St Laurent du Var Telethon

Saturday, Marie had a French lesson first thing in Sophia. She's enjoying that. The progress is slow.

<-- Me and the boys walked in the forest nearby. We found stock piles of dirt and gravel to play on. The boys got filthy for an hour, and I got filthy while carrying them.




In the afternoon, we went to a huge fete in St Laurent du Var. We watched old rally cars doing donuts and figure 8s in the car park. Dont worry about seat belts... even 3 year olds can have a go if they're sitting on dad's lap in the front seat. One man risked his life to hose it down, while a variety of cool old cars took turns to slide around without wiping him out. Trials motorbikes did big jumps and tricks. Fire engines and fake but real USA police cars gave joy rides with full sirens.



Then Ollie and Louis got on the dodgems. They both laughed a lot. Ollie got the idea of driving. He had the time of his life banging into people. Louis loved it until he bumped his head. He retired to the kiddie ride.

The first toilet stop was next to the line dancing and cake table. After the judo demo, and trash & treasure, we ran out of time on the jumping castle. Ollie tried out archery. Hamburgers and chips topped out the least French day so far. We missed the flying fox, trampolines, and blow up suit sumo wrestling. The kids had a great time.

Sunday was up in Vence. We visited an Australian newly from work, and his wife. She's a bit tired of retired ladies giving advice, and not being able to park anywhere. All the kids got Australian flag tattoos.

We got our long term visas, so now we can stay. The next thing is to get a social security number. By the time all that's done, it will be time to renew it again. To get integrated I'm doing a course on history and civics.

Me and the boys have colds.

<-- Someone finally shovelled out the path to work. Thank you French man!

St Paul de Vence

On Friday night, we got some lights flashing in our window. Then some red laser light. Turned out to be our neighbours getting our attention. They told us about an open day at the local gym for kids. So we went to that this morning. Ollie and Louis did some kid gym, ping pong and nerf ball tennis. It's a nice idea from the local council. In the arvo, we went to St Paul de Vence.


<-- St Paul de Vence high on a hill

no hippies, just the elderly, well dressed, and arteests -->

It's about 10mins drive. This place is beautiful, and in immaculate condition. When we get some visitors, hint, hint, this is definitely on the list.

Marie got word about French lessons, so she's excited about starting that next week.

<-- Louis sees how far he can run until Marie starts yelling

Ollie drinks from the fountains whenever we're not looking -->

Aix En Provence, Touet Sur Var

We bought some chocolate at the local gourmet show, one in the shape of a cheese wedge. It was fun watching Ollie's face go from confusion to joy tasting that one. We also got 1.3kg of cheese. The cheesemaker gave us lots of tips. With his pointy goatee and twinkly eyes, he couldn't look any more like a mouse.

<-- We had another long weekend, alright, and went to Aix En Provence. It's another beautiful old town. It's pedestrianised centre was packed with people, and had so many shops, it felt like an open air shopping centre.

something to dance to -->

This weekend we drove along the Var river, lovely. Touet Sur Var is an interesting walk and straight up. Puget-Theniers is flat enough, some nice little squares, but a tiny bit edgy.

<-- the only way is up. Getting fit in Touet.


Tomorrow, we'll watch the Nice-Cannes marathon. Three of my
coworkers are in it. I am more scared about this than they are. No special food, and alcohol seems ok.

They walked around work today no problems. They say that sitting down and getting up is hard.

By the time they reached our street, 9ks from the start, the Kenyans leave everyone else for dead. -->

Was putting on a movie the other day for Ollie. He told me "depeche toi", hurry yourself up.

<-- 2 Mandarin trees in our driveway are chock a block full, and delicious


Cheese notes:
The best way to store cheese is to sit your wedges upright on a plate, and no wrapper, so it can breathe. Put on some clingwrap, and poke small holes in it. Keep it in a fridge if you have to, but better to stick it in a cool cellar. Some are good with nuts, some with grapes, but I can't remember which.

Carmageddon

<-- The waves looked crazy, but at this time they weren't reaching the road. The boys normally play on the big ones.

We didn't believe that rocks could make it onto the road. -->

Due to rocks on the road, the main route through here was closed. Traffic was a complete disaster all day, and got much worse at night. Luckily, Marie called, so I knew to get off and walk home.

<-- 3 lanes of hopefuls going in, but only one side street exit in about 500m.

Rainy weekend

<-- have I got a deal for you

boy in doorway checks out our boys -->

It was raining this last week. I came home in pitch black Friday night. Going down the underpass on the path with my too small light, I noticed a big puddle and hit the brakes. Too late, I was in over the axles. Walking back, I wondered how to get around, but decided the safest way was to stick on the path, as long as the water didn't go up past my thigh. So I walked on in. It was only above the knee, but cold, and not good for shoes. My ankle reflector is still in there. Ollie will be disappointed, as it was a favourite toy. Coming home today, it's still about 60cms deep. Maybe it's time to get some fishing waders so I can still ride home.

<--view from La Roquette

The weather cleared for a bit so we walked down to our beach. On Sunday, we drove a little way to La Roquette Sur Var, to get the boys to sleep after lunch, via the creepy St Martin du Var. Everyone gave us a good stare. Doesn't look like they get visitors there.



<-- Marie at the Mairie

Buildings wrapped around the boules (patonk) patch in the town square gives this place a homely feel -->

All saints long weekend - Tuesday

<-- a nice path all along the shore. Like the Bondi beach walk - packed with people.

giving the boys a break on the merry-go-round -->

Day 4 we finally went to Nice. We told everyone we were going to live there, but we're about 9km away. There's a fantastic bike path along the water all the way. Louis fell asleep after 1/2 and hour in the bike seat, and on a park bench. Hope this does not continue in his adulthood. The boys had a go on a merry go round. Louis got excited about a pizza for lunch. Stopped at a park on the way home to run off the fat.


<-- at the beach. Ollie got too close to the edge, and gave Marie a heart attack

near the port, a nice part of Nice -->

Notes:
Marie went shopping today (Wednesday) and bought 26l of water, 24l of milk, and some cheese.
Cousteron 320g: 50g is outside skin hopefully edible, very mild, delicious.

All saints long weekend - Monday

<-- it's a long way down

it's a long way up -->

Day 3 we drove to Eze, "the" perched village, in awesome condition. Narrow winding walkways, no cars, and shooting straight up on the hilltop. A beautiful cemetary and church. It was halloween, and the boys enjoyed looking at everyone's costumes.


<-- but worth it, and not much of a climb really.

All saints long weekend - Saturday/Sunday

<-- Cagnes sur mer old village

something old, something newish -->

This weekend was a 4 day weekend. We're keeping a bit quiet at the moment. Day one, we put together one of the kitchen wall cabinets from Ikea in the morning, getting excited about the kitchen now. The afternoon was at the beach at the end of our street. Louis forgot himself and had a little accident.

<-- Cagnes Sur Mer village. Hope to visit again soon! -->


Day 2 we put the kids seats on our bikes, and rode to Cagnes Sur Mer castle, an easy 1 hour ride, apart from the end bit up the hill! Another great village on a hilltop with great views. Louis slept on a park bench on the way back down, after falling asleep on the bike. Passers by yelled something to Marie as they struggled on the way up. Could be, how the hell did you lug a kid up the mountain, but we don't know.

<-- The old town centre, and the new area. We live down there in the Mexico city part of Cagnes Sur Mer.

School holidays

<-- handsome playdo woman with feet by Ollie.

Putting together the kitchen wall cabinet Saturday morning. Photo by Ollie. -->

This week has been school holidays. It rained a bit at the start, so Marie was going crazy inside. We don't know where any play gyms are yet. They did a lot of playdo, drawing, making pancakes, plus playing with cars and trains.

Last weekend

<-- like cats marking their territory

Ollie's new favourite pastime -->

We picked up 2 2nd hand couches 2 weeks ago. They're beautiful, and top quality. Now the place feels like a home. The boys love jumping between them, and rolling around in the cushions.

Last weekend we went to St Jeannet, about 20 minutes away. It has the feel of Katoomba, and not too many tourists or shops. This is somewhere we'd like to take visitors.

<-- hope to get back to St Jeannet soon

it's small, not a tourist trap. The fact that you can get a car in here, hate to say, means that people working normal jobs can live here. -->

School

Now that we moved in, we could go to the local council, fill in the paperwork, go to the local area school, meet the principal, get enrolled, then turn up (easier than it sounds!)

One of our biggest worries in coming to this place was sending Ollie to school. Often at home he really protests about being left at day care. How was he going to go at school, 4 days a week after going for 1 day per week, and when he couldn't understand anything?

On the first day, we were anxious, and Ollie seemed a bit down hearted. Every day, there is 2 hours off for lunch. At least he only has to turn up for 3 hours each time before coming home again. On day one, he skipped back to school. I asked him how it was, and he said they buzzed like bees, did some mash potato type dancing, sounded ok to me. They've started teaching him to write, and if you listen to him mumble a song, he's definitely picking up a lot of new words. It's mind blowing after being used to baby talk, learning to walk, then bammo we're into a new language.

Now to get Louis into daycare (much much harder than it sounds!). Lucky I have some French speaking colleagues at work, and one kind one offered to call up. The local kindy could take him, once we done the paperwork at the council, and in June 2012. I wrote out a list of private kindies (garderies) for him to look at. A few more days later, started to get worried, emailed the boss 2 up, got the answer that Assistant Maternelles were the way to go. We rang up a few more. I would feel guilty about wasting all this time at work, but it was my direct boss this time, ringing up the council to get an availability list. I wittled the list. Then we rang different ladies for some time. We are in a tough situation in that we can't speak the language, so can't do it in our own time. We owe my boss a bottle of champagne I tell ya. We both turned up to the his carer's house, a lovely place up a windy road, with a nice garden, and one play buddy. We left him there, and he just kept playing. On the 2nd day, he slept for two hours. He's mainly weed in the potty, and had one accident, think that's pretty awesome for a new trainee. Next week, Marie will work a bit. It's a big relief.

<-- after we moved in, the toys arrived. Ollie whipped together a tower during lunch. The other day, Marie and him sat at the beach and ate a sandwich, as Louis was at daycare for the first times.

Louis in the playground in Antibes. It's one of the best around the area. -->

Review notes:
Iveco Daily: acres of space inside, really nice gear shift. The driver's seat is pretty stiff though, and rolls around on springs.
Mercedes Sprinter: I think the Merc has a nicer motor. The turbo whistles nicely, and sounds like a real truck. Clever fuel filler is hidden behind the front door, so you don't need to lock it up. Just open your door, and fill.
Raclette: medium soft, tasty, big thumbs up.
President camembert: Ollie calls it "cake cheese". We eat half the container in one sitting. Deffo v. good.
Saint Loup Sur Thouet goat's: soft brie style, very goaty, delicious. Would buy again for sure. Marie and Ollie dislike it.

At the beach..

Do I need to say: we told them not to get close to the water. You'll get wet!

<-- they started away from the waves. Then we took off their shoes. Then the water got a bit higher, then..

we gave up as it was too late, and let them go crazy -->

<-- Angus Young from AC/DC in his earlier days

Louis scoots home afterwards -->

Work and stuff

<-- Lunch is subsidised, so this lot cost about 2 euro.

Our desks are lined up, and the PLCs keep us warm -->

We've now been in the new building in Carros for about 3 weeks. It's a bit sterile, but very green, apart from the car park, which is good old bitumen. Any time anyone gets on the phone, everyone gets to hear the conversation. That's good for learning the language.

The most important part of work is lunch. Every cafeteria must have at least 4 different entrees, 3 different kinds of cheese, decent long bread rolls, 2 to 4 main meal choices, a few differrent deserts, and a range of fruit. It MUST have 3 types of wine (250ml bottles), and maybe some beer. Not ours though; alcohol is banned on site! It's just not French. Laurent says that we say we drink in order to forget. They must be remembering everything now that there's no wine with lunch.

They've been churning out pizzas, calarmari rings, and other junk lately, but sometimes they have gems like in the picture. The other guys thought it was bland.


<-- It took 3 days to build the tent, fix the garden, and put up some signs etc etc. Everything was over in an hour. There was fruit juice and coke to help everyone get into the spirit.

Opening the new building. "Inauguration Officielle" means "Official Inauguration". -->