Five go to Normandy (and then there were 4!) France on a one-way ticket?
If you’re moving to France with kids then you need to get yourself acquainted with stationery and lots of it. I’m not talking about your light weight WH Smith range I’m talking about hard-core stationery that you never even knew existed! If you’re into a bit of stationery then you will love France. I’d go so far as to say you will need a stationery cupboard at home. There I’ve said it. They don’t mention that on their renovating forums now do they?
Literally translated this means ‘meal’ and is a social event in your commune/village. During the summer months, you will see many a sign for Repas, practically in every village you drive through. They’ll have bunting out, a big banner telling you the date it’s on and what they will be dishing up. Maybe moules and frites, jambon and frites, porc and frites (seeing a theme here) and so on.
Now, I didn’t know what to expect at a Repas, if truth be told turning up for one can be a little daunting for a newcomer and one that doesn’t speak much French at that. But I would recommend it to anyone looking to settle and integrate into the community. Continue reading “Repas”
Now, when I say in French we are going to the ‘zoo’, I get really puzzled looks . Much the same way I do when, just when I think I’m rocking this French malarkey, I churn out a sentence and the person I’m speaking to crumples their face up like a piece of paper whilst taking a few steps backwards. There is no disguising that they just don’t get what I’m saying. Not at all. Continue reading “Zoo de Champrépus”
Now most people’s mobile phones are surgically attached to their hands. You don’t leave home without it. It’s your little computer, social contact, entertainment centre and if all else fails it can make phone calls. When moving to France, I did not consider for one moment, that obtaining a mobile reception would be a problem. In my ‘moving to France’ to do list, this did not even feature. Continue reading “Mobile Woes”
I think it might have been about 12 am when I gave my husband a nudge – and not in a good way as he would say – “I just don’t want to ruin their lives!” were actual words that uttered from my mouth before we moved.
My main concern (and I am sure it is for most parents) was how would the children adjust? How would they manage switching from the UK school system to a French one? I’m not going to lie, on occasions, it did keep me up at night.
Our Normandy Life 