Laschamps to Aydat day 4 and 5

We left Archipel Volcans around 10am on the fourth day.  This place could have been amazing, I mean it's perfectly situated, and the building and grounds are spacious, modern and there's lots to keep children amused in the gardens (trampoline, football, bowling.....)
But it turned out to be our least favourite place we stayed in.  Firstly the staff changed all the time, the person who greeted us, who was lovely, by the way, we never saw again. Same thing for the person on the front desk, never the same face, at breakfast too, and when we left, another new face. It just felt a bit unfriendly and lacked atmosphere.  The food too, was disappointing, looked good, but fade, and they never used any wonderful local produce available in this region, for example, cheese, the only opportunity to taste some, was at breakfast!

Off we went, on to Aydat, it was hot again, walked quickly and covered the 13 or so kilometers fast.  On the way down to Aydat, we passed Chocolat's field for the night and decided rather than force him to walk to the hotel with our bags and then walk up again, we'd unload our stuff then and there and left him to graze.

Our hotel was 20 meters from the lake and our room was clean and had a tv which pleased the children.  We slept upon arriving, only to go down for dinner that evening.  The food was good, the terrace quiet at first then later noisy, not a problem, but the amount of smokers were.
The next day, we hiked up high on the other side of the lake, then dropped down to have a picnic on a small strip of beach which we had all to ourselves.

After, the children played and we read.

And we shared a lake chilled beer, can't get much better than that.

3rd Day at Laschamps

We woke up early on our third day, stepped outside onto the balcony to greet a cloudless day and a donkey, our donkey I hasten to add, that had escaped his enclosure, and was happily grazing in the field next to our hotel.

Alain, Alexis and Marie-Kate were given the task to spoil his fun and take him back to where he was supposed to be (where you see the trees in the background, so not far)

View walking back from the Puy Pariou

As it was going to be a very hot day and we were going to hike where it was unsuitable for Chocolat, we decided to leave him in the shade of his field, making sure he had plenty of water for the day, then we were off.  We didn't want to climb to the Puy de Dome, instead we chose to carry on to the Puy Pariou, which Alexis had visited with his class earlier in the year.   Alexis and I walked faster than Alain and Marie-Kate and we climbed the 524 steps to the ridge of the volcano quite quickly. Wow it was stunning and the view all around too.

Marie-Kate, who had previously refused to climb up,  actually did it in the end, but as soon as she reached the summit, she wanted to go down straight away, so that we did.

We had a great day and walked about 14 kilometers.  When we got back to the hotel, naughty Chocolat was to be found on on the hotel's lawn, he'd escaped again.  Funnily enough, four other donkeys joined him during the day and not one of them managed to escape, just our coquin donkey.   To make up for leaving him, we took him for a long walk before dinner.

It wasn't over though, he escaped whilst we were eating dinner, and again the following morning he was on the loose, but not far away, just an antisocial donkey, who didn't like his fellow friends and preferred his own company or that of humans.  A liked this donkey.

En Route for Laschamps still day two

Second day, the longest day, we walked over 21kms, got lost a bit, walked a long a treachrous path, very donkey unfriendly, before turning back. A word of warning, don't try to walk up Le Puy de la Vache with a donkey and grumpy children!

There were lots of people about, and I can understand why, with various paths to choose from and a no car environment, it's a great place to spend the day.

We were warned forehand that we'd have a stream to cross, I thought there might have been stepping stones but alas not, however there was a concrete beam on the side to walk over, good for me, but not for Chocolat.  Alain, Alexis and Marie Kate braved the freezing cold water (yes apparently it was) to cross to the other side

Here's another pretty roof, photo quality isn't great, but you can still make out the diamond shaped tiles

 We arrived at our second destination tired and hot.  Above is the view we had from our balcony, one of the Puy de Dome.

Before eating we had a great local beer.   The meal was ok,  but they didn't cook using local regional produce which was pity.

Auvergne with two children and a donkey (Pessade to Orcival)

Meet Chocolat, our donkey for a week, the one that carried our 17kilos of luggage 83 kms over a six day period.  We picked him up in Pessade (Rando Ane) a a round 11am on our second day (first night camping next to Lac Aydat).

 After going over how to car for a donkey and where to find the fields to put him in of a night, we were off.  Above is a view after Pessade towards where we were heading.

After about ten kilometers this is where we stayed for the night, Orcival.  We really loved this village and looking back, this is where we ate out best meal.  A delicous Saint Nectaire Tart, followed by a so tender beef casserole (paleron), then a cheese platter and a creme brulée.  If you are even in Orcival, go and check out the Hotel de la Cassade, it's a bit stuck in a time warp but the owners are lovely and the food, well, fantastic.

One of the many things are love about this region of France, a part from the food and the people, is the architecture, especially the roofs shapes and slate used.

Alexis and Marie Kate preferred what was housed under that roof, a chocolate artisan.

We only stayed here for one night and the night day we made our way to Laschamps (more to follow)

The church in the background is called Notre Dame. On the outside walls you can see prisoner's balls and chains hanging.  This church is devoted to freed prisoners.

Bits and Pieces...school trip, camp, baking and tests

 I had to use my phone to take a couple of photos this morning and guess what I found? Yes, the above photo. It seems that my children just can't stop experimenting with cookies and food coloring. I guess this one was Gaby's as she's crazy for anything green.

 The weekend before last we went to a book fair at Alexis' and Marie-Kate's school.  There was an exposition of what the different classes have been working on recently.  Above is Alexis' poster on what they did on the 27th March while in Auvergne (sorry for photo quality)

 And here's Alexis' model of a volcano which he later brought home, along with a very detailed collection of photos, texts and drawings in his very own project book (you can see a couple of them on the table.

 Marie-Kate has been busy too, above and below.  Yes those famous CE1 national tests, probably the last year that they pupils will have to sit them a according to our new socialist government. Sixty point for French and forty for Math and Miss MK did great, with ninety two out of one hundred.

Stories from Auvergne, Alexis' chosen to write about L'histoire du Curé

I just checked my emails and good old Mr B sent us some last minute photos plus Alexis' text on one of the stories the cute storyteller read to the children.  It is in French.   Oh yes, last night went to his first ever boum (party) photo below

Maybe Alexis is somewhere on this photo, but I can't see him.  


The two classes are on there way home, but only left after lunch, so Alexis won't be back till at least 8 tonight.

Alexis in Auvergne...back on Friday

 Day out learning about the region's volcanos 

We are all missing Alexis here and can't wait to have him back home on Friday after twelve days away (longest time away ever). 
Luckily we've been kept up to date via dear Mr B's emails and photos, which have helped a lot.  They've done so many things and visited so many places, I think the children will need this up coming long Easter weekend to recuperate before going back to school next Tuesday.
One of the activities Alexis was really looking forward to do was climbing.

I can't remember if Mr B told us that this wall was seven meters high on ten.  Alexis(in orange) is holding the rope and I think it's Jeremy (best friend) who's climbing.


Monday night, Nicolas, a storyteller came and presented three tales from the region
Peti - Peta, L'histoire du curé and le champ du diable....can't wait to hear about them from Alexis

Here's Nicolas, kind of cute for a storyteller

And of course, they been leaning a lot about volcanos, visiting them (don't worry mum, they are extinct)

What an amazing school camp, lucky children, great guides and amazing teachers, I think Alexis is going to come back with such wonderful memories and an  obsession for volcanoes which he was already keen on before he left.




Roll on Friday.... and getting ready mentally to say goodbye to Charlotte who's leaving for ten days to Spain and then Gabrielle at the end of April, who's off to Germany with her class for four days, now that's more reasonable.
I bet that the girls will never get round to sending any postcards, unlike Alexis who has send four letters/postcards so far, making Mamie and Papy, Grannie and and Alain and I very happy (guess who will be getting a very big Easter egg this Sunday?) 

April fools day, poisson d'avril

Mr B, Alexis' teacher has got a good sense of humor and can you believe that we fell for one of his tall stories yesterday, on April Fools Day.  He send us all (parents) an update titled "Bonne Nouvelle" about what they have been up to and he said that the class and been up in an hot air ballon. When Alain read out the mail, I though, that was a little dangerous, excited ten year olds crowded into a hot air ballon...but as the letter was sent after the supposed flight, I just felt relieved that obviously all had gone well.

It wasn't until Alain scrolled down through his mails and found another email from Mr B titled "Nouvelles" that he (and then I) realized he had played an April fools joke on us and we were duped. I wonder if any other parents fell for it too... 

Alexis' letter from Auvergne

This letter may our day on Saturday.  Alexis is having a great time in the Auvergne and this letter shall be kept safely forever my me.
If you can't read French though, Alexis does mention the fact that the tomato soup wasn't good... now that's the fussy Alexis we know and love.

Alexis' class in Auvergne .....What French children get to eat when on school camp

Ok all is not great when it comes to eldest son at the moment, but will get through it.  What is great though, is to receive a mail from Alexis' teacher telling us all what they have been doing, and eating....There were even some photos and this one is of Alexis.
On the subject of eating, Alexis is a fussy eater, he doesn't like onions, can you imagine that? He's not fond of vegetables (courgette, aubergine ....) but loves salad.  I was a little worried about him going on this school camp, for the sole reason being, would he eat properly, even onions if he had too.  It seems that I didn't need to worry, because this is what they have  eaten so far

Ce midi : c’était salade de tomates et mozzarella , poulet riz safrané et éclair au chocolat

Lunch     tomato and mozzarella salad, chicken and saffron rice and for dessert a chocolate eclair .....Alexis is in food heaven with food like this

Ce soir, nous avons mangé une macédoine de légumes mayonnaise , une délicieuse pizza avec  sa salade verte et en dessert un cône vanille chocolat.  

Evening meal   mixed vegetables with mayonnaise, a delicious pizza with green salad and a vanilla and chocolate ice-cream cone

And last night

Salade composée avec du thon , pâtes à la bolognaise, œuf à la neige 
mixed salad with tuna, pasta bolognese and for dessert île flottante (floating island).....still in heaven


It's 9 am here and I'm  hungry after typing their menus out, I wish I were ten years old again and could eat what they have...yummy.  

Random thoughts and happenings

Things have been a little busy around here, what's new.  Added to that, I've got a few mum worries which is hard for me as I'm unable to go the UK unless absolutely necessary, which thankfully isn't just quite the case as my family over there, are all pulling together to help my mum who's convalescing at home.

Secondly, eldest son who tells me that he's grown up and can do things on his own, has just proved the opposite.  He's late applying for his post A levels choices (schools, universities, prepas et cetera) and just has no sense of organization at all. Hence the fact, that we have taken over, printed charts for him to fill out with cut off dates for inscriptions, place of exams, and for some, the fee just to sit the exam and the enormous cost if he were accepted.  We have already paid nearly 200 euros so he can sit the exam "pass" and tonight we have the double to paid out so he can sit the sesame exams.

On to brighter subjects, Alexis, has been excited for ages to go on school camp in the Auvergne region here in France, and today was D day, I'll miss him, but I'm so happy that Alexis' with his friends and his class and his wonderful teacher Mr B. He'll come back wiser and with lots of fond memories (I hope) and let's not forget, some Fourme d'Ambert cheese. He's got thirty euros pocket money and  four stamped addressed envelopes packed ready for him to pop some postcards in and send back to us, mamie and papy and grannie...will he remember?

On the house front, we have started the top floor bathroom...more to come soon (camera is downstairs and I'm feeling lazy)

Saturday evening, Alain and I went to see Ubu Enchâiné starring Eric Cantona at the Athénée theatre in Paris, wow what an evening (photos to come, this time on my phone, which is downstairs too)

Finally, we went for a run on Sunday, this time building on endurance.

13.6 kilometers in 1hour 28 with a couple of minutes in that when I had to drink and Alain had the water, yes, it was really warm yesterday (today too). 


Our target is to be able to complete a 33 kilometer trail competition this summer (pre inscribed) and not be last and try to finish in less than four hours.