and wander around!I love the lines and colours in the sand, spreading out for miles. I wish I could paint it. And of course, we had to take a photo of the kids in our favourite cubby hole! This is a picture of the kids and Scott in exactly the same cubby hole, that I took in August 2007!What a place.

A Sunday afternoon stroll through our favourite wood!

Summer Holiday in Brittany (Third Week)

On our first day after Scott went back home, it was one of those mornings when the mist and sun were just right so that you knew it would look fantastic in the nearby wood. Lucy and I went there to get some photos, and also found Dad in the wood, with the same idea! I took this one of Dad,

and he took this one of me and Lucy. (I was still in my pyjamas.)

The path to the commune bins.

After church, Dad, the kids and I went to the village of Lizio, parked in a field and went to a country fayre, where they cordon off the entire village. There were thousands of people there, and lots to see. It was boiling hot.

There were loads of fantastic models to look at.One of our neighbours in the commune down the lane is Martin, who is English with a French wife. He's into miniature steam trains. Here's Dad chatting with him, at his club's part of the fayre.The kids watching the remote controlled car racing circuit.Jack and Tom on the steam train.

The next day, and kids and I set out for our first bike adventure! Tom and Harry haven't been riding bikes for very long, and this was the first time we had been anywhere together. (Scott and Lucy bought out 3 bikes in the car with them, so we all have one in France now.) I had photocopied our bit of the map, with all the farm tracks etc. on it, and laminated it, so we took that with us, and a picnic in my bike basket.

It felt so good having our first bike ride picnic! It was beautiful weather, and we felt so free and happy! This photo brings back such a good memory!

Back at Bel-Air, I moved out of my bedroom, and into Ken & Bev's spare room, and Dad started a week long intensive decorating of it. He did a wonderful job, and it looks amazing! - all beautiful wooden beams and white paint!
On Wednesday, we headed to 'the island beach'. With my co-ordinates in the satnav, it was easy to get to. I felt a real sense of achievement getting there though, because normally I rely so much on Scott to drive and be in charge!

The beach was quite busy, so we took all our stuff straight onto the island, and stayed on the little beach on the far side of it.

It was glorious! We had the little beach pretty much to ourselves, and Harry played totally happily, while Lucy, Jack and Tom messed around in the sea with life jackets on, then played with Harry.

We had no idea of the time - just stayed as long as we wanted, then headed back... to find that the island had been cut off from the main beach! The older kids carried all the stuff and I gave Harry a piggyback while we waded back! We thought it was great!

The next day, the boys and I went on another bike ride/picnic.It's so much fun just being in the middle of nowhere! Harry and Tom sometimes found the cycling a bit hard going, but after a bit got used to the fact they just had to get off and push up-hill sometimes.

Making playdough the next day... we had to improvise a bit (used-up sealant tubes for rolling pin/tomato puree for food colouring the playdough etc...)

On Saturday evening Dad got a good fire going, and made some sharpened sticks, so we could have marshmallows. (Very burnt ones in Tom's case.)After church on Sunday, we had a nice time hanging out in the lane...

Harry has been doing great on his bike, but has no sense of fear, or of slowing down round corners, and he has been having cuts and scrapes on top of his cuts and scrapes...

It's been a bit of a challenge in France to keep Harry in particular from being really loud/arguing/moaning etc. - living with Dad, and having new neighbours to consider. Harry and the others to a lesser extent, have needed keeping in control somewhat - I couldn't just say 'go and play with all your toys', or use the telly as a calming-down tool. We've had a long stretch of time to fill, without our usual possessions and privacy, and all the kids sharing one room has meant they were more tired than usual. We all adore it here, but I wouldn't want to give the impression that every moment is sweetness and light!
Lucy and Harry with all his wounds. We had a right laugh trying to photograph half of Lucy in one end of the drainage pipe, and her other half coming out the other end. It didn't work very well!
The kids also went in the field to glean the leftover wheat (and chuck hay).Lucy and I chatting in the ditch.

Dad and the boys separated loads of wheat from the chaff.

Dad later cracked the wheat, boiled it, and made curry and spaghetti etc. with it, instead of using meat.