Au Revoir

We have reached the end of term for school, judo club and rugby too. And sadly we have decided it is time to move on from Saint Jean de Losne. We have been very happy here and made to feel very welcome. We have become part of the community. The boys have made great friends too. So, the end of term has been a emotional time - for all of us.

The school show with Callum the M.C.

Dan and his classmates at a farewell picnic

Callum awarded yellow belt in judo

Dan awarded yellow-orange

The u9 Genlis rugby team after an end of season night out with their coaches.

And on the 30th of June we went to the end of season party at Genlis rugby club. It was a very sociable affair and Ricard were being very generous with their wares and topping up glasses in the sunshine. Each team and their coaches received applause for their achievements throughout the season. However, the u9s appraisal was kept until the very end. They had had a very good year and won two major tournaments. But the Club went that bit further and after a very complimentary speech and a guard of honour they presented Callum with a plaque and a set of monogrammed kit. Shiv was reduced to a puddle of tears and Callum was rendered speechless. 

Genlis Rugby Club is a fabulous club filled with warm, generous people who have made us feel very welcome indeed, despite the language barrier. We will miss them greatly.

It's a man's world

This petrol station is on our route to the Jura and is a car wash and outdoor launderette too (look at the building on the left) and we love the fact that it is always busy. The perfect place for bachelors to spend their Saturday mornings!

Pardon!

Saint Jean de Losne hosts a boat blessing ceremony every June which is called the Pardon (as in forgiveness and not in hard of hearing). 

The town springs to life with a fairground, a market, fireworks and a gathering of boats bedecked with flags.

This year Lobelia went to the party(alas minus Shiv who had gone to Devon to see her parents) and was the belle of the ball. 

She was duly blessed by the local priest. Flowers were thrown and wine awarded.

The Genlis under 9s do the Haka

Callum was asked to play with the Genlis U9s in Chambery this weekend. It meant an early start - we left home at 5am to drive 160 miles for this big tournament. Once again there were over 140 teams attending, spread across the different age groups. And this time it was an international event, attracting teams from Italy and France.

The drive there was long but breathtakingly beautiful :

The rugby ground in Chambery was equally picturesque. Set in a bowl surrounded by cliffs and snow-capped mountains. 

It was a jolly atmosphere with lots of teams in bright kit, gazebos galore and countless  bar-b-qs. I was a little surprised as I walked past an Italian group and heard an English voice shout across to me. Simon of Verona. He was merrily cooking lunch for his Italian team, wine bottle in hand. I complimented the food and he confided that the only way the Italians would come to a French tournament was if they did not have to eat the French food! And yet the French make mockery of the British cuisine and here was an Englishman cooking for the Italians in France. I'm looking forward to dining out on that story the next time my French pals are rude about English food.

The tournament went well, despite the afternoon rain. Genlis made it to the final which was a rain dousing 1-1 against Beaune.  Beaune somehow were declared the winners and this reduced our little team to tears of incredulity. However, after five minutes of confusion, Genlis were declared winners on points. Tears of joy ensued. Followed by the presentation of a cup and a superb French version of the Haka, led by a charismatic lad in the team (as in the video below).

Finally left the rugby ground at 6.30pm and got home, exhausted, before 10pm. 

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

I have vivid memories of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations and can still picture the sea of red, white and blue cakes which weighed down the trestle tables outside my school. And I remember my brother Seamus at the end of the tea party. He was all alone and ploughing through Mrs Bryant's particularly heavy sponge with inch thick Union Jack icing. Tables were packed away around him as he valiantly ploughed on.
But above all it remains a happy childhood memory with a date which is easy to pinpoint.

Here in France we have escaped all the Diamond Jubilee preparations, but were well aware of street parties and barge pageants. Indeed we had missed the Royal Wedding and would be missing the Olympics as well.
I had nothing planned.  But my strong childhood memories nagged away at me and at 7am this morning I had pangs of parental guilt, knowing that I was with-holding an opportunity for the boys to have a cherished Jubilee memory.

So we set to work, sadly without Andy. Bunting was draped. Deck chairs and tables laid out. We made jelly, cakes, sandwiches and devised games. We nipped around to various friends on boats and invited them to join us for high tea on Lobelia.

Our friends arrived and we ditched the idea of drinking tea in favour of toasting H.M. with bubbles. Several bottles!

Many thanks to John and Sandy, Liz and Alan, Alex, Tim and Tex who came and gamely joined in with the games. It was a baking hot day and the impromptu water pistol fight was very refreshing.
I put the boys to bed knowing that they now had taken part in a proper Jubilee party experience.
Guess it is the Olympics next! Neighbours beware!!!!

Liz attempts Dan's game "Pin the crown on the Queen"

60 second drawing challenge

Strawberry and spoon obstacle race

Who let Callum loose with the squirty cream!

Rule Britannia in France