Anyway, last night we had our latest board game evening, held at Valérie and Marc's house, which is high up the Môle mountain near here. They used to live in our little housing plan but decided that they wanted to be in a more isolated location to have more land and more solitude. Valérie's son, Hugo, was one of the kids killed in a horrific car crash that happened eight years ago involving four kids from our little village. Her home here held too many memories for her so they decided to move - much to our loss but I can understand of course. Hell, I still miss Hugo and his cheeky grin when I go out my front door and used to see him pottering around fixing some kind of engine or other!
So my neighbours, Philippe and Isabelle, gave me a lift up to Valérie and Marc's. Their kids (14 and 17) also still join in so as you can see it's a very inclusive get together including young and not so young. Valérie and Marc had both been married before but their 17 year old daughter, Chloé, showed up with her boyfriend to play with us so, again, it's lovely to have the youngsters playing with us. And Chloé's boyfriend, Léo, fit right in! Actually I don't think he knew what hit him but …. good for you buddy for joining in! We had tons of food, swapped recipes and then played a few silly games until about 1 a.m. when we all headed back home. Next time is in August at my place, so let's hope the weather picks up between now and then. In fact, I just ordered a game off Amazon called "Pass the Bomb" (I think it's time limited rather than terrorist inspired) so I'm hoping that gets here in time for the wedding so we can have a game to play between the anglophones.
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Philippe reading out the clues!
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Then on Thursday I had an appointment for the chimney sweep to come by at 10 a.m. Here in France your home insurance is not valid if you don't have an up-to-date chimney sweep's certificate (if you have a chimney, obviously)! Anyway, for once in my (retired) life I got up and jumped straight in the shower at 8 a.m., only to get a knock on the door 20 minutes later - it was the chimney sweep! When I pointed out that he was almost two hours early and had almost caught me in my PJs he just laughed and said he had been up for hours! Crikey! That'll teach me not to slob around in future!
And finally, happy Father's Day to all those wonderful dads, past and present, who were there for their families. Pretty much anyone can father a child but it takes a real man to raise one. Gentlemen, I salute you!
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| My lovely dad! |
The chimney sweep's story is funny. I can tell you, as an early riser, I can tell you it rarely occurs to me that I'm the first one up in my neighborhood.
ReplyDeleteOh I wish I were an early riser but it's not to be apparently. I'm just so glad I wasn't still slobbing around in my PJs when he showed up!!!!
DeleteI'm surprised nobody asked if he was cute...
DeleteHe's not - especially not when he's covered in soot!
DeleteI aspire to be an early riser but when I get up too early (before 7am!) I then feel sleepy after lunch and need a nap then I can't get to sleep at bedtime so I go to bed later that night and get up later the next day! I maybe need to get up earlier slower if you know what I mean. Maybe if I get up at 7.55 then the next day 7.50 and so on my body might not notice so much? lol. I'd never make it as a chimney sweep thats for sure!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you 100%. Even when I was working and getting up at 6 a.m. I never went to bed before midnight, 12.30 (and then I had to force myself). No wonder I was permanently tired I guess.
DeleteI wish there were a place to play board games around here.
ReplyDeleteWe do it in each other's houses - it's easier in the summer of course as it can be a bit crowded when we can't be outside. And everyone brings food and drink so it isn't so hard on the host(ess). They actually do this at the local community centre (which is where we got the idea from) and it's very big in Geneva. A couple of times a year they have a big get together and can be 800 people. I know where I go sewing they also have a "belote" (card game) club twice a week. Why don't you check out your local community - you obviously don't have to do it in your home but there are enough of us interested in it that it works for us!
DeleteI'm an 'early to bed, early to rise' gal. Very early, usually (before 5), although not by choice. Anyhoo, since I've been on holiday/away from work, I've slept a solid 8 hours a night! I wonder what that's telling me, hm?! Ha ha! That water in the car park is nuts! :O
ReplyDeleteIn reality I don't think it matters too much what time you go to bed - I think the important thing is getting around 7 hours sleep - and so many of us don't.
DeleteI don't consider myself an early riser, but my clock has got accustomed to 5:30 no matter how much I might like to lie I in. Sometimes, I can put myself back to sleep-may do so this morning! We have to get a game night going. So many new empty nester parents to invite over. I think it would be a good time
ReplyDeleteMy body clock was so used to getting up at 6 a.m. that I always woke around 5.30 too but I realize just how tired I was now. And yes give it a shot with the board game evening. We are probably 16-20 if we are all here (and have had people ask to join) but probably average around 10-12 per evening. Good fun though.
DeleteWow, that was a nasty storm! I hope you get some better weather soon, summer's just around the bend
ReplyDeleteWell fingers crossed but it looks like it is on its way - but it May and June so far have been pretty awful this year!
DeleteWe used to play board games with friends. They had 4 tables set up with 4 different games, Then they set the times for 30 minutes. You played a game for the half hour then when the timer rang everyone swapped to a different table and played the game (mid game) at the seat you took. It was a ton of fun, then the night ended with a round or two of charades.
ReplyDeleteI'm not quite sure how that would work for us but I will definitely suggest it next time!
DeleteI am not sure if my original comment made it to you or not, but regardless of that I wanted you to know about Coup. It is a wonderful and wonderfully fast card/board game. It is best played by excellent liars or deceivers, but my DIL who is scrupulously honest is pretty good at it too. It is a blast
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip Anne - I will check it out.
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