Thursday, May 16, 2013

Kind of going backwards with my photos but I wanted this fruit picture to be the cover shot.  I’ll explain the meal in a minute.

So, Calum arrived and had no troubles following our “travel to France for Dummies” paper.  Ross and I tried to come up with every detail so he could get to the train station, get on the right train and get off at the right spot. He did fall asleep on the train (which I warned-the rocking motion is so peaceful after a flight)…but he woke up just as it was pulling into our station. PHEW….he says it was only the Lord that stirred him to wake up then.  I usually set my phone alarm, even my best intentions to stay awake don’t work.

We gave him a quiet Saturday afternoon and evening to rest, but Sunday slipped right into normal life. We went to church, which is difficult for him since it’s totally in French.  It’s good for him to see some of our early frustrations and difficulties!  Sunday afternoon we went to see the Tours Volleyball championship game.  It was a fun event and every seat was full.  The Tours team won, which made us happy! They were number one in France, but still in these games anything can happen.  We enjoy sitting with our friend Kelli and her baby Cohen while dad David plays. (Yea for the English speaking Americans).

Monday and Tuesday Calum went to the office with Ross, but in a different building and division. Those first two days had Calum re-thinking the decision to come and work.  Just kind of overwhelming! This week, however is much better and he’s meeting people and finding his place.

I forgot how much fun it is to cook for Calum, he eats everything and appreciates it. Some things he likes better than others, but he is always thankful! Plus I do his laundry here….I haven’t done that boys washing for ten years. I quit when he hit 13 and wouldn’t bring me the dirty stuff daily. He’d wait until he ran out of things and bring tons…..well with a family of five or six (add Duey), that wasn’t working for me; so he’s done his own since then.  So now, he likes that he can give it to me and it comes back clean and dry.  He is getting used to the crunchier feel of freshly dried on the line laundry……

So, last week Wednesday and Thursday were holidays in France, so of course they bridge it to include Friday making a nice long weekend. We took Calum to Futuroscope for two days.  It’s a theme park/amusement park/science center type place. We had not been before so it was fun for all of us.  The first day was great with short lines to most shows or attractions.  A few were kind of lame and made us laugh, but others were really great. One we waited for a while in line for was a robot ride. It’s like you are sitting in the robots hand as he dances around.  It was CRAZY….sadly, when we got to the entrance after waiting, the girl told Calum he was too tall to ride it…it was a danger to his legs and head!!!  So, Ross and I finally got to our turn while Calum went to the observatory gallery L she asked if we’d like level one, two or three….Ross said one as I said three…he then said two as I said three…so we compromised and went level three! Hey, I didn’t wait an hour in line watching a giant screen of MTV videos to go level one or two…..So, we got wedged into our France sized person seats, got strapped in and off we went. It was great!

Thursday was a good day, but we think every family in France must have decided to visit. It was mobbed, we were so glad we’d seen most things the day before! One ride/attraction we re-did was called Arthur from the kids movie.  We actually waited two hours to do it the second day. It was a 4-d ride….so much fun, except where you felt like you were riding through spider webs and they had air rushing in your hair so it felt real!

The buildings were amazing and architecturally designed to be different, one building looked like a giant pipe organ.  BUT…the artwork throughout the park was hysterical.  At first it took me a moment to see it…but it was all women….but not normal proportioned women….but women with giant buts and thighs……too funny!

 

So, the one night we had their special offer meal….a molecular experience….not knowing what to expect except some things cooked with water, sonic waves, etc. It was fabulous and so much fun with dry ice decorations.  We really enjoyed the meal and the courses.  Three of them courses came with a special drink as well, which all were very good, but for me too much.  The first was a sangria with a cognac foam, then a white wine and a red wine.  My face by the end was beet red and I was a bit giggly/teary.  Calum will tell you I was tipsy (for the first time in my entire life), but he makes it more than it was.…..I was able to walk through the park to the hotel and carry on conversations, but I definitely would not drive or do anything major. I am just not used to it even drawn out over several hours with food.

Anyway, here are the courses…they were fabulous….

1.   Homemade tortilla chips with a special tomato salsa puree-done some special molecular way.

2.   White fish called cabillaud immersed in a cream of coconut with caviar and a side of sweet potoatos-freeze dried and steamed

3.   Duck filet filled with fois gras with a cone of artichoke puree and dried peas

4.   Fruits, but strawberries with strawberry puree, mango with mango puree, blackberries with blackberry puree, pineapple with fresh mint puree, and a biscuit; all decorated with crushed almonds died green.

5.   Then  little chocolate mousse cup with your coffee and tea….

The food was amazing and also really nicely presented so it was a fun night.  Yes, I seem to blog about food more now…..regular life is just well…regular life, so new foods are exciting and fun to describe.

 

 

We enjoyed our time there and Calum got the fun experience of sharing a hotel room with Mum and Dad….he said I snored, but I’m not believing him!!!

After Futuroscope, we headed another hour to our friends Jacques and Claire’s house.  It was a great weekend to catch up. Calum hadn’t seen William, Sylvain and Jean-Sam in a year, so they were like old times together.  They went off playing basketball, soccer and just goofing around.  Meals were long drawn out laughing and talking fests…..I loved it!  The boys grew up together in Georgia so it is fun to see them all here, going to school or working and learning the quirks of France. My gift to them this trip was Old Spice deodorant that I brought back from the US….you’d think I brought gold the way they hugged me!!! Hey, priorities….American deodorant is sacred stuff here.  For Claire a big box of Nyquil and Dayquil…..it’s the little things!!! I think it has caused all of us to appreciate things we took for granted in the US…in that it has been a good move for all of us….we were far too comfortable and took things for granted.  

One day we all went for a hike around a lake (yes-me-a hike-outside-in the woods-miraculous, I know! Ross took a photo from the top to prove I did it!!!).  Ross, Claire and I took the smaller lake which was a 45 minute trek, while the boys took the other for an hour and a half trek.  But, I did it, in the woods, ups and downs, mud and slugs!!!  It was a beautiful view from the top and we got some fresh air.  The boys of course went wading and goofed around….but we had two cars, so we left them and headed home.  

 

This week, it’s a full work week for both guys….never fear, next Monday is another holiday next week, so they get a day off.  May in France is everyone’s favorite. Three weeks of four have holidays cutting the work and school weeks.

So, this week Ross has a visitor in from Malaysia, he’s actually from India working in Malaysia.  So, last night we went to dinner with him at a place called The Cave…..appropriately named as it is built into the cave itself, leaving the stone exposed and the atmosphere terrific.  I took photos but some are dark, since it’s a softer lighting inside.  It was fun watching him try “French” foods…so very different from what he’s used to.  Posting photos from that too…..from seafood salad, to potato tart, to white fish and vegetables, incredible cheese cart and dessert tray…so, so good! 

 

A few photos from inside and outside the restaurant, they don’t do it justice, but I tried.  Keep in mind they are taken at 9:30 PM…yes, it’s still not dark yet!!  The long days make up for the depressing early dark ones all winter!!

 

Then there was the music in the background.  Calum and Ross were dying….it was a Cd with Supertramp, AC/DC, Pink Floyd, the eagles, etc….BUT all done in a swing/jazz style.  I actually liked it and asked the owner lady what it was.  She brought the CD-Pink Turtle over to show me.  Ross and Calum didn’t like it, but I laughed at songs like Hotel California and smoke on the Water sung in this style. I just  may have to purchase this CD.

 

A couple weeks back –the first holiday week of the month there were two guys visiting from the Flowery Branch plant in Georgia.  One had been here twice before but the other was a first timer.  Because the holiday was a Wednesday, Ross and I took them to LeMans for the day to the car museum there.   But, okay, only my southern friends will understand……one is from Dawson County and one from Gillsville….it was so much fun hearing their take on France. I LOVED hearing the Georgia accent again and laughing with them over the things I found strange at first, but have gotten used to, that they were experiencing. We had a really fun day and laughed a lot.  The food was a major thing for them, causing them to eat at the local McDonald’s three times to get “normal” food. The cheese freaked them out “It’s moldy, are you supposed to eat the moldy bits?” And the work canteen threw them too…..it has taken Ross a while to get used to it and now Calum is experiencing it as well. Such a funny day …..I made a comment about the bathrooms and how at first they bothered me and one of the guys told the story of how he was using the urinal and a lady and her kid walked in….it mortified him and I laughed saying “you just get used to it”. So, it was a taste of home band I’d love to hear their stories from France!

A couple outside the house at 10:00 PM.

 

Also, a few photos of the colza fields.  Last year I loved seeing them and would love to capture the real beauty in a photo, but you just can’t.  Colza is the rapeseed plant which makes canola oil.  In May each year the fields are just yellow and gorgeous.  As you drive, they are everywhere and it’s one of those breathtaking things you can’t quite describe.

 

Anyway, I’m off…it’s a school afternoon and Marie-Claude is arriving to pick up Ross’ shirts for ironing…..yes it’s this crazy thing I call daily life J

This weekend, we’re hoping for a day trip to the zoo.  It’s a good walk and the animals are fun to watch.