Scott is a Seminary Teacher

On Sunday 4th September, Scott joined up with approximately eight 14-18 year old kids from church, on Skype, for his first seminary lesson. (He's on here with one of the Dads trying to sort out some technical problems.) 

Since then he has been teaching 4 lessons a week between 6.30am and 7.15am. This year they are studying the Old Testament. Scott's liking that he is learning a lot, even though Skype has its own challenges as a classroom environment. He also teaches an evening class at the chapel in person, roughly every other week.

I have very nobly donated my sewing table to Scott for Seminary, so that he doesn't need to keep setting up the TV screen (and more recently laptop) each day.

Training Meeting in Watford

After we were back from France a couple of days, on 3rd September, I travelled down to Watford for a training meeting. Bishops and Stake Presidencies had a separate meeting, and Auxiliary Presidents met with Sisters Clayton, Kerr and Kopischke.
What a wonderful experience. After a slightly scary start, when I was asked to conduct the meeting (!), we had a quite informal and personal meeting, with some marvelous training, and discussion.
I spoke with Sister Clayton afterwards too, and she said that it was clear to see why I was called - that I am what the girls need to see, even if I didn't actually do anything, and she shared many other things that left us both in tears. After all the stress and rushing around and busyness of the calling, it was wonderful to feel so spiritually uplifted, and re-focused on what my priorities need to be. The impact of this meeting has really stayed with me.
Afterwards, Bishop Wade, Rebecca Cain and myself had a meal out before travelling home.

Last days of holiday

For our last two full days in France (29th & 30th August), we really wanted to make the most of it, and luckily we had great weather! For anyone who has looked much at this blog before, these pictures will probably look familiar...yes - it's the bouncy castle place again!!

My two little boys flying through the air...

The human tidal wave.

Typical Scott driving.

Mum and Asher at base camp.

My two little boys both flying once again...

We had a family game of golf.

There were some slightly less than orthodox methods on show, including various snooker shots, and Lucy's 'blow it down the hole' technique, which couldn't have been that successful, seeing as she came last.

On our favourite bikes again!

Aftermath of Lucy's quite hilarious crash into the bike stand...

More of Scott's superb driving.

The next day we all headed to the surfing beach. Scott looking the part, with our new skim board.

Mum at the latest base camp.

The boys starting work on a network of sand castles. Dad bought a proper builder's spade with him!

 Ha ha ha!

We waited till the bitter end, as the very last bit of sandcastle was swallowed by the sea.

John had bought a waterproof camera case with him. It kept steaming up, but he got this one of me surfing.

We came away feeling pretty happy, sandy, tired etc. A great day!

First thing on Wednesday 31th August, we headed back for England. This is the bridge at one of the toilet stops. It has a great view, which you can see Le Mont St. Michel from.

We got the high speed ferry back from Le Havre. Harry liked watching from the back.

I was not very happy (as usual) to be going back to England. I don't think any of us were really. Good bye France for another year.

Just a weekend on holiday

Once Scott was back in France we made the decision not to get a new exhaust pipe/back box bit, but to secure the remaining bit with a wire coathanger, and sort it out back in England. It wasn't as noisy as it could have been, but Harry said the car sounds like a Ferrari!

On Friday 26th August, we decided to try and cycle to a spot which we have passed lots of times in the car, but which I actually wanted to go to as a destination. It's a high up point out the other side of Plumelec, and it's where all the camper vans etc gather when there is a big bike race on.

It was a pretty hilly ride, especially for Tom with no gears on his bike, but we made it. I loved being there - the view is gorgeous.

Dad took this picture of us cycling up the last part of the enormous hill into Plumelec. One of the Tour de France stages ended just at the top of this hill... I think that is so mean! (We only did this bit - not the whole thing - it's a killer!)

After that we cycled to a nearby WW2 memorial, and look out point.

Mum, back at Bel-Air with some of Dad's very smelly cheese

Dad hung up the flags in preparation for John, Hannah and baby Asher's arrival in the evening.

27th August. Scott hanging out with his new nephew, Asher.

After church, Sunday 28th August. A typical sight with John around - a game of some description going on!

Some of next door's birds had wandered into our bread oven, so we took some photos, then challenged Scott to catch a goose. He didn't get one, but the geese were hilarious, and fell over!

In the evening, everyone except me went for a walk, where they found some familiar looking fairies in Yvon's wood!

The usual evening hanging out in Mum and Dad's room.