A retirement gift received today from one of the pupils in my (now former) class. Had the tears welling up, I can tell you...
Morning all from a damp and grey rural France. Yesterday I was at a hospital in Limoges for Mme to have an eye test. None of the Specsaver franchise stuff here, but a doctor refers you to a specialist. The optician we saw in the UK suggested a second opinion be sought in France so as to get into the system, but there was no rush. Our doctor believes in getting anything looked into as soon as possible. so hence the visit to the hospital. Everything was first class. Plenty of free parking, very helpful staff, appointment on time, latest equipment, and ten specialist doctors. As an experience it was good, and Mme came away clutching a handful of computer papers showing that she does not have a problem. .
Just bumped into my friend Jean-Luc who was the village carpenter until he retired and also keeps the local bar. His 90 year old mother would look after the bar in the afternoons while he was out tending to his allotment. We became friends when I asked him ten years ago to make some windows and doors for me, and although delivery was not quick it was worth waiting for. A week ago she had a stroke and lost the use of her speech and the limbs to the left side of her body. News spreads fast in a small community, but today was the first time I had seen him since the event. They live above the bar and she cannot get down to see anyone, something she is not used to, but is refusing to go away. Jean-Luc is looking after her with help from the district nurse, and told me that she has now got some grip again in her hand. The outlook is not bright, but I feel glad that my French is good enough, just, to encourage him.
Still rainy here, and it is more than welcome. Enjoy the weekend all! I´ll be two years married on the 4th July and only a few grey hairs showing! So, we´ll be celebrating this weekend! Drinks on the bar for all!
Laterz fellow Hornets, I am out of this connected world for a good while and going to enjoy the summer here whilst I can. Going to head North, and take "El Chepe" through the copper canyon, then go back down through the Pacific coast with a bit of fishing on the way. Enjoy the summer one and all....
Morning all. The schools here have broken up here until September, and this evening it is the annual prize giving. Every child will get a book on the basis that they are all good at something. There is to be a bean feast after the presentations to celebrate the 140 years that the school has been in existence. As a supporter I have an invite, so another chance to practice the language skills. Enjoy the holidays if you are away. I returned four weeks ago but it seems much longer.
It is quite normal to have a long summer break BB. Weather is one factor, it gets too hot to teach, and another is that many children were needed to help with harvest at one time. There are many summer camps operating where children stay and learn things outside of the normal lessons. You will quite often see a group at a Chateau, museum or outdoor activities centre having a different type of education.
Only 6 weeks here Frenchie, we start on the 17th July here in North Rhine Westphalia. In Lower Saxony and Bremen they have started already (they have a staggered system in Germany - where States break up school at different times). The compensation for the shorter summer holiday is a 2 week break at Easter and a 2 week break in Autumn. What is also very different is that different states of Germany have different public holidays - they have twice as many in Bavaria compared to Hamburg or Berlin. Kids from wealthier snotty nosed families get sent away to summer camps in eg. Australia or Ireland, or language learning holidays - the majority just hang around making a nuisance of themselves either here or in Majorca. All we have planned is a cycling tour of the Ardennes - the rest will be spent working.
I guess it irons itself out in the long run - in addition to the summer break, we have two weeks in October (known locally as the 'tattie' holidays - potato harvest time), two weeks at Christmas and two weeks at Spring. Even in Queensland, where the weather is almost too hot to teach all year round, schools only have a six week summer break. My nephew was educated in Munich and he always seemed to be on holiday - he'd stay with my parents here in Scotland at least four times a year for two weeks each time. My wife and I plan to do the North Coast 500 this summer - as well as some castle & Highland Games visits. She's been working hard to get me to agree to a visit to Dunrobin Castle - given its history, not something that sits well with me.
