Well, we have notched up a busy first week in our new home in Saint Jean de Losne and the weather has been magnificent.
First things first : safe access to the boat required. On Monday Andy and I set about building a mammoth flight of steps and shifted a large amount of mud and aggregate until the task was completed on Tuesday. Cleared the garden and built barricades to keep out Foie, Gras, Waddle, Honk and all their mates…
On Wednesday we went en famille to the book swap and boat info session held in town. The boys were a big hit with everyone and came away with plenty of books.
On Thursday we hosted a party for our new neighbours and the Marina bosses. 30 people came and it was a very sociable evening.
On Friday we visited the local school and met the very young and cool Headmaster. Both boys enrolled and start on November 4th and luckily they will be in the same classes as our neighbour’s children. We have a lot of forms to fill in and a long list of school resources to purchase. In France the schoolchildren do not wear uniform but they do have to supply and carry enormous bags of equipment! School hours are very different too. They day starts at 0820 and the morning session finishes at 1130. Children are then sent home for lunch until 1330. The afternoon session finishes at 1630. And it is only 4 days per week! No school on a Wednesday. Though I have just informed Dan and Callum that they will be doing schoolwork with me on a Wednesday and catching up with the UK curriculum.
On Saturday we visited Dijon which is about half an hour away by car. It seems like a great city with a very vibrant centre and we are looking forward to making a return visit.
We also purchased the boys’ early Christmas present from their grandparents : a trampoline. The boys are thrilled and it is already a big hit with everyone at the Old Lock.
On Sunday the trampoline did not stop and our neighbours’ daughter moved in with us! She is 6 and very chatty and has taught me a great deal of French already.
A week has gone by at our new mooring and we feel very settled. So much has happened and we have met so many people. We have a feeling that it could be a lot of fun here.
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