This is clearly a big day for me. It's got nothing to do with the fact that I managed to finish weeding the onions (despite the rain!) but everything to do with reaching the grand number of 10,000 on my blog!
I am well aware that this is peanuts compared to many but for me it's a big deal! Thanks to all my loyal readers - most especially the ones from Ireland and Scotland who are so loyal. Still no Google Page Rank though so please, keep on coming back and if possible recommend me to your friends.
Here's to the next 10,000 (stop groaning at the back!).
Not chicks this time - or at least not the feathered type but I accept I am also a "Mother Hen" when it comes to my children.
Our youngest son has been in French school for two years now and has to pass his brévet in June. However, a lot rests on his accumulated average for the year. I won`t bore you to tears but suffice to say he`s been struggling this year and in early March we (Mum, Dad and R) were told in no uncertain terms that he was unlikely to have a high enough average to pass into seconde - ie he`d have to re-do the year he is about to finish. This is a tough call although a fairly common occurrence in France and there is no stigma attached - but try telling that to the child concerned!
Anyway, yesterday he was given the all important yellow form with the words "avis favourable" - in other words, it should be all right. It`s not 100 per cent definite yet but the difference in R was amazing. Suddenly he`s talking about doing extra work (willingly!) to get a better mark in his brévet and he has a smile on his face. A bit of encouragement goes a long way...
I`m aware that plenty of 14 year olds fall behind (I HATED school when I was 14) and it`s easy to say too little too late - or words to that effect - but this one is coming good and we are really proud parents!
It happens every year. As May breaks the cherries ripen. We spend about three weeks watching them grow from little pipsqueaks into lovely, juicy cherries. The weather warms, the fruit starts to sweeten. And then we wake up to the sound of furious chatter as the robbers fly past in great flocks, squawking as they go. They are in the cherry trees and if we aren't quick enough all that is left are the stones, hanging forlornly on the stems. Occasionally we find one which was obviously not quite good enough as it's only half eaten.
The stupid thing is there are more than enough for them and us. We have about ten good cherry trees and they crop well most years. But these wretched birds seem to start at the bottom and work up, thereby ensuring that they get the lot!
The first year we were here I invited some friends over for lunch and told them to come with their buckets for the cherries. I called them, you understand, at 11.30am. There were MASSES of cherries that year. They arrived at 1pm and we went straight round to the cherry trees. They managed to pick about three! That's how fast the birds are!
By the end of the week all that will rest are the cherries right at the tops of the trees. These birds seem to know that we can't reach them even with a ladder or a super tree climber so they leave them to ripen and sweeten even more in the sun.
We can't net these trees; they are too big for one thing and for another they all at the top of the bank and overhang the moat so it would be too dangerous an operation. Perhaps we can go back through evolution and develop monkey abilities to swing through trees!
Our youngest son (14) told us yesterday that he had to go to school today dressed in white. We are not rich in white trousers but managed to find a pair of old cricket trousers belonging to his brother. A pair of scissors soon sorted out the length and I dealt with the excess waistband with a few stitches. We were mystified about all this as all R had told us was that it was something to do with vegetables.
Finally all was revealed this afternoon when he came home from school. It was, apparently, Vegetable Day in France and each class was asked to dress in a different colour. On the whole garlic (white) was an easy option. I have even less pairs of carrot or courgette colour trousers or T-shirts for that matter!
I woke up this morning absolutely determined to do something about the extra few kilos I am carrying around. Not many - five to be precise - but THEY HAVE TO GO! So a plan of action is required!
For the past month we have had the pleasure of our second son staying with us. He is a wonderful cook and an incredible eater. A loaf of bread is consumed in seconds of coming out of the oven. As a result two loaves come out and the rest of us eat the other one. I usually eat the most. With cheese. And red wine. And perhaps a pudding... You get the picture.
NO MORE!!! Bread is out. I can't cut out all carbs as I still have a fairly active sporting life - tennis twice a week for example - but I've done a low-carb diet before and it worked a treat.
So now I have come out in public. Those five kilos are ON THE WAY OUT. They are NO MORE - or rather, they will be no more very soon!
I will keep you up to date and any votes of encouragement will be greatly appreciated!
