Went out last night, Giulia came to pick me up – I went to meet her at the end of the road – not an experience I will be repeating!! I was scared! It was pitch black (although I did have a torch), I got followed by a fox and a dog walker scared the living daylights out of me! And it was freezing! I didn’t warm up once I was in the car either because Giulia’s window’s broke and it doesn’t go up!! Brrrr!
We went to the German boys house and there were loads of us, they work in a restaurant and live on site and can help themselves to all the food/drinkn they like, ergo – FREE BOOZE!!! And because I wasn’t driving I made the most of it!! We even played a drinking game – 11’s – in French! It was funny, we had to say Kleinschwanz, my new favourite word! And we all had a laugh, especially when Christopher said “je m’occupe de la chatte” which has some funny connotations in French! Stayed til about one then Giulia took me home
Wasn’t hung over this morning (surprisingly) was just a bit tired. Its been a really good day – the boys spent basically the whole day making and playing with paper airplanes that we’d made, and I made egg fried rice for tea which pleased the kids.
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Bandol
Today I went to Bandol with the girls (Fanny, Sophiaa and Tui). We did some window shopping and walked around the market (I bough hair bobbles because I lost all mine), we walked around the port and looked at the boats, then had a picnic on the beach and a paddle (it was far too cold to swim today!) Was a really nice day.
Off to the German boys house tonight and im not driving! Giulia’s offered to pick me up so woohooooo im goin to get merry!
Off to the German boys house tonight and im not driving! Giulia’s offered to pick me up so woohooooo im goin to get merry!
Marseille & Cassis
Amazing weekend!
Friday: I rushed through tea and clearing up until the family got the hint that I was in a hurry and they let me leave early (about 7.45). Jumped in my car and headed for Marseille (even got the tomtom working), was uber excited on the way there and was singing and dancing along to the radio all the way. Got ripped off at the motorway toll - I had the right change so I paid cash but then it said it didnt accept 5cent coins, so it kept my money and made me paid by card - so effectively I paid twice! Merde! There are two toll between Le Beausset and Marseille - so costs about a 5er each way... its well worth it though because the coast road takes twice as long. Found the hotel alright but had a bit of a nightmare trying to park - first I missed the turn in for the hotel and ended up going down a one way street! Then I ended up on a pedestrian only street (luckily the French are all crazy drivers so my manic manoeuvres didnt cause anyone to look twice!) Finally got to where I needed to be (ie outside the hotel) and had another trauma trying to parallel park between two metal poles that were conveniently concealed in my blind spot! The doorman ended up directing me and I got laughed at by some Frenchies who actually stopped to watch my pathetic display of parking incompetence! Then the guy came and valet parked my car though which automatically made me cool and I gave the laughing frenchies a dirty look. Never had valet parking before - made me feel posh. The hotel was fantastic, as per Steven Lamb's general taste in fancy posh stuff, and the view from the room was amazing (absolute sarcasm). Found the room, found Steve sleeping (surprise surprise) and then we went out. First went to an Irish pub that had buy one get one free on certain drinks -win! And I got drunk very very quickly as I hadn't drank at all for the previous 5 weeks! Lisa came and met us because she was in Marseille for a techno festival, and we all went for some food at a restaurant called Hippo! Im a bad friend as I had forgetten that Lisa is a vegetarian and Hippo was a meat restaurant selling nothing but steaks! Oops! but she had dessert and me and Steve shared spring rolls, a cheese and bacon burger and a chocolate dessert (although when I say shared I think it was somewhat one sided on my behalf!) Also have a fabulous pink mojito! Afterwards we were very disappointed to find that everywhere in Marseille shuts at 1am!
Saturday: Breakfast in bed! HELLO! I ate absolutely loads (because we'd filled the order form in the night before when we were drunk and basically ordered everything on the menu including three newspapers - one international, one national and one regional!!!) Steven then FLOODED the entire room when he had a shower - no idea what he did in there but it leaked out of the bathroom out onto the carpet and everything and he just stood there like a naughty child who'd been caught! And guess who had to clean it up too?! After breako we walked around the old port and there were flower stalls and random stuff going on - and it was mega windy! Really warm out of the wind but freezing in it. Walked round some old fort thing, looked at boats, bought post cards, then got the touristy train that took us around all the sights (there arent that many) and then up the mountain to Notre-Dame de la Garde. Views were fantastic from up there you could literally see all of Marseille - was lovely. Inside was nice too - all gold and extravagant in typical catholic church style. Got blown to death - was actually difficult to walk the wind was that strong. Then we got the train down again and there was a terrible French metal band playing in the middle of the port - they sucked!! We went on a massive wander around the city, had coffee, looked in cool quirky but too expensive for me some shops, stumbled across some very dodgy looking parts of town, then as we got into the center again there was a well random "fashion show" going on outside Lafayette - the theme was "fashion is you" or something like that and anyone could go up on the catwalk and strut their stuff! Was well funny to watch - the French take themselves faaaar too seriously! There were some real wannbes and posers. We chilled in a grassy square for a bit and had an ice cream, then went back to the hotel, got changed and headed out to the football match! Getting on the Marseille underground on the was to the match is not an experience Im in any hurry to repeat! The stadium wasn't very impressive, the fans were lunatics and it was very cold. Marseille beat Sochaux 2 - 1. I quite enjoyed the football actually, haven't been to a match in a looong long time and watching the fans was very entertaining. Oh and Steve kicked a kid in the face by accident! Oops! Afterwards we went to get the underground to take us home but there was about 40,000 people waiting to get on so we just started walking - took us well over an hour to get back but it didnt feel that long because we were chatting away, was a nice walk actually. We went for Chinese for tea in the restaurant near the port - we were the only two people in there and the same girl took our order then went in the kitchen and cooked it!! There was no music or anything we were just sat in silence! Was weird. Food was good though - I absolutely love French-Chinese spring rolls (Nems) theyre different to the English-Chinese ones and I cant get enough of them!!!
Sunday: We did a little road trip on Sunday was really nice - drove along the coast, stopping off at some random villages, getting lost down roads that lead to nowhere, then we decided to check out Cassis. I let Steve drive for a bit as I was navigating - it was scary! He really likes 3rd gear!! Dont think he's used to this mountain driving! We survived though. I love Cassis - its a really pretty little town, quite touristy, and it was really busy! There was something going on in the centre - a very typical looking French dinner with bales of hay and music... there are lots of little bars overlooking the port and we stopped at one and I had a galette (which wasnt as nice as the galettes in Nantes), and then (continuing my binge) I had the nicest ice cream ever - tiramisu and choc chip cookie flavour! hmm. We chilled on the beach for a bit (and I may have thrown some rocks at Steve because he was annoying me but Im going to gloss over that point...) It was still ridiculously windy but there still loads of people on the beach, most wearing jumpers but there were a couple swimming (nutters). Walked around the port, looked in some nice (expensive) shops then we went back to the car and drove up a mountain - view was fantastic as the sun was setting over Cassis. To end the weekend we went back to Marseille, had a couple of drinks and some food, then I left Steve at about midnight.
Friday: I rushed through tea and clearing up until the family got the hint that I was in a hurry and they let me leave early (about 7.45). Jumped in my car and headed for Marseille (even got the tomtom working), was uber excited on the way there and was singing and dancing along to the radio all the way. Got ripped off at the motorway toll - I had the right change so I paid cash but then it said it didnt accept 5cent coins, so it kept my money and made me paid by card - so effectively I paid twice! Merde! There are two toll between Le Beausset and Marseille - so costs about a 5er each way... its well worth it though because the coast road takes twice as long. Found the hotel alright but had a bit of a nightmare trying to park - first I missed the turn in for the hotel and ended up going down a one way street! Then I ended up on a pedestrian only street (luckily the French are all crazy drivers so my manic manoeuvres didnt cause anyone to look twice!) Finally got to where I needed to be (ie outside the hotel) and had another trauma trying to parallel park between two metal poles that were conveniently concealed in my blind spot! The doorman ended up directing me and I got laughed at by some Frenchies who actually stopped to watch my pathetic display of parking incompetence! Then the guy came and valet parked my car though which automatically made me cool and I gave the laughing frenchies a dirty look. Never had valet parking before - made me feel posh. The hotel was fantastic, as per Steven Lamb's general taste in fancy posh stuff, and the view from the room was amazing (absolute sarcasm). Found the room, found Steve sleeping (surprise surprise) and then we went out. First went to an Irish pub that had buy one get one free on certain drinks -win! And I got drunk very very quickly as I hadn't drank at all for the previous 5 weeks! Lisa came and met us because she was in Marseille for a techno festival, and we all went for some food at a restaurant called Hippo! Im a bad friend as I had forgetten that Lisa is a vegetarian and Hippo was a meat restaurant selling nothing but steaks! Oops! but she had dessert and me and Steve shared spring rolls, a cheese and bacon burger and a chocolate dessert (although when I say shared I think it was somewhat one sided on my behalf!) Also have a fabulous pink mojito! Afterwards we were very disappointed to find that everywhere in Marseille shuts at 1am!
Saturday: Breakfast in bed! HELLO! I ate absolutely loads (because we'd filled the order form in the night before when we were drunk and basically ordered everything on the menu including three newspapers - one international, one national and one regional!!!) Steven then FLOODED the entire room when he had a shower - no idea what he did in there but it leaked out of the bathroom out onto the carpet and everything and he just stood there like a naughty child who'd been caught! And guess who had to clean it up too?! After breako we walked around the old port and there were flower stalls and random stuff going on - and it was mega windy! Really warm out of the wind but freezing in it. Walked round some old fort thing, looked at boats, bought post cards, then got the touristy train that took us around all the sights (there arent that many) and then up the mountain to Notre-Dame de la Garde. Views were fantastic from up there you could literally see all of Marseille - was lovely. Inside was nice too - all gold and extravagant in typical catholic church style. Got blown to death - was actually difficult to walk the wind was that strong. Then we got the train down again and there was a terrible French metal band playing in the middle of the port - they sucked!! We went on a massive wander around the city, had coffee, looked in cool quirky but too expensive for me some shops, stumbled across some very dodgy looking parts of town, then as we got into the center again there was a well random "fashion show" going on outside Lafayette - the theme was "fashion is you" or something like that and anyone could go up on the catwalk and strut their stuff! Was well funny to watch - the French take themselves faaaar too seriously! There were some real wannbes and posers. We chilled in a grassy square for a bit and had an ice cream, then went back to the hotel, got changed and headed out to the football match! Getting on the Marseille underground on the was to the match is not an experience Im in any hurry to repeat! The stadium wasn't very impressive, the fans were lunatics and it was very cold. Marseille beat Sochaux 2 - 1. I quite enjoyed the football actually, haven't been to a match in a looong long time and watching the fans was very entertaining. Oh and Steve kicked a kid in the face by accident! Oops! Afterwards we went to get the underground to take us home but there was about 40,000 people waiting to get on so we just started walking - took us well over an hour to get back but it didnt feel that long because we were chatting away, was a nice walk actually. We went for Chinese for tea in the restaurant near the port - we were the only two people in there and the same girl took our order then went in the kitchen and cooked it!! There was no music or anything we were just sat in silence! Was weird. Food was good though - I absolutely love French-Chinese spring rolls (Nems) theyre different to the English-Chinese ones and I cant get enough of them!!!
Sunday: We did a little road trip on Sunday was really nice - drove along the coast, stopping off at some random villages, getting lost down roads that lead to nowhere, then we decided to check out Cassis. I let Steve drive for a bit as I was navigating - it was scary! He really likes 3rd gear!! Dont think he's used to this mountain driving! We survived though. I love Cassis - its a really pretty little town, quite touristy, and it was really busy! There was something going on in the centre - a very typical looking French dinner with bales of hay and music... there are lots of little bars overlooking the port and we stopped at one and I had a galette (which wasnt as nice as the galettes in Nantes), and then (continuing my binge) I had the nicest ice cream ever - tiramisu and choc chip cookie flavour! hmm. We chilled on the beach for a bit (and I may have thrown some rocks at Steve because he was annoying me but Im going to gloss over that point...) It was still ridiculously windy but there still loads of people on the beach, most wearing jumpers but there were a couple swimming (nutters). Walked around the port, looked in some nice (expensive) shops then we went back to the car and drove up a mountain - view was fantastic as the sun was setting over Cassis. To end the weekend we went back to Marseille, had a couple of drinks and some food, then I left Steve at about midnight.
Friday, 24 September 2010
I got that Friday feeeeeeling :)
I didn’t have to get up for breakfast yesterday – I think I’d worked hard so they gave me a lie in – it was FANTASTIC!!! Slept in until half 10 – longest lie in I’ve had since I arrived here I think! Then I went to Bandol for a jog! Tried out my cool new Airplay trainers! They’re much better for running in than my pumps I’ll say that much! I parked right at the top of the hill and ran all the way around the bay then all the way back again (going back up the hill nearly killed me!) then I went on the beach but not before getting locked in a private car park! There’s a long steep drop between the road and the beach so I thought id be clever and sneak down through a private car park because a car was pulling out through the electric gates and I ran in after him. HOWEVER when I got to the bottom I realised there was no access to the beach! It was all locked up… I so sprinted back up the hill to try and get out before the gate shut but I was too late – I was locked in and feeling very stupid! Had to climb over this 12ft high metal gate! Moron! I had a big swim in the sea then got sneakily changed in my car and went to see Sophiaa for an afternoon stroll and a cheesey croissant.
Once again check the new reformed me: running, exercise, studying in my free time… I’m scaring myself!
In the evening we had a BBQ for tea, little Merlin said a very bad word to me and got a smack bottom off his mum, then I went to L’Eden with Sophiaa, Lisa, Giulia, Judit, Thun Lin, Jean Luc, Rudolf, Debby (she’s new and Danish), and Quentin. And I had a pink mojito and it was yummmmmy! I really wanted a second one but I was driving – and it cost €8 anyway!!!
My French class is cancelled for this morning so I’m chilling today then going to MARSEILLE tonight and staying the whole weekend! So excited!
Once again check the new reformed me: running, exercise, studying in my free time… I’m scaring myself!
In the evening we had a BBQ for tea, little Merlin said a very bad word to me and got a smack bottom off his mum, then I went to L’Eden with Sophiaa, Lisa, Giulia, Judit, Thun Lin, Jean Luc, Rudolf, Debby (she’s new and Danish), and Quentin. And I had a pink mojito and it was yummmmmy! I really wanted a second one but I was driving – and it cost €8 anyway!!!
My French class is cancelled for this morning so I’m chilling today then going to MARSEILLE tonight and staying the whole weekend! So excited!
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
CAT ATTACK
ARRRRGH the damn cats in my room and its insane and it wont leave!!! I hate cats and this one hates me - its waiting for me to go to sleep so it can claw me to death!!! Just spent 10 minutes chasing in round in circles! GET OUT!!!!
Sober Swotty Steph
I have all the kids all day on Wednesdays and its tiring! Today I did the shopping, the washing, I cooked and served 3 meals, we went on a bike ride, we played Blind Man's Bluff, We walked in the forest, I bathed them, read stories, cleaned the house, tided up after them!! Pffft its putting me right off having children myself! I want to go out tonight but I have to work! The parents are both away for work so Im babysitting! Im shattered!
Tomorrow the school's are on strike again! Ive been here less than 3 weeks and it's already the 2nd time they've been on strike!! They're bonkers! Hopefully the children can still go into school - I think they have helpers in to supervise them but there's no actual classes... Fingers crossed!!
Im injured all over! This morning I trapped my finger in a chair and it literally took a huge chunk of skin out! Ive got a bandaged up toe as well from Saturday when I dropped the bike on my foot, and Im covered in cuts from where I've scratched my mosquito bites!! Im not a pretty sight at the moment!
Since arriving in France I've started drinking herbal tea - Im obviously still faithful to a proper British brew but the parents drink herbal tea all the time and I must admit I've developed a fondness for it! I've also become addicted to figs! I didnt even know what a fig looked like before I came here and now I eat them everyday - why dont we have figs at home?? They're FIT! I think Im eating healthier here too... more cheese though - bloody French and their love of cheese!!
The other day I almost ate a moth!!! How minging is that!! I was eating Special K and I was just about to shovel a spoonfull into my mouth when I spotted a moth stuck to my spoon!! Eurghh!! I dont know whether it came from the packet or whether it was attached to the spoon but I nearly barfed! However - given my recent bravery around moths (and there's millions here!) I was cool and I washed it down the sink. I try not to think what would have happened if I hadnt have spotted it!!!
I've put the kids to bed now Im going to buff up my halo by studying some French grammar... with a pot of herbal tea!! Seriously - what has become of me!!!?? France has literally saved me from my path of self destruction. Welcome sober swotty healthy Steph!!!
Tomorrow the school's are on strike again! Ive been here less than 3 weeks and it's already the 2nd time they've been on strike!! They're bonkers! Hopefully the children can still go into school - I think they have helpers in to supervise them but there's no actual classes... Fingers crossed!!
Im injured all over! This morning I trapped my finger in a chair and it literally took a huge chunk of skin out! Ive got a bandaged up toe as well from Saturday when I dropped the bike on my foot, and Im covered in cuts from where I've scratched my mosquito bites!! Im not a pretty sight at the moment!
Since arriving in France I've started drinking herbal tea - Im obviously still faithful to a proper British brew but the parents drink herbal tea all the time and I must admit I've developed a fondness for it! I've also become addicted to figs! I didnt even know what a fig looked like before I came here and now I eat them everyday - why dont we have figs at home?? They're FIT! I think Im eating healthier here too... more cheese though - bloody French and their love of cheese!!
The other day I almost ate a moth!!! How minging is that!! I was eating Special K and I was just about to shovel a spoonfull into my mouth when I spotted a moth stuck to my spoon!! Eurghh!! I dont know whether it came from the packet or whether it was attached to the spoon but I nearly barfed! However - given my recent bravery around moths (and there's millions here!) I was cool and I washed it down the sink. I try not to think what would have happened if I hadnt have spotted it!!!
I've put the kids to bed now Im going to buff up my halo by studying some French grammar... with a pot of herbal tea!! Seriously - what has become of me!!!?? France has literally saved me from my path of self destruction. Welcome sober swotty healthy Steph!!!
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Shopping!
I think Im getting conned by the French here you know, I've bought anti-allergy tablets for my mosquito bites 3 times now - the 1st cost 2€30, the second batch cost 3€60 and today I paid 5€!!!! For the same amount of pills?!!?! They'll only give me 7 tablets at a time too - duno what thats all about but its a pain in the arse! Ive got so many bites as well! I got munched to death the other night on the boat!
I bought some trainers today for running. There were some really nice Reebok ones for 50€ buuuut... Im on a tight budget here so I went for the 18€ "Airplay" ones... they're well cheapo nasty! But they'll do the job.
I also bought some hair dye because Ive had enough of bein called ginger!
Ive dont loads today - this morning I went to Le Castelette - a medieval village about a 10 min drive away from where I live - it was really nice. Its right up the top of a mountain and from there you see the sea and all the mountains and villages around here. It was dead though, I was there for about half 9 but I think the entire village was sleeping! The only people I saw were doing deliveries.
I had a wander around le Beausset too (my village) then went and got Merlin at half 11 and spent the rest of the day entertaining him. Its a great way to learn French because he corrects me but in a totally non condescending way :) and I actually learn from him - LOL a 4 year old teaching me French! Needed have wasted all that time and money at uni!
I bought some trainers today for running. There were some really nice Reebok ones for 50€ buuuut... Im on a tight budget here so I went for the 18€ "Airplay" ones... they're well cheapo nasty! But they'll do the job.
I also bought some hair dye because Ive had enough of bein called ginger!
Ive dont loads today - this morning I went to Le Castelette - a medieval village about a 10 min drive away from where I live - it was really nice. Its right up the top of a mountain and from there you see the sea and all the mountains and villages around here. It was dead though, I was there for about half 9 but I think the entire village was sleeping! The only people I saw were doing deliveries.
I had a wander around le Beausset too (my village) then went and got Merlin at half 11 and spent the rest of the day entertaining him. Its a great way to learn French because he corrects me but in a totally non condescending way :) and I actually learn from him - LOL a 4 year old teaching me French! Needed have wasted all that time and money at uni!
Monday, 20 September 2010
Horse Riding, Jet Skis and Boats
I went horse riding this on Saturday morning and I absolutely LOVED it! Its at the riding school next to where I live, I got there at half 10 and talked to the husband of the couple who run it and he showed me how to brush horses (?) so I did that for a bit and talked to a bunch of 12 year old French girls, then it was time for my lesson. We stayed in the little 'pen' thing which was a shame because it would have been brilliant to go out into countryside, but regardless it was so good! Ive ridden plenty of times but I've never had any lessons before and I learnt loads! I even did a gallop!! It was great. Even if the whole thing was in French and I didnt always understand! I will definitely be going back - I wont be able to go every week because its on a Saturday morning and sometimes I'll be working or sleeping or travelling but I cant wait to go back! I was shattered afterwards and had a nap.
Spent the afternoon with Sophiaa and her horrible children! Poor Sophiaa, she's like my baby and she was having a bad day. She has to follow them around Sanary while they skate board and ignore her. She was upset, like I was the other day, it in a way its reassuring because we both feel the same - and I think we (the au pairs) all kinda feel the same.
Saturday night was great! I went to Samantha's house [the English lady from my language school] as she'd asked me to do some babysitting [and I was more than keen for the extra money!!] She'd made me my tea [beef stew] and they have English TV!!! Her kids are lovely (4 and 5 year old girls) theyre really cute, and there was English stuff everywhere! Bisto, and Tetleys and Hello magazine! haha! When Samantha and her husband (Nick) came home we stayed up chatting about the horror stories they've experience with au pairs and it was really funny, and a bit strange to hear the other side of the story! I stayed over too so I had a couple of beers for the first time since I got here!! Was a great night, I actually felt bad taking the money from her in the morning!
On Sunday I went and met Sophiaa, Giulia, Fanny, Christian and the boys that Sophiaa looks after and we all went to Cavalaire foe the day because they had the World Championship Jet Ski Tournament. I went in Giulias car with Fanny, Sophiaa went with the boys, it was about an hours drive away. We got there, had picnic, watched the jet skiis, looked around, had the best ice cream ever! Had a drink, watched more jet skis... (it was a bit boring to be honest but the boys liked it) then we headed back. Giulia's car is rubbish and the window wont shut so I got blown to death!
We got back to Sanary at about 6pm and I really didnt fancy going home! - Its too far away! Me and Fanny had a wander around to the end of the port, then I gave her a lift home. Then I watched the sunset on the beach which was beautiful (although it would have been a lot nice if id have had someone to share it with!!) All the sky and the sea was pink! Giulia had gone to the gym and the rest of them were having their tea so I decided to go and visit Rudolf (the guy that lives on the boat) and we chilled on the boat for a bit and ate watermelon. And later when the rest of the gang turned up me and Giulia got a pizza - yummy! We stayed on the boat all evening chillin, chattin, singing... Its something Id never do at home (because Manchester doesnt have a port and because I dont have a boat!) and it was really good! I want to live on a boat now, maybe a bigger boat than Rudolfs because he doesnt have a toilet or anything and he has to use the public ones in the port...
So that was my weekend. Really enjoyed it!
Spent the afternoon with Sophiaa and her horrible children! Poor Sophiaa, she's like my baby and she was having a bad day. She has to follow them around Sanary while they skate board and ignore her. She was upset, like I was the other day, it in a way its reassuring because we both feel the same - and I think we (the au pairs) all kinda feel the same.
Saturday night was great! I went to Samantha's house [the English lady from my language school] as she'd asked me to do some babysitting [and I was more than keen for the extra money!!] She'd made me my tea [beef stew] and they have English TV!!! Her kids are lovely (4 and 5 year old girls) theyre really cute, and there was English stuff everywhere! Bisto, and Tetleys and Hello magazine! haha! When Samantha and her husband (Nick) came home we stayed up chatting about the horror stories they've experience with au pairs and it was really funny, and a bit strange to hear the other side of the story! I stayed over too so I had a couple of beers for the first time since I got here!! Was a great night, I actually felt bad taking the money from her in the morning!
On Sunday I went and met Sophiaa, Giulia, Fanny, Christian and the boys that Sophiaa looks after and we all went to Cavalaire foe the day because they had the World Championship Jet Ski Tournament. I went in Giulias car with Fanny, Sophiaa went with the boys, it was about an hours drive away. We got there, had picnic, watched the jet skiis, looked around, had the best ice cream ever! Had a drink, watched more jet skis... (it was a bit boring to be honest but the boys liked it) then we headed back. Giulia's car is rubbish and the window wont shut so I got blown to death!
We got back to Sanary at about 6pm and I really didnt fancy going home! - Its too far away! Me and Fanny had a wander around to the end of the port, then I gave her a lift home. Then I watched the sunset on the beach which was beautiful (although it would have been a lot nice if id have had someone to share it with!!) All the sky and the sea was pink! Giulia had gone to the gym and the rest of them were having their tea so I decided to go and visit Rudolf (the guy that lives on the boat) and we chilled on the boat for a bit and ate watermelon. And later when the rest of the gang turned up me and Giulia got a pizza - yummy! We stayed on the boat all evening chillin, chattin, singing... Its something Id never do at home (because Manchester doesnt have a port and because I dont have a boat!) and it was really good! I want to live on a boat now, maybe a bigger boat than Rudolfs because he doesnt have a toilet or anything and he has to use the public ones in the port...
So that was my weekend. Really enjoyed it!
Friday, 17 September 2010
Thursday
Uninspired blog title but I think its fitting.
I was pretty sad yesterday. Had a bit of a confrontation with the 'Dad' after breakfast - I had left my swim stuff out to dry after a quick dip in the pool on Weds and yesterday morning he was like - erm I pay you to watch the kids not swim and leave them alone - but I only went in the pool because they’d gone for a walk with the neighbour and her kids!! I wouldn’t leave them alone! I explained this and he was fine about it, it was just a misunderstanding - but I still cried afterwards :( I don’t know why, I generally enjoy confrontation… perhaps only when Im the one doing the confronting? I think I'm just missing my family and friends and home and Im tired and being mardy...
This lead me to being late to meet Sophiaa and I hate being late. Although I felt better after talking to Sophiaa but still - a cuddle from someone I love would have been much appreciated L
Anyway I had a busy day and it wasnt all horrible despite the uninspiring start. I met Sophiaa at 9.30 at L'Eden and we went for a jog along the sea front - very nice view to run along side! We found some off road track running along the cliffs next to the sea and ran along there until we found a bit of beach then we ran into the sea in our undies to cool down and a long swim (we weren’t prepared enough to have brought bikinis but it was ok because it was only a tiny stretch of beach and there was only one other person there and she was old and french) Cool huh? Then we ran back to Sophiaa's hotel and got showered.
The downside to the running was that I left my trainers in England, totally by mistake! And so I had to jog in my pumps – very unpractical especially considering the mountainous route we chose! They gave me a blister L
While Sophiaa had her lunch with her 'family' I had mine alone on the beach, I had ham bread and choccy biscuits (to make up for the calories Id burnt by running!) We met up again afterwards and sat by a fountain for a bit and chatted away in our broken french! She has a really strong German accent when she talks French, its funny.
Then I went to school but I was absolutely shattered and kept dozing off – oops! It was really warm and cosy in the class room! Haha! I packed it in after and hour and a half and went home.
Had a slight panic in the evening when I realised I had to cook tea for the kids and I had no idea whatsoever what I was going to make but luckily my old trustworthy recipe of Steph’s Fried Rice saved the day! Although I had a slight disaster when I was giving Merlin his bath and forgot about the rice and the pan boiled over! Oops! Anyhows the kids absolutely loved my rice they went crazy for it and ate loads – and that really cheered me up! And we were chatting and laughing at the dinner table – just me and the three of them, it was really nice. So after all it was a nice end to the day.
Oh and on Wednesday night we all went round to the German boy’s house – they work in a restaurant and live in the staff quarters; they have a pretty cool rather large flat actually for the 3 of them. We sat out in the garden (on couches?!) and munched a load of junk food they’d nicked from the restaurant! Haha! Crisps, nuts, biscuits, chocolate!!! I’ve had none of that since I arrived here because my family is super healthy. I was greatly outnumbered by germans! There were 6 of them, me and Judit, who’s Hunarian. But the lads are lovely, albeit very young – they’re 18… that’s younger than our Gaz!!! And they’re my new mates…
And there’s a new addition to the au pair club – a German girl called Touling (?) she’s nice enough, quite shy I think.
I was pretty sad yesterday. Had a bit of a confrontation with the 'Dad' after breakfast - I had left my swim stuff out to dry after a quick dip in the pool on Weds and yesterday morning he was like - erm I pay you to watch the kids not swim and leave them alone - but I only went in the pool because they’d gone for a walk with the neighbour and her kids!! I wouldn’t leave them alone! I explained this and he was fine about it, it was just a misunderstanding - but I still cried afterwards :( I don’t know why, I generally enjoy confrontation… perhaps only when Im the one doing the confronting? I think I'm just missing my family and friends and home and Im tired and being mardy...
This lead me to being late to meet Sophiaa and I hate being late. Although I felt better after talking to Sophiaa but still - a cuddle from someone I love would have been much appreciated L
Anyway I had a busy day and it wasnt all horrible despite the uninspiring start. I met Sophiaa at 9.30 at L'Eden and we went for a jog along the sea front - very nice view to run along side! We found some off road track running along the cliffs next to the sea and ran along there until we found a bit of beach then we ran into the sea in our undies to cool down and a long swim (we weren’t prepared enough to have brought bikinis but it was ok because it was only a tiny stretch of beach and there was only one other person there and she was old and french) Cool huh? Then we ran back to Sophiaa's hotel and got showered.
The downside to the running was that I left my trainers in England, totally by mistake! And so I had to jog in my pumps – very unpractical especially considering the mountainous route we chose! They gave me a blister L
While Sophiaa had her lunch with her 'family' I had mine alone on the beach, I had ham bread and choccy biscuits (to make up for the calories Id burnt by running!) We met up again afterwards and sat by a fountain for a bit and chatted away in our broken french! She has a really strong German accent when she talks French, its funny.
Then I went to school but I was absolutely shattered and kept dozing off – oops! It was really warm and cosy in the class room! Haha! I packed it in after and hour and a half and went home.
Had a slight panic in the evening when I realised I had to cook tea for the kids and I had no idea whatsoever what I was going to make but luckily my old trustworthy recipe of Steph’s Fried Rice saved the day! Although I had a slight disaster when I was giving Merlin his bath and forgot about the rice and the pan boiled over! Oops! Anyhows the kids absolutely loved my rice they went crazy for it and ate loads – and that really cheered me up! And we were chatting and laughing at the dinner table – just me and the three of them, it was really nice. So after all it was a nice end to the day.
Oh and on Wednesday night we all went round to the German boy’s house – they work in a restaurant and live in the staff quarters; they have a pretty cool rather large flat actually for the 3 of them. We sat out in the garden (on couches?!) and munched a load of junk food they’d nicked from the restaurant! Haha! Crisps, nuts, biscuits, chocolate!!! I’ve had none of that since I arrived here because my family is super healthy. I was greatly outnumbered by germans! There were 6 of them, me and Judit, who’s Hunarian. But the lads are lovely, albeit very young – they’re 18… that’s younger than our Gaz!!! And they’re my new mates…
And there’s a new addition to the au pair club – a German girl called Touling (?) she’s nice enough, quite shy I think.
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Dungeons and Dragons
Last night we went to a bar called Bard O' - a fancy beach bar. It was Ziva's leaving do and lots of people were out, about 12 of us. We had a couple of beers and a good laugh - it was so surreal sitting there talkin French and having a laugh with my mates just as I would if I were speaking English - I must be getting good! AND when I finally got to bed at about half 2 I dreamt in French!!! Only ever done that a couple of times before when I lived in Nantes. Was a really good night. Sad to see Ziva go though.
Today was nice, I got Merlin from school at half 11 and we went into town. It was his Dad's idea to get him early from school and let him have a siesta, but he also gave me some money to get lunch first! Was great we ate at a restaurant in the village and we sat outside in the sun, I had Italian salad, and the little un' had something resembling French cottage pie. Then we went to the butchers and bought beef burgers for tomorrow's lunch and he also gave us some cakes for free (which I found to be a bit odd...) Merlin slept all afternoon and I swam in the pool and sunbathed. Jolly good... Its not the worst job in the world huh?
The evening had been nice, the family played Dungeons and Dragons, proper old school style and I watched on in semi amusement. Early night needed. Fatiguée!
Today was nice, I got Merlin from school at half 11 and we went into town. It was his Dad's idea to get him early from school and let him have a siesta, but he also gave me some money to get lunch first! Was great we ate at a restaurant in the village and we sat outside in the sun, I had Italian salad, and the little un' had something resembling French cottage pie. Then we went to the butchers and bought beef burgers for tomorrow's lunch and he also gave us some cakes for free (which I found to be a bit odd...) Merlin slept all afternoon and I swam in the pool and sunbathed. Jolly good... Its not the worst job in the world huh?
The evening had been nice, the family played Dungeons and Dragons, proper old school style and I watched on in semi amusement. Early night needed. Fatiguée!
Monday, 13 September 2010
Supernanny goes solo
Today way my first day ‘home alone’ with the kids – mum’s gone working away for the week and if I do say so myself I did a superb job! Even managed to fit in a quick hour on the beach with the girls and a swim in the sea!
I think I’m making progress with my conquering of my fear of moths – there are so many here and they attack me constantly but I can now look at one without freaking out or feeling nauseous.
I met an English girl today at the language school – I say girl, she was a woman with a husband and a family. She was very nice though and she asked if id be up for some babysitting in my free time, and I said yes of course because I need all the money I can get my grubby little hands on!
I also had my first language exchange meeting with my pal Juan, the Colombian from the school, we went for coffee and talked about his home town and how it’s different from France. He’s a sweet lad. It was almost impossible for me to switch back to French after speaking Spanish for an hour though! Eek!
Going out tonight because it's Ziva's last night!! :( She's leaving foreverrr tomorrow and Im sad cos she's one of the first people I met and she's lovely! Gutted. BYE ZIVILE GOOD LUCK!!!
I think I’m making progress with my conquering of my fear of moths – there are so many here and they attack me constantly but I can now look at one without freaking out or feeling nauseous.
I met an English girl today at the language school – I say girl, she was a woman with a husband and a family. She was very nice though and she asked if id be up for some babysitting in my free time, and I said yes of course because I need all the money I can get my grubby little hands on!
I also had my first language exchange meeting with my pal Juan, the Colombian from the school, we went for coffee and talked about his home town and how it’s different from France. He’s a sweet lad. It was almost impossible for me to switch back to French after speaking Spanish for an hour though! Eek!
Going out tonight because it's Ziva's last night!! :( She's leaving foreverrr tomorrow and Im sad cos she's one of the first people I met and she's lovely! Gutted. BYE ZIVILE GOOD LUCK!!!
My 1st Weekend sur la Côte d'Azur
Life so far:
SAILING: The other au pair girls and I are friends with some French boys, and one of the lives on a sail boat in the port at Sanary. Today the boys invited us to go our on the boat for the day and it was fantastic. 8 of us went out and we sailed across the bay to another port (called Bonnegrace I think) and we all jumped off and swam to shore, sunbathed on the beach for a bit the swam back. It was cool. I cant believe he lives in the tiny cabin on the boat though! I got to steer for a bit but I wasn’t a very good sailor (I prefer James Muir’s boat its more fun to drive and it’s got comfy seats!) I was a bit poorly on the way back to Sanary though because it was really windy and the waves were huge, I had to take a moment when I got off to regain my composure! ;) it was a beautiful hot sunny day and I burnt my nose!
SATURDAY NIGHT: Last night we went out in Six Fours, first to a bar called Mafana where the prices were reasonable (for French standards at least), it was a good bar, trendy and full of young people. Then afterwards we went to L’Eden. L’Eden is a really nice, ‘chic’ bar on the beach at Six Fours, the cheapest thing on the menu is soft drinks which at 5euros (ergo – not cheap at all), and the dearest thing on the drinks menu costs 1000 euros!!! I joke not! But its right next to the car park where we all park up and meet, its always busy and the music’s not bad either so we go their ALL THE TIME! Last night it was packed and the music was great! It went as follows: dance/techno/house music that the French are crazy about – then some recent pop music – then the DJ put on this amazing MOTOWN medley that I absolutely went crazy for and everyone else stopped dancing and were like “err what iz zis” and I was like “err it’s the Jackson 5 you lame techno loving frenchies!!!” and then to my utter surprise (and delight) Nirvana came on!!!! Surely that’s never happened before in French club?? I mean it was Teen Spirit – the most overplayed commercial song Nirvana ever made but still…! Anyway we didn’t even have a drink in there because it was so dear but on the way out we robbed a bottle of peach juice*! Haha!
*In France the “done thing” when you’re in a big group is to buy a bottle of spirits (such as vodka) which will set you back at least 100€ [but considering it’s 10-15€ for a mixer anyway it works out cheaper, especially if there are a few of you], and you get all the soft drinks & and juice you want for free… so technically it wasn’t stealing because the juice was left on the table [unopened] and the vodka was all finished and it was kicking out time and the proprietor had already left… I’m an opportunist what can I say ;)
LA PLAGE: I spent yesterday afternoon at the beach with one of the au pairs I met at the language school, her name is Fanny :D and she’s Hungarian. It was really nice, we swam in the sea, we got chatted up by some slightly strange, plump, and very blond, sunburnt Swedish boys who were there on holiday, and a photographer came and tried taking pictures of us!! Apparently it’s his profession, he is “un artiste” and we could go to his studio and buy the photos, but given the fact I was sunbathing topless I concluded that he was just a pervert and if we went to his “studio” he could quite possibly lock us in his cellar forever!
CLUBBING IN FRANCE: In Friday we went to this “big” club in La Seyne called La Villa. There was me, Sophiaa [German], Lisa [German], Judit [Hungarian], Zivila [Lithuanian], Caroline [Swiss], and the two twins Jean Luc and Christian [French]. We got there “early” at 12.30 and it was free for us to get in because it was before 1am and it was a really nice club, not what I’d describe as a big club but the French equivalent I suppose. It was really nice outside area with a bar and a little food stand, and it was circus theme so there were clowns mooching about and people doing acrobatics above the dance floor and allsorts. At about 2am there was a show in the centre of the dance floor – some fat guy lying on a bed of nails… we got a bottle of vodka [as described above!] I was driving but I made the most of the free soft drinks. The music wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, it was average standard house mixes of half decent songs and a few poppy crowd pleasers but I danced my arse off anyway. We stayed til about 4am. Was a good night.
SOBER STEPH: Basically I’m going tea total! I live about a 20-30 minute drive away from Sanary which is where we go out and where most of my friends live – and there are no taxis around here, so if I want to go out I have to drive. Not only that but it’s so expensive here that even if I didn’t have to drive I couldn’t afford more than 3 drinks a week anyway! It was weird going out this weekend and not drinking – I still danced all night and I still enjoyed myself, and I didn’t wake up with a hangover the next day which is good… but it was horrible having a half hour drive through the mountains at half 4 in the morning! I was shattered from dancing all night and I have to pay attention on all the sharp bends up the mountains and there are no street lamps!
REVIEW OF FRENCH MEN: After having been out a bit “down south” I think its only fair that I review my opinion of French men. For starters I’ve seen a lot less man bags around here which is very reassuring, although that’s not to say they don’t exist! More importantly I’ve met a couple of the boys that knock around with all the au pair girls and I have to admit that they are the loveliest, non slimy, non pervy, non gropey French men I have ever met. They are really good with helping us with our dodgy French, theyre not at all ignorant or arrogant like most French people are when you mis-conjugate the imparfait or commit subjunctive suicide! They have single handedly saved their own race from my total condemnation by being such decent genuinely nice boys. Whatsmore, its great going out with them because theyre pretty big, good looking lads and they have the wonderful effect of keeping the rest of the pervy slimy French male population away from us girls, so we can dance away without being molestered! Merci aux garcons!
SCHOOL: Ive started language school. Its in a town called Six Fours Les Plages, about 25min drive from where I live and its right on the beach! The lessons are 3 hours long 3 times a week and theyre pretty good. The teacher is nice, she's a little lady probs early 40's and she runs about all the time! We do dictations which are good and she explains the grammar afterwards, and we do reading comprehensions. The people that go their are nice too, quite a few au pairs, some south americans and im going to do an exchange with one of them [Juan from Colombia] so I dont forget Spanish :D and there are french people in the class too which just goes to show how difficuly French really is!!
DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS: The route I take to get to school/my friends/any form of night life, is a 20-30 minute drive through the valley in the middle of two mountains. And its really pretty. The first time I drove through it at night I was scared. Its literally pitch black and the road is full of sharp corners and tight bends, yet everyone goes really fast. You don’t get any signal there because it right down the bottom of the valley and I was thinking – oh crap if anything happens here I’m nothing but bait for the monsters in the forest – but its cool now, im use to it. The French do my nut in through with their bloody full beams on all the time at night– apparently they don’t comprehend the common courtesy of dipping ur headlights when there’s a car approaching or when there’s a car in front of you!
MATES: I’ve made loads of friends now and I’m really happy – there are about 7 other au pairs, the French boys who are related to Sophiaa’s host family, and the people from the language school. Its good, there’s always someone to go to the beach with or to go for a drink with at night – missing everyone at home though nonetheless!! Love you all! <3
OTHER NEWS:
The ceiling of the house has wooden beams [which are lovely] but I whacked my head on one the other day and almost knocked myself out!! It hurt.
Where I live there are no street lights and almost no houses so at night you can see SO many stars, I noticed for the first time the other day and I was awestruck for about 15minutes! I love the stars :D
Hunting season has started in the forest behind my house! Note to self – no more walks in the forest! Apparently there are loads of wild bores there – if id have known that I wouldn’t have gone there in the first place!
Any finally – the mum of my new family called me ginger the other day. She didn’t mean it offensively whatsoever but I like her less for it nonetheless! I am looking a bit ginge though to be honest – I need to dye my hair but the dye I use at home which costs a 5er costs 12euros here!!! That’s double the price!! Might have to stay ginger for a while longer je pense!
SAILING: The other au pair girls and I are friends with some French boys, and one of the lives on a sail boat in the port at Sanary. Today the boys invited us to go our on the boat for the day and it was fantastic. 8 of us went out and we sailed across the bay to another port (called Bonnegrace I think) and we all jumped off and swam to shore, sunbathed on the beach for a bit the swam back. It was cool. I cant believe he lives in the tiny cabin on the boat though! I got to steer for a bit but I wasn’t a very good sailor (I prefer James Muir’s boat its more fun to drive and it’s got comfy seats!) I was a bit poorly on the way back to Sanary though because it was really windy and the waves were huge, I had to take a moment when I got off to regain my composure! ;) it was a beautiful hot sunny day and I burnt my nose!
SATURDAY NIGHT: Last night we went out in Six Fours, first to a bar called Mafana where the prices were reasonable (for French standards at least), it was a good bar, trendy and full of young people. Then afterwards we went to L’Eden. L’Eden is a really nice, ‘chic’ bar on the beach at Six Fours, the cheapest thing on the menu is soft drinks which at 5euros (ergo – not cheap at all), and the dearest thing on the drinks menu costs 1000 euros!!! I joke not! But its right next to the car park where we all park up and meet, its always busy and the music’s not bad either so we go their ALL THE TIME! Last night it was packed and the music was great! It went as follows: dance/techno/house music that the French are crazy about – then some recent pop music – then the DJ put on this amazing MOTOWN medley that I absolutely went crazy for and everyone else stopped dancing and were like “err what iz zis” and I was like “err it’s the Jackson 5 you lame techno loving frenchies!!!” and then to my utter surprise (and delight) Nirvana came on!!!! Surely that’s never happened before in French club?? I mean it was Teen Spirit – the most overplayed commercial song Nirvana ever made but still…! Anyway we didn’t even have a drink in there because it was so dear but on the way out we robbed a bottle of peach juice*! Haha!
*In France the “done thing” when you’re in a big group is to buy a bottle of spirits (such as vodka) which will set you back at least 100€ [but considering it’s 10-15€ for a mixer anyway it works out cheaper, especially if there are a few of you], and you get all the soft drinks & and juice you want for free… so technically it wasn’t stealing because the juice was left on the table [unopened] and the vodka was all finished and it was kicking out time and the proprietor had already left… I’m an opportunist what can I say ;)
LA PLAGE: I spent yesterday afternoon at the beach with one of the au pairs I met at the language school, her name is Fanny :D and she’s Hungarian. It was really nice, we swam in the sea, we got chatted up by some slightly strange, plump, and very blond, sunburnt Swedish boys who were there on holiday, and a photographer came and tried taking pictures of us!! Apparently it’s his profession, he is “un artiste” and we could go to his studio and buy the photos, but given the fact I was sunbathing topless I concluded that he was just a pervert and if we went to his “studio” he could quite possibly lock us in his cellar forever!
CLUBBING IN FRANCE: In Friday we went to this “big” club in La Seyne called La Villa. There was me, Sophiaa [German], Lisa [German], Judit [Hungarian], Zivila [Lithuanian], Caroline [Swiss], and the two twins Jean Luc and Christian [French]. We got there “early” at 12.30 and it was free for us to get in because it was before 1am and it was a really nice club, not what I’d describe as a big club but the French equivalent I suppose. It was really nice outside area with a bar and a little food stand, and it was circus theme so there were clowns mooching about and people doing acrobatics above the dance floor and allsorts. At about 2am there was a show in the centre of the dance floor – some fat guy lying on a bed of nails… we got a bottle of vodka [as described above!] I was driving but I made the most of the free soft drinks. The music wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, it was average standard house mixes of half decent songs and a few poppy crowd pleasers but I danced my arse off anyway. We stayed til about 4am. Was a good night.
SOBER STEPH: Basically I’m going tea total! I live about a 20-30 minute drive away from Sanary which is where we go out and where most of my friends live – and there are no taxis around here, so if I want to go out I have to drive. Not only that but it’s so expensive here that even if I didn’t have to drive I couldn’t afford more than 3 drinks a week anyway! It was weird going out this weekend and not drinking – I still danced all night and I still enjoyed myself, and I didn’t wake up with a hangover the next day which is good… but it was horrible having a half hour drive through the mountains at half 4 in the morning! I was shattered from dancing all night and I have to pay attention on all the sharp bends up the mountains and there are no street lamps!
REVIEW OF FRENCH MEN: After having been out a bit “down south” I think its only fair that I review my opinion of French men. For starters I’ve seen a lot less man bags around here which is very reassuring, although that’s not to say they don’t exist! More importantly I’ve met a couple of the boys that knock around with all the au pair girls and I have to admit that they are the loveliest, non slimy, non pervy, non gropey French men I have ever met. They are really good with helping us with our dodgy French, theyre not at all ignorant or arrogant like most French people are when you mis-conjugate the imparfait or commit subjunctive suicide! They have single handedly saved their own race from my total condemnation by being such decent genuinely nice boys. Whatsmore, its great going out with them because theyre pretty big, good looking lads and they have the wonderful effect of keeping the rest of the pervy slimy French male population away from us girls, so we can dance away without being molestered! Merci aux garcons!
SCHOOL: Ive started language school. Its in a town called Six Fours Les Plages, about 25min drive from where I live and its right on the beach! The lessons are 3 hours long 3 times a week and theyre pretty good. The teacher is nice, she's a little lady probs early 40's and she runs about all the time! We do dictations which are good and she explains the grammar afterwards, and we do reading comprehensions. The people that go their are nice too, quite a few au pairs, some south americans and im going to do an exchange with one of them [Juan from Colombia] so I dont forget Spanish :D and there are french people in the class too which just goes to show how difficuly French really is!!
DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS: The route I take to get to school/my friends/any form of night life, is a 20-30 minute drive through the valley in the middle of two mountains. And its really pretty. The first time I drove through it at night I was scared. Its literally pitch black and the road is full of sharp corners and tight bends, yet everyone goes really fast. You don’t get any signal there because it right down the bottom of the valley and I was thinking – oh crap if anything happens here I’m nothing but bait for the monsters in the forest – but its cool now, im use to it. The French do my nut in through with their bloody full beams on all the time at night– apparently they don’t comprehend the common courtesy of dipping ur headlights when there’s a car approaching or when there’s a car in front of you!
MATES: I’ve made loads of friends now and I’m really happy – there are about 7 other au pairs, the French boys who are related to Sophiaa’s host family, and the people from the language school. Its good, there’s always someone to go to the beach with or to go for a drink with at night – missing everyone at home though nonetheless!! Love you all! <3
OTHER NEWS:
The ceiling of the house has wooden beams [which are lovely] but I whacked my head on one the other day and almost knocked myself out!! It hurt.
Where I live there are no street lights and almost no houses so at night you can see SO many stars, I noticed for the first time the other day and I was awestruck for about 15minutes! I love the stars :D
Hunting season has started in the forest behind my house! Note to self – no more walks in the forest! Apparently there are loads of wild bores there – if id have known that I wouldn’t have gone there in the first place!
Any finally – the mum of my new family called me ginger the other day. She didn’t mean it offensively whatsoever but I like her less for it nonetheless! I am looking a bit ginge though to be honest – I need to dye my hair but the dye I use at home which costs a 5er costs 12euros here!!! That’s double the price!! Might have to stay ginger for a while longer je pense!
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
Crazy Weather
Last night there was the BIGGEST STORM I have EVER seen!! It actually woke me up! The thunder was so loud and the lightening was constant and lit up the whole room! When we got up this morning the swimming pool was like 15cm deeper than it should be and was nearly over flowing! Then bizarrly enough it was a really hot, gorgeous day with clear blue skies!! Strange!
I stayed at home with the children today, French kids dont go to school on Wednesdays. Easy day really, they played out all day and I sat in the garden and supervised/read a trashy novel. Nice :)
French people eat very very healthily! I reckon I might actually lose weight for a change this time! :) Had lentils, ratatouille and pasta for tea, followed by cheese (of course) and then fruit. I think its because we live in the countryside and theyre all wana be farmers! haha! It seems that each one of the neighbours grows their own fruit and every does swapsies. We grow grapes and today Isabelle (neighbour with bright orange hair) brought us a big bucket of figs.
I have to urge to go out in the car and go meet some randoms (as is my nature) but Im not going to... I dont even know if there are any bars in the village (?) I didnt see any! So where would I go?! Im meeting a girl called Sophiaa tomorrow, she's an au pair here, so that should ease my need to talk to people!
I stayed at home with the children today, French kids dont go to school on Wednesdays. Easy day really, they played out all day and I sat in the garden and supervised/read a trashy novel. Nice :)
French people eat very very healthily! I reckon I might actually lose weight for a change this time! :) Had lentils, ratatouille and pasta for tea, followed by cheese (of course) and then fruit. I think its because we live in the countryside and theyre all wana be farmers! haha! It seems that each one of the neighbours grows their own fruit and every does swapsies. We grow grapes and today Isabelle (neighbour with bright orange hair) brought us a big bucket of figs.
I have to urge to go out in the car and go meet some randoms (as is my nature) but Im not going to... I dont even know if there are any bars in the village (?) I didnt see any! So where would I go?! Im meeting a girl called Sophiaa tomorrow, she's an au pair here, so that should ease my need to talk to people!
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Strikes and bedtime stories
So I think I've finally got the hang of this job! :) Ok... its not exactly rocket science but today has been really great and I'm really happy that I dont suck at it!!
Believe it or not the boys school was on strike today even though its only the 4th day into the start of the school year!!! Bloody French!! So I had them for the afternoon - they slept for a while though which was easy work for me! Then I took them to play in the forest at the back of the house, I took the neighbours kids too (but mine are cuter and better behaved, hehe). The dragged me all over the show, through hedges and across fields and allsorts, and we fed some goats and a donkey... they kept telling me "oh we always to this" and "yeah we always go through this bush" and I didnt know if they were pulling my leg or not! haha! They were pretty well behaved anyway, although they tired me out.
The parents went out for their anniversary tonight so tonight is the first night that I'm totally home alone avec all three baminos and... I fed them, cleared up, put them to bed and read bedtimes stories IN FRENCH! All by 8.30pm :D ooh la la!!!
Oh and Ive been talking to the other au pairs that live in the region and Im meeting one on Thursday morning and another on Friday because she's in the same French class as me! - So im going to have FRIENDS woooo!! Theyre not English either so I'll be speakin French with them too! :)
I went for a walk in the village today after I did the school run and its nice - its pretty small, theres a main square with some cafes, a town hall and a couple of shops... actually its VERY small!! I walked to the top of the town and there's a hill with a windmill and really nice views. I had a coffee in the center.
It rained a bit today and was cloudy but still warm and the sun kept poking through :)
Believe it or not the boys school was on strike today even though its only the 4th day into the start of the school year!!! Bloody French!! So I had them for the afternoon - they slept for a while though which was easy work for me! Then I took them to play in the forest at the back of the house, I took the neighbours kids too (but mine are cuter and better behaved, hehe). The dragged me all over the show, through hedges and across fields and allsorts, and we fed some goats and a donkey... they kept telling me "oh we always to this" and "yeah we always go through this bush" and I didnt know if they were pulling my leg or not! haha! They were pretty well behaved anyway, although they tired me out.
The parents went out for their anniversary tonight so tonight is the first night that I'm totally home alone avec all three baminos and... I fed them, cleared up, put them to bed and read bedtimes stories IN FRENCH! All by 8.30pm :D ooh la la!!!
Oh and Ive been talking to the other au pairs that live in the region and Im meeting one on Thursday morning and another on Friday because she's in the same French class as me! - So im going to have FRIENDS woooo!! Theyre not English either so I'll be speakin French with them too! :)
I went for a walk in the village today after I did the school run and its nice - its pretty small, theres a main square with some cafes, a town hall and a couple of shops... actually its VERY small!! I walked to the top of the town and there's a hill with a windmill and really nice views. I had a coffee in the center.
It rained a bit today and was cloudy but still warm and the sun kept poking through :)
Monday, 6 September 2010
9 trains, 5 buses, 4 undergrounds, 2 planes and I HAVE ARRIVED
So, after my exciting day on Saturday I finally arrived at Marseille airport at 7pm and was met by Vincent, or "Papa" as I may well refer to him. It took about an hour to get to the house, and we went through Marseille, which looks lovely - its got a big port and good night life (apparently) and I cant wait to go and visit. We also went through Toulon, which is the nearest city to where I live.
Arrived at the house, the children showed me round then we had tea (veggie soup quite like minestrone) and then I went to bed at about 10 cos I was shattered!
It is generally amazing here. We're up a mountain surrounded by pine forests so it smells lovely and piney, and the views are superb! I felt really welcome and the whole family is lovely, made me feel right at home. My room is GREEEAT!!! Its huge and its lovely! It has great big patio doors that open on the front of the house, and the shower is great (I generally judge a plce by the quality of the shower and this one gets 10/10!!) Ive even got my own kettle so I can make my own brews! hurray!
On Sunday I unpacked, then we went to L'Estangol beach! It was about a 40 minute drive away and it was beautiful! We met up with another family and had a picnic, and I swam in the sea, it was really beautiful! I got burnt a bit too - no one else put cream on, not even the kids, and they didnt burn!! Damn Mediterraneans! Just off the coast from where we were was an Island and its got a huuuuge house on it belonging to Nicolas Sarkozy! Thats where he goes for his jollies!!
This families well posh, they bake their own bread every couple of days and when I asked for some mayo with my salad Sophie (the mum) went and make me some from scratch!!! The family car is massive and posh and has blacked out windows - I showed myself up as well because I was trying to shut the door by pulling it, but it wouldnt budge, so I yanked it really hard then Vincent came running over and showed me the button to make it close ELECTONICALLY! Electric doors indeed!!
Today (Monday) was my first official day at work. It was pretty good, got up at 7 :( set the table, had breaky with the family then took them all to school. Went home, met the gardener (who's English!)
Then I went to sign up to my french class. Its in a place called Sanary-Sur-Mer and the school is right on the beach!! woooo! So guess what I'll be doing after class?! :D Its cheap too, only 15euros to sign up and 1.50euros/hour after that! I had to do a French test that was really hard so I think they're going to put me in the dummies class but never mind!
Then I came home, did some washing, had lunch (salad) then went for a walk in the forest at the back of our house - it smelt nice! Then I picked Charlotte up from school, brought her home, took her to gymnastics, waited ages, played outside with the boys, came home, had tea (ratatouille) then I was going to meet up with the other au pair girls that live here buuuut I couldnt be arsed in the end because theyre not meeting until 10 - and Im tired and I dont know where Im going. I know I should be making an effort to make friends but Im up at 7 tomorrow! :( there's next time I suppose!
Arrived at the house, the children showed me round then we had tea (veggie soup quite like minestrone) and then I went to bed at about 10 cos I was shattered!
It is generally amazing here. We're up a mountain surrounded by pine forests so it smells lovely and piney, and the views are superb! I felt really welcome and the whole family is lovely, made me feel right at home. My room is GREEEAT!!! Its huge and its lovely! It has great big patio doors that open on the front of the house, and the shower is great (I generally judge a plce by the quality of the shower and this one gets 10/10!!) Ive even got my own kettle so I can make my own brews! hurray!
On Sunday I unpacked, then we went to L'Estangol beach! It was about a 40 minute drive away and it was beautiful! We met up with another family and had a picnic, and I swam in the sea, it was really beautiful! I got burnt a bit too - no one else put cream on, not even the kids, and they didnt burn!! Damn Mediterraneans! Just off the coast from where we were was an Island and its got a huuuuge house on it belonging to Nicolas Sarkozy! Thats where he goes for his jollies!!
This families well posh, they bake their own bread every couple of days and when I asked for some mayo with my salad Sophie (the mum) went and make me some from scratch!!! The family car is massive and posh and has blacked out windows - I showed myself up as well because I was trying to shut the door by pulling it, but it wouldnt budge, so I yanked it really hard then Vincent came running over and showed me the button to make it close ELECTONICALLY! Electric doors indeed!!
Today (Monday) was my first official day at work. It was pretty good, got up at 7 :( set the table, had breaky with the family then took them all to school. Went home, met the gardener (who's English!)
Then I went to sign up to my french class. Its in a place called Sanary-Sur-Mer and the school is right on the beach!! woooo! So guess what I'll be doing after class?! :D Its cheap too, only 15euros to sign up and 1.50euros/hour after that! I had to do a French test that was really hard so I think they're going to put me in the dummies class but never mind!
Then I came home, did some washing, had lunch (salad) then went for a walk in the forest at the back of our house - it smelt nice! Then I picked Charlotte up from school, brought her home, took her to gymnastics, waited ages, played outside with the boys, came home, had tea (ratatouille) then I was going to meet up with the other au pair girls that live here buuuut I couldnt be arsed in the end because theyre not meeting until 10 - and Im tired and I dont know where Im going. I know I should be making an effort to make friends but Im up at 7 tomorrow! :( there's next time I suppose!
Saturday, 4 September 2010
Making it to Marseille
Today I woke up in Mulhouse, had lunch in Paris and went to bed in Marseille!! How amazing is my life? I’m super shattered though. Today was also a day for me doing ridiculous things, you’ll see.
Me and Danny got the train from Mulhouse at half 8 this morning, it took 3 hours and was pretty uneventful. When we arrived in Paris I was bursting for the loo and thats when I did my first daft thing of the day!
MY STUPID LIFE PART I: The queue for the ladies in the train station was about 25 people long and it was boiling and I really couldn’t wait, so… I spotted that in the baby changing area there were tiny kiddy toilets, they were just like stalls with no doors but I thought, “why not?” So, in front of a queue of 25-30 French women I dropped my shorts and peed in a toilet not more than 10 inches high. And I found it hilarious. The French however were aghast and just looked on in horror! If it had have been England I think over people would have been inspired by my clever idea and would have followed suit, but we’re not in England. Danny was quite amused though J
We left the station and had a little wander (and lovely Daniel helped me with my luggage, what a gent!) and we found a nice café to have lunch. It was just a cheese and ham omelette but it was really nice.
Then we got on the metro and I left Danny (he was going to Montparnass to get a train to Rennes) and I found my way to Porte Malliot where I had to get my bus.
MY STUPID LIFE PART II: I got off the metro and had to find the bus to take me to Beauvais airport but Paris is a pretty big place. Anyway I ended up getting my times wrong and I thought it was an hour later than it was, meaning I only had 20 minutes to find the bus stop, buy my ticket and get on the bus. So I was rushing about, with 30kilos of luggage in the 28 degree heat and I literally ran to the bus station, sweating cobs!! Then when id bought my ticket I realised I was an hour early!! And I was gasping for breath and nackered. I laughed, because if I didn’t I would have cried!!
MY STUPID LIFE PART III: I decided that id use my spare hour to go for a wee and freshen up a bit, and the nearest place that had a toilet just so happened to be the Concorde 5* hotel… As I walked towards the hotel I noticed that the cars parked outside were all Mercedes and Porches and other fancy shiny ones, I noticed the fancy men in red coats opening the door for people, and I noticed that everyone in the vicinity was wearing Chanel suits and looked very very posh (even posher than Jenny!!) And there was me approaching, sweating, wild haired, with my dusty pink suit case and my old stained back pack, wearing primark shorts, £3 flip flops from Matalan and a vest top! I considered turning away, but then I thought “sod it”, I held my head high, walked in the door, smiled at the red coat man and entered the poshest hotel I’ve ever stepped foot in. A man with an earpiece and a walkie talkie gave me a very dubious look, I assume he was security, but I didn’t let it phase me, I gave him a smile and headed straight for the toilets. And then I burst out laughing!
Finally got on the bus, and went to Paris Beauvais airport, which is about as near to Paris as it is to Manchester. Took well over an hour on the bus! And when I got there… it’s the size of Jenny’s en suite!!! I had to pay the wicked Ryanair woman 20euros because I was one kilo over – I know I could have worn some more clothes but it really is boiling and I already had my massive Salford hoody round my waste. I thought better just pay it than die of heat exhaustion.
MY STUPID LIFE PART IV: I decided I’d get changed out of my mucky shorts and flip flops and put something a bit more presentable on (for meeting my new family), I opted for a skirt, tights and ankle boots (I know I said its boiling but this was also to take some of the weight out of my backpack which weighs 15kilos on its own and was hurting my shoulders!!) However, I couldn’t see any toilets and to be honest I couldn’t be bothered looking for them and dragging my backpack around unnecessarily, so basically I just got changed right in the middle of the check-in lounge in front of a good hundred people. After peeing publicly in the train station I really didn’t care anymore.
So I suppose I’ve done some pretty silly things today that normal people wouldn’t do.
Me and Danny got the train from Mulhouse at half 8 this morning, it took 3 hours and was pretty uneventful. When we arrived in Paris I was bursting for the loo and thats when I did my first daft thing of the day!
MY STUPID LIFE PART I: The queue for the ladies in the train station was about 25 people long and it was boiling and I really couldn’t wait, so… I spotted that in the baby changing area there were tiny kiddy toilets, they were just like stalls with no doors but I thought, “why not?” So, in front of a queue of 25-30 French women I dropped my shorts and peed in a toilet not more than 10 inches high. And I found it hilarious. The French however were aghast and just looked on in horror! If it had have been England I think over people would have been inspired by my clever idea and would have followed suit, but we’re not in England. Danny was quite amused though J
We left the station and had a little wander (and lovely Daniel helped me with my luggage, what a gent!) and we found a nice café to have lunch. It was just a cheese and ham omelette but it was really nice.
Then we got on the metro and I left Danny (he was going to Montparnass to get a train to Rennes) and I found my way to Porte Malliot where I had to get my bus.
MY STUPID LIFE PART II: I got off the metro and had to find the bus to take me to Beauvais airport but Paris is a pretty big place. Anyway I ended up getting my times wrong and I thought it was an hour later than it was, meaning I only had 20 minutes to find the bus stop, buy my ticket and get on the bus. So I was rushing about, with 30kilos of luggage in the 28 degree heat and I literally ran to the bus station, sweating cobs!! Then when id bought my ticket I realised I was an hour early!! And I was gasping for breath and nackered. I laughed, because if I didn’t I would have cried!!
MY STUPID LIFE PART III: I decided that id use my spare hour to go for a wee and freshen up a bit, and the nearest place that had a toilet just so happened to be the Concorde 5* hotel… As I walked towards the hotel I noticed that the cars parked outside were all Mercedes and Porches and other fancy shiny ones, I noticed the fancy men in red coats opening the door for people, and I noticed that everyone in the vicinity was wearing Chanel suits and looked very very posh (even posher than Jenny!!) And there was me approaching, sweating, wild haired, with my dusty pink suit case and my old stained back pack, wearing primark shorts, £3 flip flops from Matalan and a vest top! I considered turning away, but then I thought “sod it”, I held my head high, walked in the door, smiled at the red coat man and entered the poshest hotel I’ve ever stepped foot in. A man with an earpiece and a walkie talkie gave me a very dubious look, I assume he was security, but I didn’t let it phase me, I gave him a smile and headed straight for the toilets. And then I burst out laughing!
Finally got on the bus, and went to Paris Beauvais airport, which is about as near to Paris as it is to Manchester. Took well over an hour on the bus! And when I got there… it’s the size of Jenny’s en suite!!! I had to pay the wicked Ryanair woman 20euros because I was one kilo over – I know I could have worn some more clothes but it really is boiling and I already had my massive Salford hoody round my waste. I thought better just pay it than die of heat exhaustion.
MY STUPID LIFE PART IV: I decided I’d get changed out of my mucky shorts and flip flops and put something a bit more presentable on (for meeting my new family), I opted for a skirt, tights and ankle boots (I know I said its boiling but this was also to take some of the weight out of my backpack which weighs 15kilos on its own and was hurting my shoulders!!) However, I couldn’t see any toilets and to be honest I couldn’t be bothered looking for them and dragging my backpack around unnecessarily, so basically I just got changed right in the middle of the check-in lounge in front of a good hundred people. After peeing publicly in the train station I really didn’t care anymore.
So I suppose I’ve done some pretty silly things today that normal people wouldn’t do.
Friday, 3 September 2010
Freiburg, Germany
Today me, Danny, Lauren and Tom went to Freiburg for the day and it was AMAZING!!
We got up at 7am (!) and went to the train station where we got a bus to Neuenburg, then we got on a BIIIIG German train and went to Freiburg, we were there for about half 9.
It was quite cold when we arrived and we went to a "cafe" for breakfast! It was an Italian/German cafe that served SPAGHETTI AND ICE CREAM - TOGETHER?!?!?! With cream and fruit and sauce! MINGING! We just had coffees and croissants. The waiter was the meanest moodiest guy ever! Me and Lauren cant speak a word of German but we tried to order and he was just horrible. He liked Danny though! He gave him a heart shaped sugar bowl!!
Then we walked about a bit, there are like tiny mini canals all over the show, at first I thought they were open sewers but theyre not, cos they dont smell... I wouldnt like to be a cyclist in freiburg, you'd have to dodge these mini rivers every 5 minutes!
There were loads of markets about selling fruit and veg and flowers (!) and toys and homemade jam/cider/wine, it was really nice (although it's a Friday so i dont get how there were so many people there - don't these people work?) The Cathedral is huge and pretty (and partially under construction).
Me and Daniel went to view an apartment (because he's going to live there for a bit) and it was WEIRD! The guy was really nice (German) but he was our age yet he was wearing a cardigan and cord trousers... ok you might think, he's trying to be cool. But no. The place was full of old grandma style furniture and MILLIONS of books - all brainy books too. And CD collection was all classical music. Strange man.
Then we went and sat out and had a beer. In Germany it was 3euros for half a litre of beer - in France its 3euros for 20cl!! I know where I'd rather drink. When we first arrived it was pretty cold but then the sun came out and it was BOILING! Love it.
We has Bratwurst sausages for lunch, then bought some blueberries and blackberries off the market AND THEN WE CLIMBED A MOUNTAIN!!!!!!
OK, we got a cable car on a track type thing half way up, then had some beers in this WELL posh restaurant over looking the whole town, views were amazing. There were loads of wasps though and we kept catching them and killing them in Orangina. Bad karma? Maybe but Tom is allergic so technically we were saving our friend, non? Funniest thing - we and Lauren were in the ladies toilet of this very posh restaurant and were heard some woman go in one of the cubicles and let out the BIGGEST FART EVER!!! And then she sighed as if she was really satisfied with her fart!!! It was rather disgusting.
After that we walked the rest of the way up the mountain and I, for the second time this year, hiked up a mountain wearing sandals and inappropriate clothing!!! It was a loooong way up and we were all sweating and panting a bit by the time we got to the top. At the top there was this massive spiral stair case that took you up even further, at the top it was so high that it was really swaying but it was well worth it - the views were absolutely stunning!
We walked aaaaall the way down, Danny thought it would be funny to splash cold water from a fountain in my face [actually it was quite funny, and refreshing]. We walked right across town and had ice creams in the most rubbish place - they wouldnt let me have a cone and eat in!!! It was either cone to take away, or bowl to eat in - what sense does that make?!?!? - Germans!!!!
We went to view another place and it was COOOL!!! First of all let me start by saying that the guy that showed us round was a 7ft tall floppy haired German ADONIS!!! He was HOT! And the apartment was wicked too, it was a big hippy drive with weird posters and "stuff" stuck all over the place! The Adonis' bed was the same size as Lauren's entire flat! It was huge! (oh and there happened to be a load of pretty blonde girls hanging around - wonder where they sleep??) Anyway the place was massive and well nice and Danny is going to live there for a bit :) (and I might have to visit - Im sure adonis can squeeze me in ;) JOKES!!)
We went for a celebratory drink and toasted Danny's new place. Then got the train back at half 5. Got back to Mulhouse for about half 6 and went for another celebratory drink. Then got dominos.
BRILLIANT DAY!!!!
We got up at 7am (!) and went to the train station where we got a bus to Neuenburg, then we got on a BIIIIG German train and went to Freiburg, we were there for about half 9.
It was quite cold when we arrived and we went to a "cafe" for breakfast! It was an Italian/German cafe that served SPAGHETTI AND ICE CREAM - TOGETHER?!?!?! With cream and fruit and sauce! MINGING! We just had coffees and croissants. The waiter was the meanest moodiest guy ever! Me and Lauren cant speak a word of German but we tried to order and he was just horrible. He liked Danny though! He gave him a heart shaped sugar bowl!!
Then we walked about a bit, there are like tiny mini canals all over the show, at first I thought they were open sewers but theyre not, cos they dont smell... I wouldnt like to be a cyclist in freiburg, you'd have to dodge these mini rivers every 5 minutes!
There were loads of markets about selling fruit and veg and flowers (!) and toys and homemade jam/cider/wine, it was really nice (although it's a Friday so i dont get how there were so many people there - don't these people work?) The Cathedral is huge and pretty (and partially under construction).
Me and Daniel went to view an apartment (because he's going to live there for a bit) and it was WEIRD! The guy was really nice (German) but he was our age yet he was wearing a cardigan and cord trousers... ok you might think, he's trying to be cool. But no. The place was full of old grandma style furniture and MILLIONS of books - all brainy books too. And CD collection was all classical music. Strange man.
Then we went and sat out and had a beer. In Germany it was 3euros for half a litre of beer - in France its 3euros for 20cl!! I know where I'd rather drink. When we first arrived it was pretty cold but then the sun came out and it was BOILING! Love it.
We has Bratwurst sausages for lunch, then bought some blueberries and blackberries off the market AND THEN WE CLIMBED A MOUNTAIN!!!!!!
OK, we got a cable car on a track type thing half way up, then had some beers in this WELL posh restaurant over looking the whole town, views were amazing. There were loads of wasps though and we kept catching them and killing them in Orangina. Bad karma? Maybe but Tom is allergic so technically we were saving our friend, non? Funniest thing - we and Lauren were in the ladies toilet of this very posh restaurant and were heard some woman go in one of the cubicles and let out the BIGGEST FART EVER!!! And then she sighed as if she was really satisfied with her fart!!! It was rather disgusting.
After that we walked the rest of the way up the mountain and I, for the second time this year, hiked up a mountain wearing sandals and inappropriate clothing!!! It was a loooong way up and we were all sweating and panting a bit by the time we got to the top. At the top there was this massive spiral stair case that took you up even further, at the top it was so high that it was really swaying but it was well worth it - the views were absolutely stunning!
We walked aaaaall the way down, Danny thought it would be funny to splash cold water from a fountain in my face [actually it was quite funny, and refreshing]. We walked right across town and had ice creams in the most rubbish place - they wouldnt let me have a cone and eat in!!! It was either cone to take away, or bowl to eat in - what sense does that make?!?!? - Germans!!!!
We went to view another place and it was COOOL!!! First of all let me start by saying that the guy that showed us round was a 7ft tall floppy haired German ADONIS!!! He was HOT! And the apartment was wicked too, it was a big hippy drive with weird posters and "stuff" stuck all over the place! The Adonis' bed was the same size as Lauren's entire flat! It was huge! (oh and there happened to be a load of pretty blonde girls hanging around - wonder where they sleep??) Anyway the place was massive and well nice and Danny is going to live there for a bit :) (and I might have to visit - Im sure adonis can squeeze me in ;) JOKES!!)
We went for a celebratory drink and toasted Danny's new place. Then got the train back at half 5. Got back to Mulhouse for about half 6 and went for another celebratory drink. Then got dominos.
BRILLIANT DAY!!!!
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Grapefruit wine, Beers and my faux pas
Last night was really nice. We sat on a blanket in the park outside Lauren's and drank beer's and ate crisps (there were some dodgy characters knocking about but they didnt harass us for once!) and we met some guy Lauren is going to work with, his name is Tom!! We stayed there until sunset then we had some drinks in town. I had grapefruit wine (because the word for grapefruit in french is pamplemousse and thats just an amazing word!!) and it was actually really nice. We also went to the irish bar and they had Desperados on tap. Beer in France is so expensive. Its like 3euros for a half, and its not even a real half, its 25cl. Then we went back to the flat and played cards and listened to music. I made a slight faux pas though - it was getting really late and we all wanted to go bed but Lauren's mate was still here and he wasn't taking the hint at all. You know when someone over stays their welcome... well I whispered to Danny "make him leave" but if youve ever heard me whisper you'll know im incabale of it... and the guy heard me and left. And now I feel bad cos he was a nice enough guy... ah well.
Lets see what today brings :)
Lets see what today brings :)
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Les hommes francais
Today I was sat by a fountain with Danny in the center of Mulhouse, we were people watching, and I made an observation: There are two types of french men;
Type A*: The most common type of French guy wears tight white trousers, white loafers and either a tight fitting (pink or yellow) t-shirt or a shirt (/blouse) tucked into his pants. His has a minuscule man-bag slung across his chest, usually its Burberry, I think the reason for the man bag is that his pants are SO tight that he cant fit his wallet and keys into his pockets. They're all clean shaven and have enough grease in their hair to run a chip shop for a week. If its summer they wear pretentious designer sunglasses, in winter the sunnies are replaced with a scarf. Basically they look very QUEER, but they're not because I've seen these guys walking round with their girlfriends.
People often say to me "ooh you could fall in love with a french man" - but let's face it, that is NEVER going to happen. I'm a northern girl and I like real men, with stubble and muscles and who don't carry their hair gel in a hand bag.
*this is ironic because 'type' means 'guy' in French ;) arent I clever?!
Type B: Type B is the less smarmy looking ghetto wanabe frenchy who wishes he lived in the banlieue of Paris instead of in a 3 story town house in Provence with his parents and a chiwawa. Wears white tracksuits, shiny trainers and a ridiculous little baseball cap perched high on top of his head as if its too small for him. Also wears Mr T stlye chains, walks with "attitude" and smokes but doesnt inhale.
The thing about both types of french guy is that they walk around with this smug look on their face as if theyre thinking "I am French donc I am zee best lover in zee world". Theyre all slimey, sex offending, chauvanistic twerps.
So to conclude, I think I'll be sticking to British men for le moment!
Anyway - today we looked around Mulhouse. We went into the town center, looked a bit at the shops (I bought postcards) then we walked along the river for ages. Lauren showed us where she's going to work (the uni) then we bought a load of food from the supermarket and had a picnic by the river. It was really sunny, very nice.
Now we're going down to the park in front of Lauren's house and we're going to drink some beers and enjoy the last bit of sun.
Oh and Im a bit annoyed cos I think I've lost my ipod :( [or Danny's stolen it cos he's a scouser!]
Ciao
Type A*: The most common type of French guy wears tight white trousers, white loafers and either a tight fitting (pink or yellow) t-shirt or a shirt (/blouse) tucked into his pants. His has a minuscule man-bag slung across his chest, usually its Burberry, I think the reason for the man bag is that his pants are SO tight that he cant fit his wallet and keys into his pockets. They're all clean shaven and have enough grease in their hair to run a chip shop for a week. If its summer they wear pretentious designer sunglasses, in winter the sunnies are replaced with a scarf. Basically they look very QUEER, but they're not because I've seen these guys walking round with their girlfriends.
People often say to me "ooh you could fall in love with a french man" - but let's face it, that is NEVER going to happen. I'm a northern girl and I like real men, with stubble and muscles and who don't carry their hair gel in a hand bag.
*this is ironic because 'type' means 'guy' in French ;) arent I clever?!
Type B: Type B is the less smarmy looking ghetto wanabe frenchy who wishes he lived in the banlieue of Paris instead of in a 3 story town house in Provence with his parents and a chiwawa. Wears white tracksuits, shiny trainers and a ridiculous little baseball cap perched high on top of his head as if its too small for him. Also wears Mr T stlye chains, walks with "attitude" and smokes but doesnt inhale.
The thing about both types of french guy is that they walk around with this smug look on their face as if theyre thinking "I am French donc I am zee best lover in zee world". Theyre all slimey, sex offending, chauvanistic twerps.
So to conclude, I think I'll be sticking to British men for le moment!
Anyway - today we looked around Mulhouse. We went into the town center, looked a bit at the shops (I bought postcards) then we walked along the river for ages. Lauren showed us where she's going to work (the uni) then we bought a load of food from the supermarket and had a picnic by the river. It was really sunny, very nice.
Now we're going down to the park in front of Lauren's house and we're going to drink some beers and enjoy the last bit of sun.
Oh and Im a bit annoyed cos I think I've lost my ipod :( [or Danny's stolen it cos he's a scouser!]
Ciao
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