I have actually managed to drag my parents up to the internet cafe this time. Only because I told them they served wine. The weather is lovely – quite hot in fact. Kids all had a great time yesterday doing things like whittling sticks and making dens – weird outdoor behaviour that they’re not used to doing. We’re OD’ing on croissants and tartiflette – lovely. I assume the French don’t really have pain au chocolates for breakfast everyday as I haven’t yet seen an overweight French person and I am already the size of a grand chateau.
I got back with the older two kids yesterday from the cafe, having left my youngest child in the care of my father, which is always a bit of a worry. “Oh look”, I said, “he seems to be running around with my dad’s Samurai sword”. “Don’t be ridiculous”, other son said, “he so wouldn’t have let him play with that”….
Just wait till I get back to London and I show you the pictures…Needless to say he survived.
I really need to learn French. It is shameful how bad I am at it. I blame the Indian teacher I had in Hong Kong, but even that excuse is beginning to wear a little thin. Maybe I’ll do classes on my return – I’ve tried CD’s – didn’t work – Dumdad, Marianne, anyone else – suggestions s’il vous plait x
April 10th, 2008 at 9:34 am
1 free stuff on the BBC website
2 Open University (I have a vested interest – but it’s a good mix of ‘do it at your convenience/get on with it NOW’
3 Alliance Francaise – if there’s one locally
April 10th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Is the wine in the internet cafes just in France, or all of Europe? I am so moving there!
It sounds like you’re having a wonderful, well-deserved vacation and I’m just the teensiest bit envious—we’ve just been hit with our 2nd batch of tornadoes(tornados?) in a week.
I’ve only been to France once and I still dream aboout the chocolate-filled crepes we bouoght from a street vendor. If you see that guy, have a crepe for me!
April 10th, 2008 at 11:29 am
There was a recent article on thisfrenchlife.com about learning french differently, check it out.
A bientot!
April 10th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Surely Dumdad and Marianne wouldn’t mind a little ‘tu’ action going on, Ms. Family Affairs?!
G.I.M
April 10th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
No. I don’t believe the samurai sword story. Not even from you.
Award waiting when you get back.
April 10th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
And bonjour to you too – welcome to France, I feel your pain! I blame my Scottish French teacher at school, but that too is wearing thin after 3 months intensive lessons…
Only advice is to learn some little filler phrases to keep a conversation (albeit with the baker) going for a bit…
eg. “Ah, bon?!” for “oh, really?”
“Merci, c’est gentil” for “thanks, that’s kind of you”
and “Ah oui, c’est dur…” for “yes, it’s tough…” (this to be accompanied by nodding sagely)
Bon chance! M
April 11th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Tartiflette – comme je suis jalouse! Mais c’est très facile à préparer …
You just gain a kilo each time you eat it. Glad to see that you’re all having fun – come to Brussels next year!