IT'S SNOWING

Well it started yesterday afternoon.  Poor kids got caught on the soccer field in freezing temperatures.  Manu went with Ben's team to coach in Passy and Sam got dropped off in Combloux.  Grandmere and Aunty Claire paid a surprise visit to watch him and fetched him back early - he was like a frozen ice block.  Pity I didn't get to watch .....

 This is what it looked like this morning, all starting to melt now though.   I remember last year in early October we had the same and then the temperatures rise and the real snow arrives mid November.  We have nice weather forcast for the rest of the week.  Just as well I haven't even had time to put the shorts away.

They couldn't help themselves and attempted their first snowman.

Walking and playing in the woods of course.

CLAIRE'S 30th

My sister in law recently split up from her three year relationship boyfriend resulting in much tears and agony, so at the thought of her 30th alone the Guillet family rallied to the rescue as families do and came to celebrate.  We had a dinner with lots of yummy things............

a massive bottle of Crystal Champagne, Claire kindly shared with us given to her by a rich client

The birthday girl

Our friend Seb, helping Manu in my kitchen, a rare site Manu in my kitchen

Foie Gras and Figs for starters, I can hear the Green Peace Activists from here

Seb made the next starter, I love this, marinated Scollops with a parcel of curried aubergine

Main course was an over cooked chicken because we all drank to much and forgot about the chicken and then presents a very runny Chocolate tart that refused to hold up the candles because I put in to much brandy, but it was good.

 Raymond, Manu's dad offering Claire and I a beautiful box of whiskey or so we thought...........

Nope, it was filled with hazelnuts from there tree in the garden, still good.

SUNDOWNERS IN ROCHERBRUNE

Last night we set out looking for Marmottes but found nothing but cows.  So we gave up, settled in for the evening and watched the sun go down in Rocherbrune, which is on the way to Megeve.

and the elusive Marmotte - not my picture, but we did look..............

THE LITTLE THINGS

Sometimes it's nice to marvel at the little things in life...........

These all sprouted up overnight in the woods due to a little wet weather and the kids just love spotting them, no eating though.

The first sign of Autumn, we saw this tree last night on a ride around the village, whilst it feels to warm to be Autumn it seems to be just around the corner.

Samuel and Benjamin have settled well into there soccer teams and really enjoy practice.  They wear red socks so I can spot them on the field.  Manu's been asked to coach the tournament on Saturday so he's thrilled.

Manu and Seb, last night we had a bbq outside our appartment.  We don't have a garden so decided to bbq next to the building in a field and it worked out great.  Well it does help that our grumpy neighbour has returned to Paris.  There's always one isn't there.

CYCLING AROUND PRAZ

Well Manu worked this weekend and we never saw him at all leaving at 7am and coming in around 11pm, it was a long weekend for him.  So to pass the time, I got out my bike, pumped up the tyres and dusted it off and off we set.  Must say my behind is rather sore this morning but it was a world of discovery.

There was an elderly couple sitting at this farm looking over the garden they had just finished preening.  I was dying to take a picture but resisted it looked so French.

Other than that I prepared and froze some berries and prunes given to me by my friend Solange from her garden.  Having lived in Welcome Glen which is practically a sand dune I have very few recipes for fruit as nothing grows there except Proteas and Wild Fig, so will have to get cracking and look some up on the internet for the Winter.  Mmmmm a lovely Blackberry crumble in front of a roaring fire, sounds good.

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY

Well we had a very successful birthday party yesterday.  We rounded the kids up and took them to the woods, it was much quieter that way.  I think Samuel had fun and my friend joined us so there was slightly more control.  Fun fun. 

Then back home for cake..............

SAMUEL TURNS 8

Well we woke up to a dreary day, Autumn has definitely settled in and we had our first fire of the season.  Samuel turned 8 and was very excited.  All the usual things, we opened presents, made cupcakes for school, sang happy birthday and had pizza for supper.  He had a great day I think.

Well we woke up to a dreary day, Autumn has definitely settled in and we had our first fire of the season.  Samuel turned 8 and was very excited.  All the usual things, we opened presents, made cupcakes for school, sang happy birthday and had pizza for supper.  He had a great day I think.

Things haven't been sailing very smoothly lately.  Samuel has meltdowns daily and they seem to be increasing, I think due to frustration mainly.  It seems his capacity to explain things is very much diminished and so he just flies into a rage instead of letting us help him with the speech side of things.  We have now been threatened with the CLIS if he does not make a massive improvement and start to read by December.  The CLIS is for handicapped children who cannot function in a normal school class situation.  It is a class in a regular school but with dedicated teachers to help the kids battling.  Only thing is once you are in that school system you don't get out resulting in no chance of university, college etc.  So maybe he is seeing our stress and reacting to that I don't know.  Right now he sees a Psychiatrist, a Psychologist, a speech therapist and an exchange French teacher weekly then there's Jujitsu and Soccer.  If he doesn't fall over it will be a miracle.  He's fantastic really but Manu and I feel like we have run into a brick wall. ANYWAY.

Rugby is bringing relief, we have been keeping up with all the games and are really enjoying watching them and supporting the Boks.  Thing is who is Manu going to support when we play France. Hummmm.

My brother sent all the paraphernalia so we are all geared to go.