Lazy Sunday

Saturday 27th August

Baz and I had a lovely meal out with some of the teachers from Jean Mariotti last night. This year will be the tenth time they come to visit us in NZ so it was celebration time.  I began the exchange with a male teacher, Eric Vallon. He, along with other teachers involved over the years, has become a good friend. He is a very keen rugby man and enjoys lots of rugby banter with Bill, and he does concede that the ABs are THE best!  He even wore his AB world cup rugby jersey last night in deference to us kiwis. For dinner we had a favourite french meal - Raclette - which is named after the distinct cheese used.  Potatoes are cooked before the meal and then you put one on your plate, squish it down a bit, and then melt slices of raclette cheese under a special grill on the table and pour it over the potatoes. On the table is a selection of cold meats and gherkins  to have with it and also a lettuce salad.  It is so tasty!

                         

Baz ripping into the spuds!

The raclette grill with a platter of the cheese next to it.

Dessert

Special friends

We slept well last night that's for sure, and this morning walked down to the Boulangerie for our fresh croissants for brekky.  Part of the road was cordoned off and there was an international marathon race on which was interesting to watch. In NZ there would have been cones for miles and officials in orange jackets directing things all over the place,but all there was here was one policeman at the roundabout directing traffic away from one side of the road and not a cone in sight!  Health and Safety is definitely a little different over here!

There was a drinks station not far from our apartment where there was piano accordian french cafe style music blaring out. This was all very festive but to me the music was more reminiscent of relaxing in a picturesque  Parisian cafe in the gentle morning sun, rather than accompanying stressed-looking hot and sweaty marathon runners pounding along the road! 

       The water being pumped through a fire hose to the shower stand to help runners cool down.

Along the waterfront for a distance of a couple of kilometers, there is a selection of fitness equipment for the public to use. The walkway itself really begins just around the corner from Anse Vata beach where we are, but it is a little like our Lions Walk although far wider and is always extremely popular with people running, walking or training on the equipment at any hour of the day. There were some using the equipment when we came home at about 11pm last night!

                                                A view of The Hilton hotel at Anse Vata 

So, apart from the morning walk, not much has happened for us today, apart from an afternoon nap!  We don't feel guilty because having a sleep during the day at the weekend is very normal over here! 

It's back into it in the morning though with a busy day at our Mayoral reception, then up to Daniel Talon primary school.  It's only been 23deg today and not sure yet what tomorrow will deliver us in terms of weather.  Hope you've all had a great weekend.

Au Revoir!

Colleen