Weekend - 26 Juin

Friday evening was the school fete – Leyna a friend of Hermione’s came to stay. It was due to start at 5:00 with the little children performing then be followed by the middle school. The senior school didn’t do anything but there was a ‘kermesse’ which was little games to play. Cakes and Hot Dogs. However the heavens opened at 4:30pm with a huge ‘orage’ storm. The thunder and lightening was impressive and the amount of rain that fell in such a short time caused major havoc. We even had a flood in our apartment , we came home to find water in the girls bedroom, bathroom and entrance way! Somehow the wind had driven the rain under the closed front door and our drive area was a huge swimming pool!




Unfortunately it really ruined the School Fete as most people hightailed it home very quickly! Hailstones were bouncing in the windows of the ‘preau’ from the court outside. One lightening fork and thunder was directly beside us and it caused the children to scream and cry.
After we had cleaned up the flood I got on to baking a Pavlova for Hermione’s birthday party while the others decorated.

Saturday –
Birthday preparations all in hand and 11 girls turned up! Hermione had a great time with her friends and it was a great way to finish the year.
Late afternoon John arrived to pick us up to take us out to the Football teams end of season BBQ! After the appalling weather yesterday today was a pearler! We arrived and were most warmly welcomed by the football team and their partners. A few drinks and time for petanque! Never shy for games we wanted in! Teams were decided by who got closer to the kitty. Nev naturally was in the team that were all right beside the kitty. I think I was in the 3rd ranked team.
Game on….. teams of 4 – 2 games at once. Well my team had Jean-Luc who is a very impressive player, his job in the team was to clear the oppositions boules and leave it open for me and Christelle to place close. He was a dead-eye Dick! He could throw that boule and it would land on the others and send them flying!
Well we won the first game 13-0!! Right on! This meant we had to play the winners from the other game – Nev!!!!
The captain in Nev’s team was Seb – he is a young guy but he is from the South and Petanque is serious!!!! He too could hit a boule exactly – I had seen him practicing.
However, I take great delight in announcing that we absolutely thrashed them!! Final score 13-4!! Man, it was nice to be on the winning side and Nev on the other for a change! All you ‘cornholers’ out there know what I mean!
So, here I am in France winning Petanque….think I will join the local team on my return.
Aperitif’s and appetizers appeared about 9:00pm, the BBQ, the charcoal type made from a cut down half drum but 2 joined together. It was long. Sitting outside at one big long table was delightful.

Nev presented them with the NZ flag for the clubrooms - they were stoked!

Nev and Seb!

About 10:20 the long table was set, candles included. Dinner was served – a wonderful array of salads, sausages, wines and of course bread! The food off the BBQ kept coming and then we were served New Zealand Lamb! YUM!
Meanwhile next door was a wedding, we had all seen the Bride and groom arrive along with all the guests, heaps of “klaxons” horns sound. The last car to go in the procession from church to venue is the ‘mopping car’ and it is always decorated, usually with a mop attached.
The children entertained themselves by sitting outside the wedding and watching all the games and hiliarities. Hermione has some ideas for her wedding!
Dessert appeared just on midnight – heaps of different Gateaux!
About 1am I drove John’s car home as we had very tired children.
Sunday was hot, we went out to the Fitzpatrick’s about 4:00 for an aperitif, stopped at the park on the way home and then watched half of “The Sound Of Music” on the net as we will probably go to Salzburg. I thought it was important they had seen the movie before we go so they understand some history!

Monday, I spent the day at a Handball tournament with the school. A great game! Unfortunately it was 35 degrees and I got a burnt face but I am sure others are worse. A wonderful day.

We also watched the end of Sound of Music!

Tuesday - Nev and I packed another suitcase, caught up on emails did the final closing of the bank account in town, returned library books and maybe had our last stroll down the Grand Rue!