Adventures of Jack & Darcy

The final days of our French Revolution

A belated post - but as you can see, our last days were full and we had nil access to internet!

Wine Bottling Birthday - We returned to Michel's vineyard on Wednesday 9 May to watch the bottling of the 2003 Muscadet.  The kids were fascinated and relieved to not have to wait for the adults as they had patiently done during the wine tasting on Sunday!

Clisson visit - After the vineyard visit, we happened upon Clisson. It was fortunate as we saw some fabulous ruins and learnt some more great history. The ruins are quite vast and the village is very picturesque. We wandered around for ages then found a lovely creperie Le Chat Botté (Puss in Boots) where they spoke little english so we had another chance to use our vast french skills!  Darryl ended up with scallops instead of meat - which was a nice surprise!!

Shopping in Nantes - well we finally dragged ourselves away from Ceciles office and the lovely morning tea champers!  Some great shopping and wandering around the rainy and cold cobblestone streets of Nantes. We found the castle in our search for the carpark!  Lucky for that!  Speaking of the carpark - have you ever seen such a lovely one?

A Heathrow Weather Report

Cold, raining, foggy.  But you already knew that!  We are on our way home. We have had no access to internet over the past few days.  I will update photos from Brisbane.  We had a great few days in Vallet and made it to catch our train by 3 minutes this morning!  We had given ourselves 1.5 hours for a 30 minute drive!  Anyway, we made it and here we are - sitting in the kid's room at the BA Club lounge, kids in pjs watching Spongebob Squarepants!  The kids haven't had much tv for the past 2 weeks so they are really enjoying the treat (?)

The flight to Singapore is quite empty so we should be able to get a little room to spread out.  I will see if I can beat my Pacific Ocean crossing record of 5 movies!  The kids are getting such good good travellers - Jack was asleep on the tarmac at Charles de Gaulle and woke up when we taxied into the gate at Heathrow!  A little like his Dad! 

After our successful tour of Prefailles, culminating in the the aussie flag being raised in the cafe in the centre of town, we decided to claim the village as part of Australian territory - it only seemed right now Darryl is Mayor.  We had a last lunch in town and a lovely bottle of rose.  I took a very pretty pic as you can see in the slide show. We then left town and arrived 1 hour later in the centre of Muscadet wine territory at Vallet. 

Our little Gite is very rural.  Down a little one lane road.  Takes away the concern for which side we are driving on really!  Although as we are in the middle of wine country - that adds a touch of confusion....

Sunday was our own private tasting and Gorgeois wine lesson with Michel.  It was a fantastique experience sitting in a little wine cave drinking wine and eating some lovely french cheese and bread.  Michel has been making wines forever and looks like he plays guitar with Crosby, Stills and Nash.  The fabbo sparkling cost only 5 euros a bottle!  Can you believe it Dad and Jen!!! We left very happy!  As you can see...  On the way home we shared a little Lee Kernaghan at top volume with the locals.  Darryl and Jack in hte car following entertained the locals with some Barbados Soca tunes.  Very rowdy and heaps of fun.  Considering next week we shall be jetlagged and home it was all the more memorable.  Deanna is back in London now for a public holiday - she needs the rest I suspect!

Today is shopping day in Nantes. I am loving myself about that!  (Kath and Kim reference for those of you who think I am just being narcisistic...!)  ALthough now we are in Cecile's glamourous office (a 1700 and something converted apartment - just beautiful) and she and her boss have offered us a glass of champagne (well it is 11.30am on a Monday morning...  we may not make it too far.  So chin chin and au revoir.

French lessons excursion

Last night we held our first french lesson excursion!  2 class members from the 2006 Laurel Ave Acadamie Francais attended!  We missed our friends but we made sure we enjoyed ourselves nonetheless.

Deanna arrived from London.  Lovely to see her again - and in such nice surroundings too!

Today we arrived into the village to see the Aussie flag flying at the Cafe!  I will post photos later - but it looks great below the Breton flag - albeit crooked! Darryl is going to run for Mayor.

More time at the beach... This arvo - off to Vallet.

Paying rent in the cafe

I am sure if the people here spoke enough english - or vice versa, there would need to be some rent paid for our time in the cafe!  Today we have had lunch here - very noice.  And now for a late post a a few more pics.  As you can see by the amount of Darcy pics - we didn't do a whole lot yesterday except take pics of Darcy it seems!

Tonight we are going back to the beach restaurant where we had drinks last night (as you can see from the photos) - tonight for dinner with Cecile and of course Deanna.

The shellfish things that are in the photo are of unknown origin and look more like something from a tissue than something to eat!  Darryl says they are very nice and I'll take his word on that one.... You tell me what you think?!  But how is Darcy's form... The child who complains about a lovely slice of ham - eats one....?!

Anyway - we have been made to feel very welcome - check out the aussie flag!  All the viewers on the cafe webcam here this morning back in Oz were really wondering what was going on!

Lost in Translation....

Yesterday we drove to Pornic. Darcy saw another castle - not near as impressive as the one at Disneyland - but as we explained - it was a real one!

We had lunch at a little Crepérie where I had to completely order in french as they didn't speak a word of english. That was interesting.... When we were brought the wrong meals - I nearly took them thinking "Jeez, I messed that  up!" But they waiter had got it wrong!  Darryl thinks me rather efluent!

Darryl is pleased that the shops all close from 12 - 2.30 so it appears I have not been able to spend any money and support the local businesses!  Ont he way home we saw a huge golf shop in a mall - I left the family in the car and ventured to get something for my Dad - but couldn't find out how to get upstairs to the shop.  I included a photo to prove we tried!

Here is Morgan - Jack and Darcy's new friend. THose of you viewing us at the cafe on the webcam here will see the kids running riot together!

  Last night we got a little french culture and watched the political debate between the 2 bozos up for president (election this sunday).  Then we watched Darcy's favourite French show 'Nouvelle Star" (French Idol).

Deanna arrives tomorrow night from London.  (Don't bring a large bag Deanna!!)  We will be in Prefailles until Saturday then in the afternoon move in convoy (2 little cars full to the brim with people and luggage) to Vallet.   I will have my birthday there (did I mention that?  9th May!!) and we will be a lot more social as we have some lunch, wine tastings and dinners arranged before we return home next thursday.

For posterity, I have included a great series of pics of Jack and the Chewing Gum ice cream!  He obviousl didn't like it and when he requested a new flavour - look at the result.  I hope to keep this blog active until he is at least 15 as he should be reminded of this behaviour!!!

Bugger - it is nearly midday - no shops will be open.....  Oh well, wine o'clock seems to be a little earlier here than in Oz!

A post about nothing

This is precisely what we have done... So let's talk food.  The food is brilliant. We have been cooking most nights - my favourite shop so far is the supermarket!  It is an amazing experience.  There is a full aisle of wine and champagne and if you make it past that - you have to make a butter selection from about 20 types then the pate and cheese... I could spend all day there!  Our favourite butter is one with sea salt crystals in it!  We eat that on our bread - which we buy every day.

The kids are eating crepes with chocolate as a snack.  You can buy crepes everywhere. Darcy wolfs them down.  Jack has taken to a morning hot chocolate in the cafe.

Strawberries and raspberries are very cheap - and the asparagus is in season so you can buy a bunh of about 25 stalks for 2 euros.  Apart from ordering bacon instead of ham at the Chacuterie - I have been doing fine in the shops! 

Last night we lit a fire as it turned cold. 

Today we are driving to Pornic for a look see.  Cecile is at work.  THe kids have made friends with a little girl here - Morgan.  Darcy thinks that is hilarious she knows 2 Australian Morgans and 1 french Morgan!

Mayday in Prefailles

Those French, the only country with more public holidays than Australia!  Today is Mayday and we are back at the cafe - but we have greaduated from coffee to wine today!

After yesterday's trip into town - we did.... nothing!  It was great! Today we will do the same - except that we will buy lunch in the cafe as the owner fears we have moved in!  Australian gypsies perhaps?

So - have you all checked out the webcam here? Yesterday's post has the address! I am now teaching the guy in the supermarket some english!  Today's lesson - "good thanks" Tomorrow will be "Gidday mate"

The weather has turned cold - but that is ok.  Can't complain can we....

"Je suis Australien! Roxy, Quiksilver?"

Works wonders!  People are very friendly and try very hard to speak english and together with my little french - we are doing really well!  Vive la France! There is a clothes - surf shop and they sell Quiksliver and Roxy - so that was how I introduced myself.

James will be pleased to hear that our little hire car is a Corolla.  Very speedy...  Very dangerous for locals with Louise driving.  Yesterday (Sunday) was a market day - so there were people everywhere and streets closed off.  Little did they realise how fearful they should have been!  Driving on the wrong side of the road with pedestrians....  I smiled a lot and said "Je suis Australien" and waved.  They will think us simple folk....

We have found a great little internet cafe - how all internet cafes should be really.  A bar with wifi access.  We have been drinking espresso and now that it is 12.20pm - we are onto the vin blanc and Darryl is having a beer (shock!!!)  The kids are colouring in at the next table!  Our new friend - the owner has just found a Fosters Beer towel - and the whole place is cheering!  Imagine how they get in the evening!  We are a bit of a novelty.  Check it all out at Le Centre Restaurant

We are here until Saturday.  Deanna (Darcy's OT from Royal Brisbane) is coming over for the weekend from London where she is living for a few years.  On Saturday, we move to Vallet, a small village in the vineyards where we have rented a farmhouse until we return to Brisbane.  Yves and Claudine (who own the beach house where we are staying here) have been so hospitable. We met on Saturday afternoon and out came the Premier Cru Champagne - trés magnifique! They are taking us to dinner next week and are arranging for some vineyard vistits to friend's vineyards.

The french are so hospitable!  Even in Paris.  It is delightful to see the kids trying their new french words.  They are playing really well together and enjoying spending time with strangers!  Hopefully they will return home a little more flexible as they are learning to just fit in and dinner here seems to happen about 8.30pm!  (Jen and James - can you believe it!!!)  Bedtime for me (and the kids) seems to be around 10pm and they rise at ....wait for it.... 9am!  We figure no use to change as we fly out of Heathrow at 10 pm late next week - so why bother now.

The water here is freezing!  The kids got quite a shock!  Check out Jack in this pic!!

Time to go - so a bientot to you and we will update tomorrow.  I have uploaded a photo album in the sidebar here too.  ANd thanks for posting comments everyone!  We LOVE to read them!

Au Revoir and Bonne Jeunée!  See I did learn something in my french lessons Ciel!!  For all you New Yorkers "Mwah Mwah"!

Eurodisney Photos

THis morning, I seem to be able to upload the album.  Too much internet traffic last night in Paris and of course now that it is 8.30am - no parisians are awake yet - except the Gypsy Stuarts who are off on the TGV this morning to Nantes!  We will collect our car, do some groceries and then on to Prefailles at the beach for 6 days. We don't know how much internet access we will have there - but we will sure have the time to do the blog as we intend to stay put and relax!

And as for Jen's comment about Darcy putting on weight - we believe it!  We have to carry our little koala bear everywhere and we tell her that she has been eating rocks!

So - be sure to have a look at the photo albums - they take forever to create!