BRITTANY

The kids are on holiday for what is known as Toussaint in France, and as we thought Manu might be working, he works at a moments notice, we didn't plan a holiday, but when his Grandmother started falling really ill we decided to visit just for the weekend.  It's a 9 hour drive from us to Brittany and unfortunately and very sadly we didn't make it in time to see 'Meme'.  She passed away peacefully in her sleep whilst we were on en-route.  We missed her by 6 hours.  Will post a photo of lovely Meme when I find one.

So everyone was here for the funeral which was a good distraction for Manu's mom.  We are heading back on Friday, 9 hours of - are we there yet - and then to get packing for South Africa, rather more like, washing, ironing, packing and re-packing.  Decided to buy myself a new wardrobe when I'm there as it's so pricey here to buy clothes.  So I don't need much.  The idea of clothes here are the more you spend on them the more popular they are and the less material they use so most of the t-shirts are completely see-through and of poor quality.  Anyway enough of the blah blah blah.

 

 We had lovely sunsets on our way, we broke the journey at my sister-in-laws house, three hours from Praz so then there was only 6 hours left for the next day.

 Dinner at Chagny

 Almost there, this is the football stadium in Rennes and Manu and Benjamin are proud supporters.
As there was now a funeral in our midst, all the family came to stay, so the cousins were all together which happens so rarely as one lives in the United States.  It was great for them to be together although a sad time, we had some laughs never-the-less.

 Romain, Samuel, Mackenzie and Benjamin vegging out in front of a movie

 

Supper time

 

The family = Manu, Me, Chris, Tilak

Fifi, Pierrette, Claire

Samuel, Benjamin, Mackenzie and Romain

After the funeral, the girls headed home to their respective jobs and Manu and I stayed on with Chris and Mackenzie for a week.  We visited Cancale on the coast and St Malo. It's getting cooler and the day was overshadowed by rain and wind but we had fun anyway.  It was an entire day of seafood, eating Moule Frite for lunch and Oysters for dinner.  Mmmmmmm

First Cancale.........................................

 

Then St Malo.............................

 St Malo is a walled city, so we walked along the ramparts before heading for the beach, it was freezing with a howling wind, the port was closed to ferries due to storm warnings in the UK, this is the main port from Brittany to Jersey, Guernsey and the UK.

And then home for dinner..........................

WINTER SPORTS

I say winter because it seems we've missed Autumn this year with two days of snow already and only the beginning of October.  I am becoming quiet scared of what's to come that's for sure. 

 

 We did however manage to have Samuel's cross country race in the Autumn weather last week, it was cold though.  The kids had to run around the lake.  Samuel did very well for his new school, 16th out of 40 kids. 

 

Benjamin has now joined jujitsu with Samuel.  We had to get permission from Samuel first of course. 

 

SEPTEMBER

Thought I'd put up some pictures of Le Maz and the route there, it's behind Megeve and you walk up from the centre of the town.  It's like another world though.  Really pretty..................

My Dad celebrated his birthday before they left so we did a joint birthday for Samuel too who's was later in the month..................

 Taken at the Pizza place in Combloux.

September was also the month of Samuel's birthday.  10. Wow already.  I look at him and I can't believe how big he is.  He's so happy in his new school it's like having a different child at home.  We are so happy for him and to think how we fretted over the decision to move him but it turned out to be the best in the end.  For his birthday we went to play a Laser Game and Bowling in Sallanches.  It was a big surprise, just us four.  Only the joke was on us because his Grandparents also decided to surprise us ALL and drive down from Brittany for the occasion.  So we all played lazer game - shooting each other in the dark with Lazers, so much fun.

Also in September we went to friends for lunch who have a farm on the other side of Geneva.  Boys had a great day.

And..............................

....................visiting the cheese co-op with the kids to watch them making cheese.

Ben at his soccer match on a Saturday in September...................

And that was September.