WEEK 3

Bonjour,

We have started to setlle in well to Saint Remy. The other night we had a dinner party at a house around the corner, hosted by some locals Lucy and Sam. (English folk).
They have been very hospitable and helpful with explaining the local area, restaurants, nearby villages etc.

On Saturday morning the local square hosted a variety of vintage cars from the area. It was great to see such a large collection of the automobils of old. With their brass fittings, leather trims and wooden spokes, these were real classic open air carriages with great character. For vehicles over 100 years old and still running was a credit to their owners, who eventually drove off into the French countryside.

The girls have been visiting some restaurants, as part of "Cuisine week". Grace and Adele visited a local Michelin Star restaurant "Valrugues". The school is also organising rock climbing in the Alpilles for the students. I think the strong "Mistral " winds that have been blowing 'vent tres froid' have kept them from going this week.

On Wednesday, we went with the poms (Lucy and Jeraldine) to pick les pommes(apples). It was a belle  apres-midi (lovely afternoon) in the apple orchard. We picked  3 bags of Granny Smiths and Golden Delicious. After the harvest these apples are left on the trees because they are too small. The farmers don't send the pickers back because it is too expensive, so the locals are allowed to help themselves to what is there.

The region is known mainly for its wine and olive oil, but apples (pommes), cabbages (choux), pumpkins(citrouilles) and lettuce(laitue) are also prevelant in the fields.

Geoff and Lorraine should arrive today and are house sitting the Villa whilst we're on our French October School Holidays.
We are taking a driving holiday to SanRemo, Bellagio, Venice, Salzburg, Munich, Innsbruck, Leichtenstein, Lucerne and back home to Saint Remy.

Will update the Blog at the end of our road trip.

a bientot.

WEEK 2:

Bonjour,

Hello to everyone back in Sunny Townsville.
This week has been all about the French language. The children have been engrossed in school, tutoring, and watching Disney movies in French!! Brendan and I have also joined a local French speaking class in a nearby town called Eyrague.
On the weekend we went to watch a local Camargue Bull fight. Local boys start training at 10yrs of age.

Unlike in Spain, the idea of the game is to run around the bull and get it to chase you. Which is pretty funny to watch. Teamwork is obviously the aim of the game. They work together to distract the bull so they can get a thin rope hanging off the bull's horns. They also scratch the bulls head with a claw they have on their hand! Well, that is what we think they are doing! Have a attached a short film from the day.

The Wednesday Markets were really fantastic!! I wish they had them at home in Townsville. The food is unbelieveable over here. Everything tastes soooo good. We are slowly settling in to our life over here.

There is an amazing network of English people who have been popping in to welcome us. I have even been invited to play a spot of tennis with some of them!! The weather is starting to get cold (il fait froid!).

The children are slowly beginning to understand what their teachers are saying. Especially Taisez-vous! Which means "Be Quiet". I have been using this at home as well! They also use "je ne comprends pas" alot, which is - "I don't understand". But soon it will be - "Je comprends" (I understand) - we hope!!
Until next week,
Au Revoir!!

FIRST WEEK

Bonjour,
After a rush to make the plane at home, we had a very long flight from Melbourne to London.
London had a real buzz to it!! We enjoyed a quick shop at Harrods! What a store, you could get lost in it for hours. That night we had a great japanese dinner a NOBU in Berkley St. The blackened Cod was a favourlte.

The next morning before our flight,we took a lovely stroll from Knightsbridge down through Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace.
Soon enough, we touched down in Marseille France albeit $80 lighter due to BA's excess baggage charges.
The steep learning curve started as soon as we passed through customs, when english was not spoken and we could not find the Eurodrive desk to get our car!!
Eventually we managed to pick up our car (Great Thanks to Jacob who came to help us!!) and were on our way through the rustic mediterrean countryside toward our new home in Saint Remy de Provence.
Our villa and the town itself are full of French charm.
The small cobbled stone streets(rues) in the centre of the pretty village (jolie ville), are filled with cafes, patisseries, boulangeries, chocolatiers and a few stray dogs!
Before starting school, we had a lovely Saturday in Monaco, living the lifestyle of the Rich and Famous.
In Monaco we visited Prince Rainier III's Palace and had a look at the Musee Oceanographique. It was a fascinating museum with exhibits by the famous underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau. Throughout the palace there are reminders of Princess Grace, the film actress Grace Kelly whose fairytale marriage to Prince Rainier delighted the world.
We also visited the Monte Carlo Casino and the picturesque Hotel De Paris over looking the harbour with its tens of millions of pounds worth of yachts.
The next day we took a short drive from Saint Remy to Les Beaux de Provence(7kms).Les Beaux was a medieval stronghold set atop of a ridge overlooking the southern plains. It has truly breathtaking views.
The Castle is now partly in ruin and has been converted into a museum. The children enjoyed a treasure hunt through the castle and learned about medieval weaponry.
First day at Ecole Saint Martin (little catholic school) was very daunting! But the girls managed with flying colours and were keen to go again the next day. School in France is very different to Australia. The children go to school Monday,Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. They attend from 8.30am to 11.45, then come home for lunch, and go back from 1.30pm to 4.30pm! Homework in French has been a challenge, but with our french tutor it has been getting done. Yesterday we took a drive to historic Avignon (20kms) which is a 14th Century Palace complex. Built by Popes Benedict XII and Clement VI. Beside this walled city is the famous bridge of Saint Benezet which stretches its remaining arches across the Rhone river. The stroll through the cobblestoned streets was amazing, and so were the shops!!!
Au revoir, till next week!