Skip to main content

France #2


Another whirlwind of a week - I'm looking forward to everything settling back to normal so that I (we) can all get some routine back in our lives. This time last week we set off on a bike adventure, the first proper one since before the kids were born. We headed to France with Simon and Sharron, only for she and I to discover that our first stop was actually Belgium. We should have clocked this - after all we knew we were going to go to the Menin Gate - but somehow neither of us had realised that this was not France... good job we weren't navigating!

The weather forecast had looked poor and Glenn was in a quandry before we left as to what combo of gear to wear. I only have one set of bike clothes so for me it was a much easier decision. As it was although we left in rain by the time we reached the M3 it had dried up and by France it was warm again. We finished the journey complaining about being too hot - just can't please us!

The Menin Gate was a really sombre occasion - a commemoration of the 1.7 million men and women who died in WWII. That is such an enormous number of lives, and yet we still seem to be killing each other around the world. I walked along the ramparts of Ypres and promised myself that I will go back and spend more time there - it's a beautiful and historic old town with much more to explore.

From here on Monday we set out for Normandy and the beaches. The plan was to do a number of particular sights, with whatever we could fit in around this. We did Utah and Omaha beaches, Pegasus Bridge, Dead Man's Corner and the American Cemetery over 2 days. By that time it was all beginning to wash over me but I learned so much. Actually what I realised was just how little I really knew about the war and what happened where, also something to remedy otherwise it does become just another forgotten war. We had a lovely time and I really enjoyed being on the bike again - 4 days was definitely enough though - very difficult to feel you've moved much when you spend so much of the day travelling.

We got home late on Wednesday evening with me feeling a bit sorry for myself. Glenn had some bug while we'd been away which I then got. It made me feel very tired and nauseous and for 2 days I just wanted to avoid food and sleep. Unfortunately I had to work so that wasn't going to happen! At least it didn't last too long.

While we were in France the kids were having a ball with Simon and Audrey. Every time we got a message from them they were doing something else, at the waterpark, making necklaces, walking with Piper, playing on the zipwire, teaching Simon to make slime, eating popcorn under a duvet while watching a film... they came home absolutely full of the fun they had and how much they'd enjoyed their stay which was so lovely to hear. A repeat visit is clearly on the cards every summer!

So another 2 weeks of holiday and then back to school. We've started to get ready; Izzy just can't wait  and nor can Glenn quite frankly. They are making the most of having the time to spend with friends. They both seem to drift in and out which is good but a bit strange. This weeks highlight is having Ben and Laurie come visit mid week. They are coming by train which will be an adventure but one I'm sure they are ready for - kids can't wait!!








Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Busy, busy, busy

Full English brunch for these two! Life is VERY busy and I don't feel like we have stopped for weeks (or is that months?) It seems like the 'to-do' list is endless and while I know we don't have to do it all at once, I have taken on the unenviable task of trying to get the Muppet to finish all the work he promised / we have paid for and that has been like pushing a mountain of water up a very steep hill. We've got to the point where I think we have got all of what we are likely to get and the rest we'd rather finish ourselves anyway. The electric gates are clearly a work of his imagination based on the gates / the electric cables he spec'd and the cheapo motor mechanism - there is no way they'll work so we have decided to not bother and source proper gates that do the job and look better as well. Knowing that we are almost at a point where we sever the ties feels very liberating. Looking back this last 6 months has been incredibly stressful and just didn...

Bank Holiday sunshine

Off to meet FiFi and Grumps for a walk  (and yes, she is on the seat) Finally after weeks of rain and cold weather, the tide has turned and we have glorious sunshine for the bank holiday weekend and half term - hooray, it's about time.  Also just in time is half term as the kids were definitely ready for a break. They have both done brilliantly settling into the school, making new friends and finding their feet in an unfamiliar environment. Izzy has just had her exam week and felt it went OK given she hadn't covered all of the syllabus, and Abi's exams start as soon as she is back next week. I hope she's done some revision as she left for Devon with Claire, Adam and Mia today and isn't back until Saturday. There is talk of looking at some of her notes but who knows. My view is that a bit of R&R will probably be at least as beneficial if not more so than cramming all week so she should take the time to relax and have some fun - she deserves it. So we packed Abi o...

Half term

Whatever happened to half term?? It seems to have disappeared in a flash, do doubt partly as I was working having had 3 days off the previous week for Kerrie and Ryan's wedding. The plan was to not have a plan - both girls have exam week coming up and so our major intent was for them to spend at least half an hour a day or so doing a bit of revision. This has sort of worked - we only had one day where I got an irate message from Glenn that Izzy knows 'absolutely nothing' about her maths... we'll see. With half term comes effort grades and if they genuinely know nothing, it's not for a lack of effort. Abi did really well, keeping up her average and getting a 6 (top grade) in French again. Izzy, who we always worry is apt to cruise if allowed, got the first 5.0 average grade we've seen from either of them and 3 6's in French, English and DT - well done Izzy! I tend to assume all the kids work hard but it seems not - according to Abi "all the boys always...