Alexandra, John & Thomas Joyeux Noël 2011
Christmas greetings to you all,
Ah! It’s a treat this winter to have had reasonable temps so far. Yet not the best for the ski stations since 30 years to have mariginal snow for their opening season.
We’ve spent more time with John’s mother through out this year taking 3-4 weeks at a time either at xmas or summer. Since last Sept Nora’s been having chemo treatments for secondary cancer. She continues living life as normal but being sensible as to where she goes and what she does. Keeping positive through it all.
January started off going to Les des Alpes and visiting the beautiful ice caves there, plus we got back into snowboarding ‘joining the over 45’s club’ and Thomas had ski lessons, where he takes to the snow like he does with water. In July the school holidays started off with TGVing up to Paris Disney for 3 days then driving up to Alpe-d’Huez for a long weekend to watch Le Tour De France.
Later on in Aug we drove up to Zubrugge (10 hrs) & ferried overnight to Hull then took a short drive to Grandma’s for 4 weeks where the weather didn’t restrict us this time so we were able to take a dip into the sea (burr) with wetsuits of course, fossil hunting, long coastline walks, visits to York and catch-up with friend’s & family.
This year John has been working in both the project and commercial side. He has recently started up swimming again adding more lengths each time he goes and shredding off the pounds. Here’s the site of where John works
As for me I’m still continuing to teach English close by, taking the same courses as last year but with some additional courses working 3 evenings a week. Here are the sites of where I work and here
Thomas is continuing to go to St Jean. he’s been in the GP (grand petite section), which prepares the children for big kids school. If you’re confused over the way the school’s work here is an explaination of the difference between English & French schools. He’s doing well, enjoying the challenges they give him and playing with the French language. His developing sense of humour has his friends in uproarious laughter. Being a typical five-year-old who’s fascinated by cause-and-effect relationships, the how and why of the way things work plus with his boundless energy.
Thomas’ out-of-school activities involve multi-sports & tennis on separate days. From Nov he’s been taking violin lessons but being on his own I too have joined in on his lessons for motivation, bringing along John’s old attic violin. We try to practice every evening for 5 mins which then turns into a family violin practice ending up with John in full swing and Thomas coping the tunes.
Soon Thomas & I will be flying out to New Zealand for 8 weeks having the direct family together after 19 years is a wish that has finally come true! We’ll stay with Nana & Poppa in Rotorua and from the 1st Feb Thomas will go to school with other 5 year olds who will be also starting school on the same as him. The head principal is very happy to have Thomas join the class and hopes that he speaks some French while he’s there. We are looking forward to celebrating together Nana/Poppa’s 50th Wedding Anniversary on the 3rd Feb and my sister Clare & Marco are getting married on the 28th Jan.
Well this year has given John & I a lot of food for thought to think about our future on what to do next, so we hope whatever we do next is the right choice.
Our hearts go out most of all to Jay, Marie & Nora. We wish you all happiness at Christmas & all the best for 2012.
Love from, John & Alexandra & Thomas.
John, Alexandra & Thomas SWALES,
104 Chanson, Verlieu, Chavanay, 42410, FRANCE
email: chavanois@orange.fr and alex.menzies1@wanadoo.fr