A lot of waffle. Sorry.

As we moved to the beach, there was no internet so I was writing these blogs in a word document as I went and then popping it onto the blog this weekend when we got back to the normal house. On Saturday it seemed to rain ALL day. I went into town (Landerneau)  in the afternoon to get a few bits and bobs and to actually wonder round. I got soaked through, even though I was wearing a waterproof. It didn’t really bother me as it was my last day there and I wanted to make the most of it. I then went to a creperie on the bridge (which I think I’ve already mentioned has houses and shops on it). The pancake was lush and I even had a cheeky English cuppa to go with it as I was cold and wet. When I got back, we packed up the things, left Landerneau and headed for the drier, warmer Carantec on the north coast.

The house is really lovely. It’s really cute and beachy. I have my own bathroom and staircase and wing of the house basically as I’m in the extension bit. Last night before tea, we popped down to the beach front and for a wonder and quick aperitif before dinner. Dinner was salad, ham and cheese which was nice but I kinda fancied a hot meal after my very wet day.

On Sunday, the weather was lush. I think it even crept into the 20s. In the morning, we finished getting the house back to living standards- unpacking, cleaning etc. Then, I walked into the village/town centre for a quick gander and then popped down to the beach to see what was occurring. It was particularly warm at the time, but it was pleasant enough to paddle. When I got back, the friends (a couple with 2 kids) had arrived and they were lovely. We went back down to where I had just come from to eat in one of the restaurants. I had mussels and chips and, oh my god, it was sooo nice. Once we were finished, we went down onto the sand for a quick see at what was going on, and ended up staying for 3 or 4 more hours. It was really lovely down there, the water was nice enough to go in (I wasn’t equipped for swimming sadly- but deffo would have if I had my bikini). We mainly sunbathed and caught the sun but Isabelle and Veronique and I did go for a walk around the beach, up to the castle thing and then back down through the village.

This evening, us 4 came back to the house and I’ve been briefed on this week’s doings and what I have to do each day. If the weather is good then find activities for me and Oscar to do together won’t be an issue but of it’s not then I’ll have to be creative! We had courgette pasta for dinner which was lovely and we’re all going for an early night as we have a relatively busy week ahead of us.

On Monday, my Aupairing really began. In the morning, Yvon drove Oscar and I down to the beach where we met for Oscar’s kayak training for this week. I lounged on the beach and spoke to my dear Welsh friend! I popped back to the house as well- just to tidy up and do a bit of vacuuming as the sand literally gets everywhere. Then I went and collected Oscar from the beach and we came home for lunch. Oscar was reluctant to do anything I asked which was a bit problematic but I eventually managed to get him to eat a something. Afterwards, I needed to sort some bits and bobs out and Oscar wanted to watch Tangled, which was good as there was no French option so we watched it in English. I’m not sure Oscar understood very much of it but he’s seen it before and he seemed to enjoy it. I was definitely not complaining as I’d been missing a bit of Englishness recently. Once then film had finished, we trekked back down to the beach as Oscar wanted to go to Club Disney. I wasn’t really sure what it was and he told me there was a small fee but I just went along with it anyway. When we arrived, it said that to spend the afternoon there, it was 10€ which I was not best pleased about as it came out of my own money. He kind of guilted me into doing it and as we were at the till waiting to pay I couldn’t really say no. I will not be doing that again. Anyway, whilst he was there, I chilled on the beach again and read my book. Although I love the beach I’m getting hacked off with all the sand that finds its way into all my things- especially my hair and clothes. Once we were back from the beach, Oscar took himself off to watch tele, I think he was quite tired which is understandable and I just mooched around and entertained myself until the parents arrived home to cook us tea. Speaking of tea, we had barbecued ribs, sautéed potatoes and salad for tea. Although, Isabelle wasn’t here for the evening (which I didn’t know was happening until about 8 o’clock). The evening was still good though but Oscar was being a bit disobedient which was frustrating as Yvon wasn’t doing a very good job at getting him to do what he was told. Never mind- he’s not my child!

Tuesday was an exhausting day to be honest. In the morning, Oscar and I had a bit of a lie in and then I prepared a picnic for us to take down to the before the kayaking lesson begun. When we got down to the beach, Oscar found a friend and took himself off to dig holes or something so I was left to do the strenuous task of lounging on the beach and sunbathing. We then picnicked in the sun and I dropped him off for his kayaking. I came back to the house to drop off all the picnic stuff: buckets, spades, blankets etc. Afterwards, I went back down to the beach and walk along the coastline around Carantec. It really is gorgeous round there. There’s a little fort/castle thing on one of the little Islands (looks a bit like a mini fort boyard) which I hope to visit at some point as it’s meant to be quite good. This is where it gets frustrating. Firstly, the little devil took an absolute age to come out of the changing rooms- he was last as usual and then when he came out, he’d lost a wetsuit shoe but refused to go and find it.

 On the way home, he wanted some artisan marshmallows so I agreed to go and look. They looked pretty cool to be fair but they were really dear for the amount there was and he wouldn’t settle for normal Haribo marshmallows. He then told me he hated me. I didn’t take it to heart as we don’t really know each other very well. When we got home, he went straight to watch tele and sulked a fair bit.  He was there until his Dad came home from work late but by that time we were talking again and I think he had forgiven me for being such an evil human being. He was in a really really bad mood with his Dad though and would not do anything he was asked, wash his hands, have a shower, pick his rubbish up, stop watching the tele. It was like this until half way through tea time. He was basically being an absolute brat and was doing things to deliberately annoy everyone. Nevertheless, we all had a lovely tea and it wasn’t so bad in the end once he’d calmed down.

Wednesday, we had kayaking again in the morning and Isabelle and I spent the day walking and signing Oscar, his brother and his friend up for some activities in the next few weeks. I was relieved to find this out as it’s nice to have some time during the days to myself. She then left for work and I tried to find the supermarket as I’ve run out of my secret stash of food. However, I could not find it and I got a bit lost. I’ll try again on Thursday. When I got back Isabelle was just leaving for work so I gathered up Oscars stuff for after kayaking and made my way back down to the beach. We picked up some crisps and I got Oscar a lolly on the way home. We made lunch together and he was being surprisingly helpful- I think he’s a bit exhausted from the last couple of days and his emotions have run out. It was suggested that we have a chill afternoon as Thursday is set to be a busy day. We watched Monsters Inc. in French which was just as good as the correct version but still good. After the film we played games together until the parents came home and we generally had a really lovely afternoon. For tea we had leftovers. Leftovers are fine by me but only if there is enough to go round, which there wasn’t and I was still starving after tea. Never mind, I survived.

Thursday is market day in Carantec so in the morning, Oscar and I went up to the market to get some stuff for the house and for us. We bought 3 types of yummy French cheese, some butter, roasted chicken, a cheese potato dish thing which was yummy, postcards and for us I bought a couple of souvenirs and  a bracelet each for me and Oscar. As it was raining, we hurried home for lunch. Oscar played on my laptop for a bit and I tidied up the downstairs as it was a bit of a mess. For lunch we had the roasted chicken and the potato dish, I finally felt full so I was very relieved afterwards. Oscar was being a bit difficult after lunch- I’m glad he can’t understand me in English, but sometimes it’s nice to say (quietly) what you think to someone’s face- especially when they’re being an annoying little brat. Nevertheless, I managed to get him to act like a human being so that we could make our way down to the kayaks. After I’d dropped him off, I went to the café to use the computer for a bit of much needed internet, I also had a cuppa tea so that I was a ‘paying’ customer. Once I’d done all the necessary things (facebook) on the computer, I waded home and sat and read in some peace and quiet before the Oscar-ness would start up again.

Once he was back, we played board games and card games. Then I taught Oscar a few things on the piano which was good as he was actually listening and learning something. It was generally easy with him in the evening. We were supposed to go to the show in the centre of the town for the kids but it was raining so Oscar wasn’t going to step one foot out of the house. I was a bit annoyed when Yvon rang and asked me to cook tea too. I just whacked a load of stuff together and made do because Oscar never really appreciates anything anyway. When Yvon got back we kind of just talked for a while and I was given my money!!

Friday meant it was the last day of kayaking for Oscar and the last day of moaning at Oscar for me. I was so relieved! He was being a little so and so throughout the day, I think it was boredom. It rained pretty much all day so that meant we could really do anything outside which was annoying. I just tried to keep him entertained and me sane, which was difficult on both parts. I’ve come up with a nickname for Oscar which I can’t put on here. In the evening, Lucas (Oscar’s brother) came back from New York and had a friend round for tea. It was a really nice evening; I think it was the change of company that helped. My god can the friend talk though. My ears couldn’t keep up half the time, I want to apologise to anyone who’s ever been affected by this from me. I now know how you feel! Having said that, he was really nice company and wasn’t shy or awkward. We played card games and Dobble in the evening which was also fun. I had to make an excuse to leave after a while as the boys were going a bit mad and saying silly things that I didn’t understand so I was falling behind with the jokes. I was feeling quite tired and worn out as Oscar is a lot of work- very disobedient and, at times, rude. Nevertheless, I now have 2 days to myself which I will definitely be making the most of!

On Saturday (yesterday), I went to Morlaix alone for the day and it was really nice to have a change of scenery to be honest. The town was nice but not amazing, there wasn't really much to do. As soon as I got there, I went to the market to but some lunch and I treated myself to a good old Fish and Chips. Oosh, it was immense. Not as good and Welsh/English fish and chips but still yummy nonetheless. I also treated myself to yet another crepe. I cannot get enough of those bad boys. Yvon came and picked me up at 5ish and we went back to the land of technology in Landerneau.

As soon as we were back we had to get ready for Brest 2012, I wasn't really sure what it was t be honest, all I knew was there were a lot of boats. And there was. Boats of all shapes and sizes. We got in for free as we were also on a boat, it was a diving boat so it wasn't that amazing to look at but it was really useful for us cos we could go around on the water instead of walking everywhere. When we set off on the boar, we could here a load of people cheering which was a bit odd but we couldn't see what cos there was a big military boat in the way. When we got round the corner, we saw a posh white boat with a few men in suits and camera men taking pictures of one man. Turns out, it was the president himself, Francois Hollande, and we didn't realise who it was until he waved at us!! The evening ended with a super fireworks display and we didn't get home until gone 1am so we were all mega tired as we'd been out in the sea air for most of the evening. Hope you're all well at home! (Pictures to follow, there's too many to put on this one blog!)