Cheers !
The adventure has begun. We have arrived in France following a long 35 hour trip. We were slowed considerably by strike action in France (something we need to get used to). We sat on the tarmac in Heathrow for 30 minutes because of an air traffic controllers strike in Paris and then were delayed by a train strike. We arrived at Charles De Gaulle airport at 9.00am and arrived in Charmes where Dominic’s mother lives (150 km away) at 6pm. It was a wonderful reunion with Mamie, Philippe and Clemence. Following dinner we retired to bed for 11 hours and have had no jet lag since.
Since our arrival we have taken it easy, rediscovering the village and spending time with Dominic’s mum. Today we took a day trip to Amiens and visited Villers-Bretonneux (Australian Cemetery and Memorial from WW1) along the way. At Amiens Dominic revisited the university where he studied and we all enjoyed wondering around the beautiful Cathedral.
Sunday 15th June
Today was Clemence’s ‘Profession de Foi’, otherwise referred to as first communion. We started the day at 10.30am with a 2 hour service at the Basilica at Liesse ( a pilgrimage site for those wishing to see the black virgin Mary) and then went on to Philippe and Marie-Claude’s place (Maison Forestiere) where thirty people enjoyed a five course meal prepared by Marie-Claude. We didn’t leave until 8.00pm that night. The French sure know how to put on lunch! Natalie played all day with her cousin, Clemence and her friend Auphelie both of whom spoke to her in French. However the language of play is universal and while her mother was struggling to communicate “adult style” in stilted, poorly pronounced French, Natalie was having unreserved fun.
Monday, Tuesday
Continued to spend time with the family and explore the environs of Charmes including the prehistoric rocks at St Gobain Forest.
