Goodbye crappy Christmas of 2007 and a huge welcome to the New Year.
All my best laid Christmas plans got torpedoed by bugs of the gastro, flu and bronchiolite type. Hubby coming down with the "man flu" had me dreaming of serving him divorce papers 3 days into his life threatening illness!
When I staggered into the Pharmacy on the 27th December for yet more supplies, I thought they were having a belated Christmas Staff Party. It was heaving with people chatting happily, but all on a mission as it turned out for sick friends and relatives.
So with relief I listened to the church bells chiming in the New Year, and wished everyone everywhere a Bonne Année and Bonne Sante.
Welcome, welcome 2008
Yes, the season is upon us and like all the other Mum's I will be in the market place come Monday. We may even have some snow according to the Meteo, just to add that festive touch. All the school children have been working hard creating gold painted angels from pasta, hand-made Christmas cards and dough baked tree decorations.
My son has been going around singing Petit Papa Noël for the last 3 weeks ,(see below for lyrics), and the man himself is due to put in an appearance on the last day of school. Apparently, one quick witted little chap last year noticed that Petit Papa Noël sported the same shoes as the headmaster! That was explained away as both gentlemen having extremely good taste.
Well all that remains is for me to wish everyone, everywhere a Very Merry Christmas or as we say round here Joyeux Noël.
Petit Papa Noël
C'est la belle nuit de Noël
La neige étend son manteau blanc
Et les yeux levés vers le ciel
À genoux, les petits enfants
Avant de fermer les paupières
Font une dernière prière.
Translation
It's a beautiful Christmas night
Snow spreads its white coat
And eyes lift toward the sky
On their knees, small children
Before closing their eyes
Say a last prayer.
Petit papa Noël
Quand tu descendras du ciel
Avec des jouets par milliers
N'oublie pas mon petit soulier.
Mais avant de partir
Il faudra bien te couvrir
Dehors tu vas avoir si froid
C'est un peu à cause de moi.
Translation
Little Santa Claus
When you come down from the sky
With thousands of toys
Don't forget my little stocking.
But before you leave
You should dress well
Outside you will be so cold
And it's kind of my fault.
Le marchand de sable est passé
Les enfants vont faire dodo
Et tu vas pouvoir commencer
Avec ta hotte sur le dos
Au son des cloches des églises
Ta distribution de surprises.
Translation
The sandman has passed
The children are going to sleep
And you will be able to begin,
With your sack on your back,
To the sound of church bells,
Your distribution of surprises.
Refrain
Il me tarde que le jour se lève
Pour voir si tu m'as apporté
Tous les beaux joujoux que je vois en rêve
Et que je t'ai commandés.
Translation
I can't wait for sunrise
To see if you brought me
All the lovely toys that I see in my dreams
And that I ordered from you.
Refrain
Et quand tu seras sur ton beau nuage
Viens d'abord sur notre maison
Je n'ai pas été tous les jours très sage
Mais j'en demande pardon.
Refrain
Translation
And when you are on your beautiful cloud
Come first to our house
I wasn't always very good
But I ask for your forgiveness.
Refrain
Back in May I put the finishing touches to my school dossier,(yes another one!), to ensure that my son was enrolled for maternelle.
In our village La Rentrée actually takes place during the last week of August as the children here do not go to school on Saturday mornings.
So far, all has gone well - although why shouldn't it when according to my son all he does is play velo! I am sure there must be slightly more to his day than that.
Whilst I expect the normal school notices of after school activities what I can't believe is the amount of publicity that goes into all the pigeon holes. All sorts of leaflets about childrens reading books, language courses, back packs, bedding. I get enough junk mail in my normal boîtes aux lettres at home.
I am thinking of putting a huge notice up, alongside the rather cute painting of a lapin that marks out Théo's place, saying Pas de Pub - NO JUNK MAIL.
La Rentrée
Ok here come the excuses : people staying, fête after fête after fête, devising 1000 ways to entertain a 3 yr old during the school hols etc etc. But finally, I have some "me" time to devote to my blog.
I once read that at one American school the teachers returning for the 1st day after the Summer hols were met by Mums holding a banner saying "welcome back - we have missed you!". I know how they feel ....
Not only am I looking forward to the new school term I am also looking forward to only seeing the number plate 30 around the town, getting a seat in my local cafe, my favourites breads, quiches and patisseries not having sold out by 9.45am, no queues in our local supermarket, managing to walk around the local farmers market once more. Oh the list is endless. I am turning into a moaning minnie!
The season of "mists and mellow fruitfulness" will soon be here and I for one cannot wait. New wines to be sampled, chasse au sanglier, scouring the woods for cepes and other members of the fungi family.
Celebrations for la fin de l'été start tomorrow with a blackberry picking session followed by the making of a very big blackberry and apple crumble. Miam, miam.
