Welcome to Bug Land

 Back again.  Alexis and Marie-Kate broke up for the school holidays last Thursday, long after Charlotte, who finished in the second week in June and Gaby the 26th of the same month (mental reminder, I have some great footage from end of school Abba musical she starred in)
whilst, Oliver, of course, sat his exams.   
The first week is already halfway through, the weather is dismal, I've even got a thick fleece on today.  No plans for this week, just cool and relaxed, it that's not too much to ask.
Alexis has been busy as you know with his pyrography and Marie-Kate has been drilling.
She screwed this entire bug hotel together,I cut the wood and she did the rest.  MK chose Bug and Alexis, Land, for the name of this insect residence.  

They are hoping that some bugs will move in soon.  Our garden is full of earwigs, so I bet there'll be some in there soon.  There's even a pile of leaves for a hedgehog or two. In Sanary we had a family of these prickly things that took up home in our enormous  compost.


Next up, we are going to make a refuge for ladybirds, but not today.  Today, I have to help a rather disorganized sixteen year old pack her bag for three weeks, I've even blocked her internet until she gets something done...things one has to done to get results these days.

Checking in

Still here, just busy, end of school year hectic.  Oliver has his bac, didn't work much if at all this year for it, but still got it, no "mention" quite rightly.  He is happy because he passed some competitive entrance exams for Sesame at came out in the top ten in the country for all for schools (second for Rouen and seventh for Essec), go figure! He's going to Essec in Cergy, happy for him, but not so proud because he just moved his butt for these exams and I worry that he will have problems in September to get down and work with method and some rigor.
Charlotte's going to a new lycee, she's going into STL, which really will suit her, just fingers crossed that she'll think about studying more and certain friends less....complicated to bring up teenagers, small children small problems, big children, big problems, enormous ones when it comes to one of ours in particular.   Charlotte is off for three weeks to America'a West Coast, she'll be visiting Los Angeles, two national parks, a couple of lakes and canyons and San Francisco too, lucky her, hopefully this holiday will help Charlotte break out of the downward spiral she's in.

Gaby finished her year on a high with very high praise from all her teachers.  Proud of her, she deserves to switch off a little, and she has, she's even played a football game on Oliver's X box and this very moment

She had friends to stay over the weekend, went to the cinema, swimming et cetera and had a whale of a time.  Gaby's off to Corsica for two weeks next week, she's less shy now and has grown in maturity and confidence, so she hopefully won't get too homesick this time.

Alexis finished his year like Gaby, with a glowing report, straight A's and he was sad to finish school and said he's going to miss Mr B, who has been awesome, but apparently Mr L is a brilliant teacher too, so I'm not worried in the least.

Alexis found Charlotte's old pyrography pen, this is becoming his new summertime passion. The above sign, for their tree platform is the first thing he did with it.


Hate to repeat myself, but MK did it again, perfect school year, need I say more.  
We are getting set to go to the Auvergne region to trek with a donkey for a week..more later, I have lunch to make.