Whistle stops and tear drops…

we went and we returned in such a very short time… We had a fab time in the U.K. even if it was short and sweet. The drive back to sunny Stroud was long and exhausting, but the little B’s were superb, not so the weather in hellish Kent on my exit from le tunnel sous le manche.. Heavy rain, heavy traffic, heavy heart on the prospect of a further 3 hours on the road. However, I did it, another tick in the box of things I have done that I doubted I could!!
With Mr B collected from Brizzol Airport, very happy little B’s (and a Miss FG to boot) and a half hour sneak in to see Skype baby S, I was happy too.
Mampy’s party went very well, thanks entirely to Mr/Mrs C junior, who orchestrated the entire day.. Balloons, cupcakes, wine, family, friends, games for the children, yummy food and a tres amusant slide show(much to Mampy’s disgust!!).
This week brings French lessons, future tense, fitness classes and Magic Reindeer Food (hopefully).. Oh and mounds and mounds of washing..
I have the overwhelming urge to gorge on bacon, cheddar cheese, custard and curry this week… All of the things we have brought back with us!!!! Sad but true!!
Anyway, the m/c has stopped, so I must crack on…
Bisous

Madame B

Juggling brioche….

Well, we are making our first trip back to the U.K. for 4 months, against the advice of the cultural trainers arranged by CAT.. we shall see, I can certainly understand… Whilst I seem to have hit my 3 month wall a number of times, the children seemed to think our stint here was done and dusted after the half term break, 12 days off followed by two three day weeks have got them down a bit(well Miss T). We will need to be positively adamant that Bologne is our home now, whether some of us believe it or not is besides the point…
Miss E is growing up so quickly, she wants to learn and wakes up disappointed most Wednesdays when she cannot go “a l’ecole, Maman?”, so she has taken to playing junior scrabble in French with the very patient Odile and Miss T, chief letter finder don’t you know. She is also writing her name very well and alphabet in Francais or Anglaise does not appear to be a problem..Just talking, to adults, not a word, not a murmur, just plain STUBBORN!!
Miss T has had another evaluation, they are tested every month on what they have been learning, she is scoring well and on the same level to the other children in her class, same test too.. We are so proud..
I am going to resume my battle with the SatNav, I am determined to not do the “Boy Thing” and leave it until everyone is in the car strapped in and raring to go..Stinky cheese in, butter in for my Nana, wine in, snacks in, music, passports, tickets…..Confidence…
I will sign off before you all keel over in shock that I have written a supremely positive blogette for a change…..!!!
And to finish, as it is still making me chuckle;

Miss T – ” I think I will try something different with my brioche tomorrow”
Miss E – “whats that then Tilly, Juggle!!!!”

The delivery was perfection and intentional for maximum laughs.. Miss E succeeded..

Au revoir

P.S. And to my lovely Broseley ladies, this time in 3 weeks I will be packing ready for our Shropshire gallivant…Fantastique and for Mrs NB “OoLaLa”

Madame B
xxx

Another Vin d’honneur

it has been a slightly overwhelming week here in Bologne, I had French on Mon/Tues…waited in the Dr’s surgery for a hour Monday evening(see, the same everywhere, even if you are paying for it!!), got my medical certificate and a talking to by the doctor who advised I kept myself busy and tried to get out of the house, especially as winter is drawing in( I fear my tendancy to batton down the hatches and hibernate along with the fluffys is extremely obvious, difference being I am know to do this throughout the year!)..So following that advice, off I went to a fitness class, don’t be too surprised, Mr B agreed to my going and I was strongly convinced it was a good idea with no opportunity for a “NON”, I did enjoy myself though. Hilarious, I will have to post the class name when I return from the next one.. Lots of balls, bands and “shake it like Beyonce” with a great accent..
Ah yes, Wednesday much the same as always, Miss T had a fab French lesson and worked very hard… etc..etc.
Thursday 11.11 – Armistice Day.
We decided that as we would normally attend a service in the U.K. on Remeberence Sunday, we would attend the service in Bologne at 11.45. I have to say that whilst every service brings a lump to my throat, including this one that I could barely comprehend the words spoken, the end of the service, held outside the Mairie, was rather more uplifting.. with a group of local musicians (that would have been at home in Stade de France) playing heart warming tunes, an open invitation to all to attend a vin d’honneur in the town hall and lots of hand shaking/warming. Again we were rather railroaded into going in to the gathering by a couple we were introduced to at the wedding last week.. to say we were welcomed in to the bosom of Bologne would be an understatement, girls got heads patted, our dwindling accents commented on, introductions to all including the local journalist, the lady from number 7(not a cup of sugar for borrowing here, but a drop of Huile!) and 2 requests for help with English… Oh and some “Joyeux Amour” or “Good Loving” as you say in Eengaland.”from a fab gentleman who managed to sip a few too many verres in the 30 minutes available to him..The one thing I admit to struggling with is the inability to say no, that is mine by the way!!! We were asked by the couple we met last weekend when we were going to go around for dinner, Mr B and I on looking at each other absently, got instructed that it would be 6.30 Saturday,  having the excuse that Mr was flying off, we are in the U.K. next week etc, etc we were subsequently told, Demain soir, 18.30h… So off we jolly well went and it was a pleasant evening, so hard, my head aches from thinking in English and then translating, I almost plan whole conversations in my head before going anywhere.. It is amazing what we take for granted, the daily exchanges, smiles, table manners, greetings, what to do with knives and forks. We are meeting some lovely people who are going out of their way to be welcoming, I know that they have been in similar situations, as someone who has moved to new towns and new countries, it doesn’t take much to make someone a hundred times happier, if only for a while. Being known as “Aaah, you are the English who live in the village” is so very much better than not being known at all.

On that note, cherish every word, quirk, quip and considered monotinous daily flim flam, it does not come easy to Madame B in Bologne… Etranger, but working on it!!!!

Bon Week-end mes amis…
Madame B
xxx

..and the bride wore black

…with lime green bows and flowers on!!!

Having read all about French weddings, etiquette, what to wear(no black, red or white), coaching the girls on greeting the bride and groom and felicitating muchly.  We arrived at the church to a mass of black frills, top hat and cane, and a late appearance of a broomstick during the ceremony. Musical accompaniment was provided by the grooms band, Led Zepplin and the Dave Matthews Band (the previous two were not there by the way). I am only sorry I did not take a photo. So it transpires we did not stick out for being English as such, just that we were probably the only family not wearing black or frills.. Anyway the service was very interesting, the vin d’honeur was very nice and friendly, we met a couple who live in Bologne with horses(great for girls) and a 17 year old daughter(babysitting potential)… So all in all a good day…

Part 2…
I could have broken a bone with a piece of string….Ficelle, having never heard this word before, we went out for dinner last week and they had a kitten called Ficelle, we then went into the boulangerie and saw some thin baguettes and guess what they are called ficelle. Anyway the point being i decided that I would pulverize some of the day old Ficelle(you cannot eat bread the day after buying here, just not good for you teeth), I tried to break the bread and nearly broke my hands, so a had to break it over the granite work surface, the machine was not happy!!! I think maybe I will varnish the next one and keep it by the front door as a weapon of self defence!!! 

I have managed to get a doctors appointment for the whole family, I am supposed to be going to a gym class of some description on Tuesday evening but I need a letter regarding my fitness from the doctor before I can participate… I know I am unfit, that is why I am going, do I really need the dr to tell me, write it down and tell everyone else!!!! If they only let in fit people, it looks like I will be staying unfit!!

Miss T stood up in class last week and did a short presentation on Charlie & Lola in French. I am so very proud of her. She does not like school though, she has told us with very strong conviction.. Miss E, well they are only worried about her getting bored and not being challenged enough. It appears she understands everything and completes the task in hand quite quickly.

Over the coming weeks we have a trip to Nancy for the Christmas Markets and the Christmas Festival of St Nicolas and Pere Noels arrival. Two trips back to the U.K. for Mampy’s 65th and Mr B’s works Xmas do!! And the school Marche Noel, I have translated the reindeer food labels into french.

Anyway, I am slobbing, nursing this long standing lurgy and it is time for another olbas steam.. Speak soon..

A Bientot

Madame B
xxxxx